Toyota Red coolant vs. Toyota pink pre mixed

[jreask]

I just replaced my radiator on my 2002 4Runner as preventive maintenance. I used the Zerez Asian from O'reilly's at $10.99 per gallon. My truck had Toyota red in it from the previous who had recently done the TB, WP, etc. There is some disagreement whether the red and pink are compatible. I found this PDF online. It seems to clear up the compatibility questions:

http://www.toyotapart.com/ENGINE_COOLANT_COLOR_CHANGE_T-PG010-02.pdf

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

The TSB says the pink and the red coolants are compatible.

the green/yellow coolants are not compatible with the red/pink coolants
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[DC runner]

Pink and Red are brothers. I think one is "ultra long life" but they are interchangeable and are built off the same chemical foundation.

 

[awpsome]

you say pink is pre mixed, could pink just be water/coolant mixed red?

 

[YotaFun]

That TSB is out of Date!
DO NOT MIX pink and red, they ARE NOT COMPATIBLE!

You have an 02 4Runner, yours takes red, mix it with 50% water.

Pink is a completely different coolant to the red, its not just premixed red.

EDIT:
Pink Ingredients: Water (7732-18-5), Ethylene Glycol (107-21-1), Diethylene Glycol (111-4-6), Sebacic Acid (111-20-6), Potassium Hydroxide (1310-58-3)

Red Ingredients: Water (7732-18-5), Ethylene Glycol (107-21-1), Diethylene Glycol (111-4-6), Organic Acid Salt (532-32-1), Hydrated Inorganic Sale (1310-58-3)

RED is thicker even after doing the 50/50 mix, and works with the seals differently then the PINK.
I have seen water pump seal go when pink was added to a system that had red in it already.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Yes.

One is a OAT based coolent like dexcool and the yellow bottle prestone.

The newer is a HOAT based coolant like the factory fill for MOPAR or the Zerex GO5 product.

 

[thor999]

Wouldn't a thorough flush make both options possible? Using all new coolant of course...

 

[BlazeRunner]

What about with vehicles that were created before the red or pink coolant was used? I think its like pre-98 or 99 and my runner has green coolant in it from previous owner, which would also have been how it was from factory.

 

[Robb235]

What about with vehicles that were created before the red or pink coolant was used? I think its like pre-98 or 99 and my runner has green coolant in it from previous owner, which would also have been how it was from factory.

I'm in the same boat. My '99 has the green stuff in it. No idea what it came from the factory with. I plan on replacing my radiator soon (as a precaution), and figure I'll switch to a longer lasting coolant while I'm at it.

 

[jreask]

That TSB is out of Date!
DO NOT MIX pink and red, they ARE NOT COMPATIBLE!

You have an 02 4Runner, yours takes red, mix it with 50% water.

Pink is a completely different coolant to the red, its not just premixed red.

EDIT:
Pink Ingredients: Water (7732-18-5), Ethylene Glycol (107-21-1), Diethylene Glycol (111-4-6), Sebacic Acid (111-20-6), Potassium Hydroxide (1310-58-3)

Red Ingredients: Water (7732-18-5), Ethylene Glycol (107-21-1), Diethylene Glycol (111-4-6), Organic Acid Salt (532-32-1), Hydrated Inorganic Sale (1310-58-3)

RED is thicker even after doing the 50/50 mix, and works with the seals differently then the PINK.
I have seen water pump seal go when pink was added to a system that had red in it already.

Can you substantiate your claim that they are not compatible? I will provide another link that states they ARE compatible.

This is from Toyota website:

Genuine Toyota Parts, OEM Car, Truck and Auto Accessories

 

[TheDurk]

I'm in the same boat. My '99 has the green stuff in it. No idea what it came from the factory with. I plan on replacing my radiator soon (as a precaution), and figure I'll switch to a longer lasting coolant while I'm at it.

'99's were born with red (including mine) and I'm pretty sure that was the first year.

 

[vipergrhd]

Glob

Yes.

One is a OAT based coolent like dexcool and the yellow bottle prestone.

The newer is a HOAT based coolant like the factory fill for MOPAR or the Zerex GO5 product.

In that case it will turn into a glob of gel when it's mixed together.i always used Toyota Red on my rigs except for the the FJ60.

 

[vipergrhd]

Nope

What about with vehicles that were created before the red or pink coolant was used? I think its like pre-98 or 99 and my runner has green coolant in it from previous owner, which would also have been how it was from factory.

'99's were born with red (including mine) and I'm pretty sure that was the first year.

Sorry bud but your wrong,when i purchased my 93 hilux it had red coolant in it from the factory and i'm the first owner.

 

[Mike&Ike]

I think I would believe toyotas website directly over some dudes over the web that their cousin's uncle's sister's wheel fell off because they were mixed.

 

[TheDurk]

Sorry bud but your wrong,when i purchased my 93 hilux it had red coolant in it from the factory and i'm the first owner.

I was talking about 4Runners. I have seen posts where owners of '98's claimed their factory fill was green. Year of changeover could certainly be different by factory and model line.

 

[BlazeRunner]

Sorry bud but your wrong,when i purchased my 93 hilux it had red coolant in it from the factory and i'm the first owner.

My bad, it was since 1988 factory red was used in all Toyotas and 2004+ have been pink from factory

Edit: I plan on switching to red and distilled water 50/50 here soon with a flush.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I think I would believe toyotas website directly over some dudes over the web that their cousin's uncle's sister's wheel fell off because they were mixed.

You can think what you want. I've found plenty of typos and lack of proof reading on sites and in tech manuals to not believe everything.

Proper antifreeze is almost as hot a topic as religion, dems vs republicans, the best oil filter, and who makes the best oil........oh yea, and if a group 3 synthetic is really a synthetic.

I use dexcool in my Saturn because the pressure cap is on the resivour. So none of it gets exposed to atmosphere. Putting oat in a vented expansion tank type system and then letting it go empty creating a air pocket in the top of the rad is only asking for problems.

Its interesting that right after a coolant change sometimes the heater core plugs or springs a leak. Dissimilar fluids interacting?

 

[vipergrhd]

Really?

I was talking about 4Runners. I have seen posts where owners of '98's claimed their factory fill was green. Year of changeover could certainly be different by factory and model line.

Durk,it doesn't matter if it's a 4Runner,tacoma,Landcruiser they all got RED coolant.There was no green coolant from Toyota in the 90's AFAIK.Why don't you do a bit of research and prove me wrong.

 

[YotaFun]

Can you substantiate your claim that they are not compatible? I will provide another link that states they ARE compatible.

This is from Toyota website:

Genuine Toyota Parts, OEM Car, Truck and Auto Accessories

I miss interpreted my last e-learning module, and miss information from another tech.
I apologize.

What the module said is if you mix you have to convert to the maintenance interval of the fluid.
I.E. if you are using red and switch to pink you go with the pink schedule.

HOWEVER, as from a tech perspective, I would rather use RED over PINK.
I as well as others in the shop have found the pink to be too thin, and usually cause premature water pump seal failures.
Some techs will add a splash of red to the system to try to thicken the mixture to avoid the failures.

I use red in my 4Runner and all models that use red (up till 04 in certain cases).

Sorry for the miss information.
As a personal preference I would not switch to Toyota pink and keep the red.

 

[Brian757]

I don't use red or pink. I use PEAK Long Life. $14.99 for 1 gallon. I've always used it, and my truck does fine.

It isn't green, pink, or red. It's yellow, and can be mixed with any other colors.

Just replaced my radiator @ 130,900 miles.
Here is the Install