Dexcool ok in 2003 v8?

[Carl_G]

My mechanic did the timing belt and water pump and replaced the coolant. It's kind of orange in color and the invoice says "dexcool". Is this a good coolant for the 2003 4runner v8? It previously had Toyota pink super long life coolant. And before that back in 2005 it had the red "extra long life" coolant.

 

[borgzman]

I don't know what Dexcool is. Is it a brand? or a type of long life coolant?
But when I gooled it, I will not be comfortable with that product.
Sorry.

dexcool - Google Search

Consumer complaints about DexCool in GM Engines

Ah you can drain that dexcool and replace with Toyota Coolant. Spending extra just for piece of mind is always a good decision.
:driving:

 

[eskimochaos]

Shoulda replaced with Toyota Super Long Life Coolant.

Good for 100k.

You have no idea what that crap is going to do to your seals.

 

[Carl_G]

I agree. I am going to have it replaced tomorrow with Toyota fluid. They are not going to use a machine to flush the cooling system as that can cause problems as well (they tell me) but they are going to fill and drain it a few times over the course of the day. Thanks for the responses

 

[riverwolf]

I agree. I am going to have it replaced tomorrow with Toyota fluid. They are not going to use a machine to flush the cooling system as that can cause problems as well (they tell me) but they are going to fill and drain it a few times over the course of the day. Thanks for the responses

If you or they just drain the radiator, overflow, and block drains, that'll replace 80%+ in one shot. I just did my V-8 the weekend before last and got somewhere between 10-11 quarts of the 13 total the system holds. It's easier than an oil change, but does require a few extra tools and dropping the front and middle skids.

-Brent

 

[riverwolf]

Shoulda replaced with Toyota Super Long Life Coolant.

Good for 100k.

You have no idea what that crap is going to do to your seals.

Slight clarification. The factory fill is good for 100K, but Toyota only approves subsequent drain/fills for 50k...probably mostly due to the 2-3 quarts that can't be gotten via the rad/block drains. Honda has the same type of spec for their Type 2 coolant...120K factory/60K on replacement. Type 2 appears to have the same chemistry as SLLC based on the ingredients on the label and Honda's/Toyota's listed requirements for compatible aftermarket formulas.

-Brent

 

[Carl_G]

Dexcool! (not cool)

So today I had OK Tire in Vancouver flush the Dexcool out of the system (not using a machine though - they installed a "T" in one of the lines). Sounds like it was already turning a brownish colour. Sounds like they got most of it out. They will re-check on the next oil change in about 3,000 kms.

So I don't think you should use Dexcool in your 4Runners!

I had them replace the Dexcool -after thorough flushing- with Toyota Red (not pink) coolant.
Red was in there from the factory when brand new so why not keep using it.

 

[Jed]

Slight clarification. The factory fill is good for 100K, but Toyota only approves subsequent drain/fills for 50k...
-Brent

Yes, that's correct. According to Toyota, only the original fill is good for 100K. It's a one time deal, unfortunately.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

In addition to the initial 100k interval (and subsequent 50k) there's age. IMHO mileage matters but not as much as age. I am a firm believer in 60month (or less) intervals.

Even with Toyota's magic stuff they put a time limit of ten years. I can't trust it that long and if you split the difference between me doing maint too often and Toyota you come up with 7.5 years. Toyota Parts and Service

AND what happens on the second fill? Do they reduce the time to 5 years?
:cheers:

 

[Jed]

In addition to the initial 100k interval (and subsequent 50k) there's age. IMHO mileage matters but not as much as age. I am a firm believer in 60month (or less) intervals.

Even with Toyota's magic stuff they put a time limit of ten years. I can't trust it that long and if you split the difference between me doing maint too often and Toyota you come up with 7.5 years. Toyota Parts and Service

AND what happens on the second fill? Do they reduce the time to 5 years?
:cheers:

You're very proactive with your maintenance habits. I tend to trust in Toyota's engineering, so I have no problems following their recommended maintenance intervals. In fact, I believe they err on the side of caution, meaning that it would be possible to exceed their recommendations without causing any ill effects.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

You're very proactive with your maintenance habits. I tend to trust in Toyota's engineering, so I have no problems following their recommended maintenance intervals. In fact, I believe they err on the side of caution, meaning that it would be possible to exceed their recommendations without causing any ill effects.

I can't argue with that, in fact you're right. For me it's part 'sport' and more importantly it's the non-quantitative thing. We've all driven the 180k/12 year old Honda or Toyota that drives good. We have little doubt they are high mileage, decent vehicles. Further investigation reveals it had a radiator or transmission or something semi-major but all-in-all it's a nice drive. Next we've all run into the same vintage vehicle that's had a little extra TLC. Often it has all the original pieces and drives in a way that has us say "OMG, I can't believe this car has a 180k on it!" That's what I shoot for...

Again, you're right it's just different a different goal. I want to donate a reliable, great, low-$value vehicle to a family member or friend in need when I am done with my cars. I want the vehicle to be 'like-new' reliable and trouble free in spite of it's age.

 

[CookieRoe]

I can't argue with that, in fact you're right. For me it's part 'sport' and more importantly it's the non-quantitative thing. We've all driven the 180k/12 year old Honda or Toyota that drives good. We have little doubt they are high mileage, decent vehicles. Further investigation reveals it had a radiator or transmission or something semi-major but all-in-all it's a nice drive. Next we've all run into the same vintage vehicle that's had a little extra TLC. Often it has all the original pieces and drives in a way that has us say "OMG, I can't believe this car has a 180k on it!" That's what I shoot for...

Again, you're right it's just different a different goal. I want to donate a reliable, great, low-$value vehicle to a family member or friend in need when I am done with my cars. I want the vehicle to be 'like-new' reliable and trouble free in spite of it's age.

That is EXACTLY how I feel about my cars/trucks. I do most of the maintenance of my vehicles, not for costs, but for the fact that I know it was done right (unlike the Original Poster) and heck, I have fun doing it!! (that's what she said)........

No doubt JED is right, I do indeed trust what the engineers at Toyota recommend, but at the end of the day, it is your truck and you want to maintain as best you know how.

When my mom recently turned in her 1991 LS400 (cash4clunkers), it was STILL BRAND NEW (it needed a tranny and so went the whole argument about cost of repair vs. car value thing which can get messy if you are attached to it......... common sense won that one). The LS was still brand new b/c I took REALLY good care of it.

 

[Jed]

There's no doubt in my mind that you guys are right about maintaining your vehicles. But at the same time, here's my dilemma: No matter how well you maintain a vehicle, as it ages the odds of needing a major repair increase exponentially. A good example is the transmission replacement that CookieRoe mentioned on his mom's LS400. Imagine all the "extra" money spent to maintain a vehicle above and beyond the recommended service intervals, only to have that extra "insurance" wiped out by a cost-prohibitive major repair.

Now don't get me wrong here....I'm not saying anyone should avoid changing fluids more often than recommended. I'm just saying that sometimes the "extra" maintenance can end up money down the drain.

 

[CookieRoe]

There's no doubt in my mind that you guys are right about maintaining your vehicles. But at the same time, here's my dilemma: No matter how well you maintain a vehicle, as it ages the odds of needing a major repair increase exponentially. A good example is the transmission replacement that CookieRoe mentioned on his mom's LS400. Imagine all the "extra" money spent to maintain a vehicle above and beyond the recommended service intervals, only to have that extra "insurance" wiped out by a cost-prohibitive major repair.

Now don't get me wrong here....I'm not saying anyone should avoid changing fluids more often than recommended. I'm just saying that sometimes the "extra" maintenance can end up money down the drain.

I hear ya, that thought went through my head as well. "All that taking care of and money and then the tranny craps out on ya". You totally have a point. All the "extra" maintenance sometimes, in the grand scheme of things really does nothing. ........but we do it anyway. Why? I can't answer that with a definitive answer, I guess it makes us feel better at the end of the day.

Although, I'm sure it does SOME good, I'll admit that my parents refused to get the transmission serviced before it threw a code, they only took action LONG after it started to develop symptoms (like not shifting into 1st, etc), by then, it was WAY too late.

Carl_G: Good thing you came by to ask that question: Chances are, you would've ruined your truck by doing nothing about it!

 

[Carl_G]

Thanks! I hope it is ok even though it's flushed. It may be my imagination bit it seems to run hotter now. Hope nothing got "plugged up" during the couple weeks that dexcool crap was in there.