Coolant in 3rd Gen 4Runner
- Thread starter MyFirstRunner
- Start date
MyFirstRunner
Member
Per the manual,
Coolant type:
”Toyota Long Life Coolant” or equivalent
With ethylene- glycol type coolant for a
proper corrosion protection of aluminum
components
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or
plain water alone.
I think I'll stick with the AutoZone 50/50 which meets Toyota's recommendation.
Coolant type:
”Toyota Long Life Coolant” or equivalent
With ethylene- glycol type coolant for a
proper corrosion protection of aluminum
components
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or
plain water alone.
I think I'll stick with the AutoZone 50/50 which meets Toyota's recommendation.
brian4t
New member
There you go. I'm with you, the dealer can/will try to oversell sometimes but coolant, oil, gas quality are some things I don't personally divert from.
TheDurk
Elite Member
As long as you avoid Dex-cool at all costs, and use a silicate-free formula, it does not really matter what color/type you
use AS LONG AS YOUR CHANGE INTERVAL IS 25K or less.
For boil and freeze protection, all ethylene glycol is the same--full stop, end of story.
The differences are all in the anti-corrosion additives...and the color dye. Europeans love silicates and hate phosphates,
and their engines are built with materials that reflect that. Asian engineers are the opposite.
Toyota's red and pink formulations are newer technology anti-corrosion formulas designed
for longer change intervals, especially in new engines. If you plan on going over 25k, use one of
these. Up to 25k/two years, a modern universal formula, in green or any other color, will do just fine.
As far as mixing goes, the anti-corrosion packages are all more or less antagonistic, so any mixing
should be avoided. If you were mixing, you probably didn't know what was in there or for how long,
anyway. So plan on picking a coolant and appropriate change interval in the near future, give the
system a good flush, and start over doing it right and you will be fine.
The green-red gelling issue was pretty much unique to the old-style Prestone green, and that stuff
hasn't been sold for fifteen years. So don't worry about that unless you grabbed an old bottle out of
the back of Dad's garage.
Me, I use Toyota Red and 30k change interval, but there are LOTS of valid approaches to this one.
use AS LONG AS YOUR CHANGE INTERVAL IS 25K or less.
For boil and freeze protection, all ethylene glycol is the same--full stop, end of story.
The differences are all in the anti-corrosion additives...and the color dye. Europeans love silicates and hate phosphates,
and their engines are built with materials that reflect that. Asian engineers are the opposite.
Toyota's red and pink formulations are newer technology anti-corrosion formulas designed
for longer change intervals, especially in new engines. If you plan on going over 25k, use one of
these. Up to 25k/two years, a modern universal formula, in green or any other color, will do just fine.
As far as mixing goes, the anti-corrosion packages are all more or less antagonistic, so any mixing
should be avoided. If you were mixing, you probably didn't know what was in there or for how long,
anyway. So plan on picking a coolant and appropriate change interval in the near future, give the
system a good flush, and start over doing it right and you will be fine.
The green-red gelling issue was pretty much unique to the old-style Prestone green, and that stuff
hasn't been sold for fifteen years. So don't worry about that unless you grabbed an old bottle out of
the back of Dad's garage.
Me, I use Toyota Red and 30k change interval, but there are LOTS of valid approaches to this one.
Last edited:
JayRolla
New member
Like stated run what is in there. If you have red you can go to NAPA and buy ASIAN version of there antifreeze, its the same as toyota red and dont have to get it at the dealer. I had red, replaced radiator and have ran red since.
Toyota has tried to say that some of the radiator failures where due to corrosion from people swapping to green. But who knows right.
Toyota has tried to say that some of the radiator failures where due to corrosion from people swapping to green. But who knows right.
BTO
Member
I just drained the radiator and it looks like it had either orange or amber in it. Hard to tell. My wife had an indy shop change it about 6 years ago.
Edit to add that I'm looking at it again and it looks maybe red?
I have some Zerex Asian pink coolant I use in my Tacoma. Is it OK to mix the pink with the red?
Edit to add that I'm looking at it again and it looks maybe red?
I have some Zerex Asian pink coolant I use in my Tacoma. Is it OK to mix the pink with the red?
Attachments
Last edited:
BrianSD_42
New member
that looks like cough syrup.
I've never used Toyota Red so i wouldn't know.
If i was in your situation I would consider getting a professional flush at the Toyota dealer that way everything that was in it before is fully flushed. This service usually runs about $120-$140 and a good chunk of that includes the cost of Toyota coolant.
I've never used Toyota Red so i wouldn't know.
If i was in your situation I would consider getting a professional flush at the Toyota dealer that way everything that was in it before is fully flushed. This service usually runs about $120-$140 and a good chunk of that includes the cost of Toyota coolant.
Last edited:
LittleCaesar
New member
For BTO the coolant looks fine, as the Toyota red coolant should. The key after changing the timing belt and water pump is to get all, or as many air bubbles out of the cooling system.
In Brian's eyes I guess I am a maverick, since I do use the red dracula coolant, changing it out once every two years.
In Brian's eyes I guess I am a maverick, since I do use the red dracula coolant, changing it out once every two years.
