Toyota Red vs. Pink Coolant

[T4R_Finally]

Called my Yota dealer and asked them to hold me a couple gallons of the red coolant. They said all they have is the pink (pre-dilluted) and that's all they use. And they want $20 and change for each gallon.

When I was searching this site re. coolant, I came across a thread where someone posted that the pink is actually not just pre-dilluted red and, therefore, maybe not as good.

Anyone got any thoughts on that? Should I go with the pink or try to find the red somewhere? Not sure where to look if dealer doesn't have it.

 

[pauls4runner]

I work in Toyota dealer. All we use is pink. it is pricey but, their is nothing wrong with using it. the day after i bought my 98 runner, I flushed my cooling system and filled it with pink and 3 months and 3000 miles later, I have had no issues

 

[cordrayj1]

my mechanic wont put in anything but the Toyota Red. he's strict on anything thats not Toyota, and wont use it. after a timing belt/water pump 25,000 miles ago, my coolant level hasnt budged one inch. dont know if that has anything to do w it, but I'm pretty stuck on OEM only too.

 

[TheDurk]

The pink IS a different technology and is actually rated for longer use than the red by Toyota. There is no reason not to use it, other than cost. Personally, I have switched to Zerex Asian Formula, which is almost a clone of the pink at half the cost and available at NAPA and Amazon, among others. Obviously, it will not satisfy the OEM-obsessed but I'm comfortable with it.

I'm guessing Red will disappear totally one of these days, so you might as well get used to something else.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I get Toyota red for $18 from my local dealer which isn't too bad a price compared to the other dealer I called and they wanted $32 for the same jug.

 

[pauls4runner]

The Toyota dealership I work at, we CANT get red anymore

 

[T4R_Finally]

Don't mean to second guess Durk, but anyone else have an opinion on the Zerex Asian stuff? I remember seeing that mentioned when I was searching threads, but don't remember any details. Is the Zerex pre-dilluted or does it need to be cut with water?

 

[TheDurk]

Don't mean to second guess Durk, but anyone else have an opinion on the Zerex Asian stuff? I remember seeing that mentioned when I was searching threads, but don't remember any details. Is the Zerex pre-dilluted or does it need to be cut with water?

Trust me, you will find those who disagree. It is a pre-diluted 50/50 like the pink Super Long Life. No added water.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I put some Zerex a friend's girlfriend's 4runner after replacing the rear heater lines and it seems to work well. She drives bat sh*t crazy and the coolant level has not dropped in over a year.

Like Durk said, get the Toyota if OEM helps ya sleep better. 99% sure it is already diluted. It does say on the bottle.

 

[cordrayj1]

so does it even matter? they are both 20$ for the gallon?

Yota Red and Zerex Asian

 

[TheDurk]

so does it even matter? they are both 20$ for the gallon?

Yota Red and Zerex Asian

You are right! except it's Yota Pink thats $20. Yota Red (concentrate) is $26 (on Amazon). I was shocked to see the price on Amazon for Zerex Asian is now $19 and change with shipping. It was much less this summer. NAPA has it at $13.99 at my local store. It was $11 and change this summer.

NAPA AUTO PARTS

Still, I would opt for Red @ $26 at these price levels, especially if I had Red in there already. However, some dealers have it for $34 and many don't have it at all. So shop around...

 

[A.Wilson013]

A friend of mine who recently swapped a new motor into his 3.4 swapped Truck told me that when he was buying coolant at the dealership, the parts guy, a friend of his, told him a lot of newer Toyotas, using the pink coolant, are having radiator failure issues. His hypothesis for this problem was that Toyota is diluting it too much, and recommended he buy Toyota RED from the dealer across town, and dilute it himself.

Is this true? Who knows, but it makes me think twice.

 

[bolantej]

Mine has run of the mill green coolant. Any concerns?

 

[TheDurk]

Mine has run of the mill green coolant. Any concerns?

It won't hurt anything, as long as it is silicate and borate free (and most modern greens are.) Just don't run it more than 30K/24mos. max as it does not have the anti-corrosion kick of the newer technologies.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I have used green coolant for as long as I've owned my 4Runner. I replaced the radiator with a KOYO at 190k miles; I am currently at 207k. I do not think the type of coolant matters that much if you live in San Diego.

 

[bolantej]

Okay then. Maybe when I replace my rad ill go red. Thanks.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Thanks for the comments. I went out and looked around town. Napa didnt carry it and didnt offer to order it. Advance doesnt carry it and cant order it. Walmart didnt have it (no surprise there). O'Reilly's ordered a case for me and will sell me the 3 gallons i need out of the case. $13.99 a gallon for the Zerex Asian formula 50/50.

3 gallons should be what i need right? 2 gallons and change for the initial fill and the leftover to keep things topped off?

 

[RiverRat37]

Local stealership here in Hickory, NC has the RED for $27 a gallon... Picking up a couple on Monday myself...

 

[T4R_Finally]

I couldn't find a dealer I'd want to drive to that carries the Toyo Red. Nobody in town carries the Zerex but the local O'Reilly's had a part number in their system for it and was willing to order a case for me and sell me 3 gallons of it. This looks like the right stuff to me. However, now I'm thinking a new radiator is in order for pink milkshake prevention, so I will probably do that first of the year and hold off on the new coolant until then. At least I have it at the ready when it's time to do the job. $13.99 a gallon.

 

[offthebeatenpath]

Anybody use the Napa all makes/all models stuff? That's what they recommended to me, and I didn't see the Zerex Asian stuff there-