Time to change the coolant!
- Thread starter Jeff T
- Start date
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Check first where you can dispose of the fluid. Coolant is some nasty stuff and we all need to make sure to do our part and keep it out of our ground water and landfills.
My area recycler wants like $2 a gallon. It's cheaper and easier to just pay $35 and have a shop do it.
COOLANT
REPLACEMENT
1. DRAIN ENGINE COOLANT CAUTION: To avoid the danger of being burned, do not remove the radiator cap while the engine and radiator are still hot. Thermal expansion will cause hot engine coolant and steam to blow out from the radiator.
(a) Remove the radiator cap.
(b) Remove the service hole cover from the engine under cover No. 1.
(c) Install a vinyl hose onto the drain on the radiator side.
(d) Fix the vinyl hose with tape.
(e) Loosen the 3 drain plugs on the engine and radiator, and drain the coolant.
(f) Drain the coolant from the reservoir tank.
(g) Tighten the 3 drain plugs.
Torque: 13 Nm (130 kgf/cm, 9 ft. lbs.) for the engine
(h) Remove the vinyl hose from the radiator.
2. ADD ENGINE COOLANT
(a) Slowly fill the system with engine coolant.
Capacity: 12.3 liters (13.0 US qts, 10.8 Imp. qts)
HINT:
• Use of improper coolants may damage the engine cooling system.
• Use only Toyota Super Long Life Coolant or similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology (coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology consists of a combination of low phosphates and organic acids).
• New Toyota vehicles are filled with Toyota Super Long Life Coolant (color is pink, premixed ethylene glycol concentration is approximately 50 % and freezing temperature is -35°C (-31°F)). When replacing the coolant, Toyota Super Long Life Coolant is recommended.
• Observe the coolant level inside the radiator by pressing the inlet and outlet radiator hoses several times by hand. If the coolant level goes down, add the coolant.
NOTICE: Do not substitute plain water for engine coolant.
(b) Install the radiator cap securely.
(c) Bleed the cooling system.
(1) Open the heater water valve while warming up the engine.
(2) Maintain the engine speed at 2,000 to 2,500 rpm and warm up the engine.
(d) Stop the engine and wait until the coolant cools down.
(e) Add coolant into the reservoir until the coolant level is FULL.
3. INSPECT ENGINE COOLANT LEAK
(a) Fill the radiator with coolant and attach a radiator cap tester.
(b) Pump it to 118 kPa (1.2 kgf/cm2, 17.1 psi), then check for leakage.
REPLACEMENT
1. DRAIN ENGINE COOLANT CAUTION: To avoid the danger of being burned, do not remove the radiator cap while the engine and radiator are still hot. Thermal expansion will cause hot engine coolant and steam to blow out from the radiator.
(a) Remove the radiator cap.
(b) Remove the service hole cover from the engine under cover No. 1.
(c) Install a vinyl hose onto the drain on the radiator side.
(d) Fix the vinyl hose with tape.
(e) Loosen the 3 drain plugs on the engine and radiator, and drain the coolant.
(f) Drain the coolant from the reservoir tank.
(g) Tighten the 3 drain plugs.
Torque: 13 Nm (130 kgf/cm, 9 ft. lbs.) for the engine
(h) Remove the vinyl hose from the radiator.
2. ADD ENGINE COOLANT
(a) Slowly fill the system with engine coolant.
Capacity: 12.3 liters (13.0 US qts, 10.8 Imp. qts)
HINT:
• Use of improper coolants may damage the engine cooling system.
• Use only Toyota Super Long Life Coolant or similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology (coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology consists of a combination of low phosphates and organic acids).
• New Toyota vehicles are filled with Toyota Super Long Life Coolant (color is pink, premixed ethylene glycol concentration is approximately 50 % and freezing temperature is -35°C (-31°F)). When replacing the coolant, Toyota Super Long Life Coolant is recommended.
• Observe the coolant level inside the radiator by pressing the inlet and outlet radiator hoses several times by hand. If the coolant level goes down, add the coolant.
NOTICE: Do not substitute plain water for engine coolant.
(b) Install the radiator cap securely.
(c) Bleed the cooling system.
(1) Open the heater water valve while warming up the engine.
(2) Maintain the engine speed at 2,000 to 2,500 rpm and warm up the engine.
(d) Stop the engine and wait until the coolant cools down.
(e) Add coolant into the reservoir until the coolant level is FULL.
3. INSPECT ENGINE COOLANT LEAK
(a) Fill the radiator with coolant and attach a radiator cap tester.
(b) Pump it to 118 kPa (1.2 kgf/cm2, 17.1 psi), then check for leakage.
zerowkul98
New member
1st i just wanna give MAD PROPS TO CAB for sharing his scanned instructions in the T4R forum.
2nd, I have an 03 V8 and i remember getting the coolant drained, flushed and changed at 30k and 60k.
According to my service history on toyota.com, thats when it was done.
2nd, I have an 03 V8 and i remember getting the coolant drained, flushed and changed at 30k and 60k.
According to my service history on toyota.com, thats when it was done.
ridefast
New member
A toyota/lexus mechanic once told me that coolent will turn slightly acetic before it looses its engine cooling properties and thats usually how leaks start by weak parts in the cooling system.
When I have done it myself I take the used coolant to jiffey lube and they take it for free cuz they sell it to someone else for profit. Don't pay someone to take it. I do the same with engine oil. If someone is going to charge you just drop it off on the back door in a sealed container on a sunday when they are closed.
When I have done it myself I take the used coolant to jiffey lube and they take it for free cuz they sell it to someone else for profit. Don't pay someone to take it. I do the same with engine oil. If someone is going to charge you just drop it off on the back door in a sealed container on a sunday when they are closed.
Kmvreter
New member
I don't try to get it all out because getting at the block drains is a pain.
I buy a gallon jug of Toy OEM SLL coolant. I drain the rad and overflow reservoir and replace the amount. I do this about once a year or 32K Km (~20K miles). This way you cycle through about 1/3 of your coolant on an interval. You end up diluting the old with new and it's easy to do. You can increase the frequency, if you like, to replace 3 or 4 gallons over a shorter interval and still be further ahead buying only the coolant than spending labour $ at the stealership.
Kmvreter
New member
That's what I do.
natevans65
New member
I run Amsoil in EVERYTHING except the Tranny (04 WS fluid) and the Radiator-50/50 mix from Toyota. I too have done the old shade tree change by opening the block and radiator and draining them along with the reservoir. The directions above are perfect to go by.....
4th Gen 4runner v6 coolant flush drain plugs
I found this video that shows EXACTLY where to find the THREE coolant drain plugs on the 4th Gen 4runner V6. I'm posting it here in hopes that it will help someone.
https://youtu.be/U08U9Vk7N7g
I found this video that shows EXACTLY where to find the THREE coolant drain plugs on the 4th Gen 4runner V6. I'm posting it here in hopes that it will help someone.
https://youtu.be/U08U9Vk7N7g
BlackWorksInc
New member
Something to point out, it's not as important to get every last drop of the coolant out if you're following the service interval. The idea here is to replenish the fluid and it's additive packages, not get every last drop of old out; which is why "drain and fill" works well.
Same concept with transmission fluid. Not saying don't do drain every last drop, just that it's not needed to do the job right.
Same concept with transmission fluid. Not saying don't do drain every last drop, just that it's not needed to do the job right.
NOLA Runner
New member
Coolant change
When I drained the radiator on my '07 V6 4Runner at 100k, the SLLC fluid "looked" exactly like the new premix I purchased at the dealership. I decided to skip draining the block and instead I repeated the radiator drain & fill (1gallon) at subsequent 5k mile oil changes. This may not be by the book but it's a low stress process and a lot less mess. I use a Lisle spill free funnel to burp the system and drop the used coolant at the local Firestone shop. I use a similar process with my trans fluid, a 3+ quart drain & fill at every other oil change interval which I believe is equivalent to a 50k full fluid replacement interval. I use Toyota WS atf for that and fashioned a funnel/clear tube that fits into the trans fill port.
When I drained the radiator on my '07 V6 4Runner at 100k, the SLLC fluid "looked" exactly like the new premix I purchased at the dealership. I decided to skip draining the block and instead I repeated the radiator drain & fill (1gallon) at subsequent 5k mile oil changes. This may not be by the book but it's a low stress process and a lot less mess. I use a Lisle spill free funnel to burp the system and drop the used coolant at the local Firestone shop. I use a similar process with my trans fluid, a 3+ quart drain & fill at every other oil change interval which I believe is equivalent to a 50k full fluid replacement interval. I use Toyota WS atf for that and fashioned a funnel/clear tube that fits into the trans fill port.
Kmvreter: This is procedure / what I do for coolant in my 13 qrt 2005 4runner. A gallon in the summer + another gallon of Asian Zerex Red 50/50 mix (150,000 miles guarantee) in the fall.
I drained and flushed it two years ago.
Temperatures in Nassau where car is range from 60F to 100F.
Never had an overheat in 14 years.
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