Replacing Radiator-- Switching Coolant Types

T

TRDFerguson

New member
After discovering my radiator was cracked and leaking, I ordered up a Denso 221-0508 radiator and some Zerex 675130 coolant. As of now, the truck has green coolant but I want to make the switch to red (obviously). What is the most efficient way of getting the green coolant out of the block?

My coolant is prediluted. Filling the system with water and running it would leave water in the block instead. This is better than old coolant in there I suppose, but extra water in there would mess with the concentration once I fill with coolant. What percentage of the system's total volume is left in the engine after letting it all drain through gravity?

I guess I could return the red coolant and just stick with the same green, but I would like to have red. Am I just making more work for myself? Any good write ups on flushing these engines?

Thanks for any help, just want to do the job as best I can and efficiently too.
 
Register to hide this ad
I would drain and flush with water.Then just add the red coolant.

They sell a chemical made for cleaning the system but I would not worry about it.

If you want to go over the top you can drain out the red and add new red back in but I think thats overkill. green and red mixing is not even a big deal if i remember right.

Dexcool is the danger zone of coolant - normally orange I think


** you got toyota red coolant correct?**
 
Last edited:
I just bought 2 gallons of the Toyota Pink (premixed) for $44.39 tax included at the stealership yesterday. I'm not sure if they still sell the Toyota Red (not premixed).
 
When I got my 4Runner, I swapped the radiator and the coolant. I had drained the petcock thing on the old radiator, and something over a gallon came out.
Then I set about to change the thermostat; when I pulled the thermostat housing, a surprisingly huge amount of old coolant came out. The measurements on my crystal slop bucket* showed that almost the entire capacity of the system had drained out...approx 9+ quarts if I remember correctly. I cancelled my plans to cycle distilled water through it, and refilled the new rad and the system with the new coolant. I figure whatever got left in there will be pretty much gone after the next drain and refill.

*the crystal slop bucket that Willie never got because Mr. Burns' slant drilling operation took all the oil sitting under the school.
 
Last edited:
TRDFerguson said:
After discovering my radiator was cracked and leaking, I ordered up a Denso 221-0508 radiator and some Zerex 675130 coolant. As of now, the truck has green coolant but I want to make the switch to red (obviously). What is the most efficient way of getting the green coolant out of the block?

My coolant is prediluted. Filling the system with water and running it would leave water in the block instead. This is better than old coolant in there I suppose, but extra water in there would mess with the concentration once I fill with coolant. What percentage of the system's total volume is left in the engine after letting it all drain through gravity?

I guess I could return the red coolant and just stick with the same green, but I would like to have red. Am I just making more work for myself? Any good write ups on flushing these engines?

Thanks for any help, just want to do the job as best I can and efficiently too.
Click to expand...

Return the prediluted stuff and go to the dealership and get toyota red long life concentrate, that way you dont have to worry about left over water in the engine and you can create your own ratio (coolant-water, 60-40 is the best, just dont go bellow 50-50 or above 70-30). Just make sure you use distilled water (not to be confused with purified water) you can buy it for $1 a gallon at your local supermarket. You only want to use distilled water because tap or purified has minerals in it that will make deposits in your coolant system and over time will corrode your lines (pink milkshake). 2 gallons of both will fill you coolant system (3 gallons) but make sure you burp you system, just leave rad cap off, run your engine and fill with coolant as air bubbles out (search "how to burp your radiator" and you will find plenty of info).

Good luck and remember to replace your thermostat.
Let me know if you have any questions :)
 
ray122 said:
Return the prediluted stuff and go to the dealership and get toyota red long life concentrate, that way you dont have to worry about left over water in the engine and you can create your own ratio (coolant-water, 60-40 is the best, just dont go bellow 50-50 or above 70-30). Just make sure you use distilled water (not to be confused with purified water) you can buy it for $1 a gallon at your local supermarket. You only want to use distilled water because tap or purified has minerals in it that will make deposits in your coolant system and over time will corrode your lines (pink milkshake). 2 gallons of both will fill you coolant system (3 gallons) but make sure you burp you system, just leave rad cap off, run your engine and fill with coolant as air bubbles out (search "how to burp your radiator" and you will find plenty of info).

Good luck and remember to replace your thermostat.
Let me know if you have any questions :)
Click to expand...

Haven't heard before that using tap water had anything to do with causing a 'pink milkshake". I thought that was due to a failure of the radiator that allowed transmission oil and the engine coolant to mix. FWIW, my 1996 4Runner service manual makes no mention of using distilled water in the radiator. It does mention using tap water to achieve a the recommended concentration. I use distilled water myself, but wouldn't hesitate to add tap water if needed.
 
jhfleet said:
Haven't heard before that using tap water had anything to do with causing a 'pink milkshake". I thought that was due to a failure of the radiator that allowed transmission oil and the engine coolant to mix. FWIW, my 1996 4Runner service manual makes no mention of using distilled water in the radiator. It does mention using tap water to achieve a the recommended concentration. I use distilled water myself, but wouldn't hesitate to add tap water if needed.
Click to expand...

The mineral deposits in the tap water is what accelerates the corrosion in the coolant lines which causes the rad to fail and leak fluid into the transmission. "FWIW, my 1996 4Runner service manual makes no mention of using distilled water in the radiator." - do you have a factory service manuel (FSM)? My 2002 fsm specificly states to only use distilled water, i will take a picture of the page and post it to this thread later today. If you have a haynes or similar manuel it wouldn't specify this (their usually cheaper and less accurate).
 
jhfleet said:
FWIW, my 1996 4Runner service manual makes no mention of using distilled water in the radiator. It does mention using tap water to achieve a the recommended concentration.
Click to expand...
Here ya go.
 

Attachments

  • 20150419_141120.jpg
    20150419_141120.jpg
    130.5 KB · Views: 465
  • 20150419_141110.jpg
    20150419_141110.jpg
    132.7 KB · Views: 451
  • 20150419_141130.jpg
    20150419_141130.jpg
    137.8 KB · Views: 447
pluton said:
When I got my 4Runner, I swapped the radiator and the coolant. I had drained the petcock thing on the old radiator, and something over a gallon came out.
Then I set about to change the thermostat; when I pulled the thermostat housing, a surprisingly huge amount of old coolant came out. The measurements on my crystal slop bucket* showed that almost the entire capacity of the system had drained out...approx 9+ quarts if I remember correctly. I cancelled my plans to cycle distilled water through it, and refilled the new rad and the system with the new coolant. I figure whatever got left in there will be pretty much gone after the next drain and refill.

*the crystal slop bucket that Willie never got because Mr. Burns' slant drilling operation took all the oil sitting under the school.
Click to expand...

this is encouraging. thank you. The thermostat was replaced during timing belt service about 30k miles ago. I wasn't planning on replacing the thermostat this time around but if I'm going to be pulling that lower t-stat housing I wonder if I should anyway. This radiator and coolant replacement is based on the failure of the radiator, not maintenance. Do you think it will leak if I pull that housing and reinstall without replacing the gasket?

And sorry about the distilled water war that ensued, I was definitely going to used distilled water to flush. I'm definitely a fan.


ray122 said:
Return the prediluted stuff and go to the dealership and get toyota red long life concentrate, that way you dont have to worry about left over water in the engine and you can create your own ratio (coolant-water, 60-40 is the best, just dont go bellow 50-50 or above 70-30). Just make sure you use distilled water (not to be confused with purified water) you can buy it for $1 a gallon at your local supermarket. You only want to use distilled water because tap or purified has minerals in it that will make deposits in your coolant system and over time will corrode your lines (pink milkshake). 2 gallons of both will fill you coolant system (3 gallons) but make sure you burp you system, just leave rad cap off, run your engine and fill with coolant as air bubbles out (search "how to burp your radiator" and you will find plenty of info).

Good luck and remember to replace your thermostat.
Let me know if you have any questions :)
Click to expand...

Hi fellow Chicoan!
 
ray122 said:
The mineral deposits in the tap water is what accelerates the corrosion in the coolant lines which causes the rad to fail and leak fluid into the transmission. "FWIW, my 1996 4Runner service manual makes no mention of using distilled water in the radiator." - do you have a factory service manuel (FSM)? My 2002 fsm specificly states to only use distilled water, i will take a picture of the page and post it to this thread later today. If you have a haynes or similar manuel it wouldn't specify this (their usually cheaper and less accurate).
Click to expand...

Yep, FSM. I just did a timing belt and water pump change and installed a new genuine Toyota radiator (made in Taiwan) so I did have the manual open. Nonetheless, I did elect to use distilled water for a 50/50 mix with Toyota antifreeze because it's cheap and certainly can't hurt. I've always used tap water in it since new and suffered no ill effects. The radiator was changed as a precaution since its got some age on it.
 
I got mine from B&B Radiator in Farmers Branch,Tx. It was under 100 bucks, and a brand new TYC1998. I had to bend the locator tab slightly on one side, really no big deal. They will ship it to you as well. I had the original rad in my truck after 364k miles! The top tank actually started to crack out, so I had no choice but to change it.

I used OReilly brand Universal Green coolant, and got some distilled water from the grocery store. I used some when I first got the truck to top it off 3 years ago, and there was no problem then.
 
giovannie23 said:
How was that denso?
How long have you had it was the fitting exact or did you have to do something to make ot fit only asking kuz im considering a new rad before summer hits
Deciding on oem toyota rad ot denso
Click to expand...

The fit of the radiator was great, no modification was needed whatsoever. fit perfectly. I just installed it earlier this week and I am really happy with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 474 (members: 3, guests: 471)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,307
Messages
3,554,054
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top