DirtDawg
New member
My B, got confused bc the early 100 series uses red and the later VVTI models use pink.
V8 water pump leaking (again)
- Thread starter vanion2
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BlackWorksInc
New member
Actually the '03~'04 (before VVTi) V8's use SLLC also. It was around the time Toyota shifted from LLC to SLLC. There's been some debate if switching to a no silicate, no bromine, ect. coolant from a low silicate formula has resulted in more coolant leaks; but I dunno... I just work for them. lol
But yes, older pre-2003-ish V8s used LLC, but you can easily run SLLC in them with no issues.
46runner
Member
Pink is what I was told to use in my v8 2004. I asked if diluting the red makes it pink. Logical question I thought. No, it's a different product altogether.
AuSeeker
Elite Member
According to Toyota it's a very BIG deal, and as I always say better safe than sorry!!!
That being said it has been discuss numerous times on the forum and now it seems that you don't actually have to only buy/use the Toyota specific brand pink coolant, you can also use Zerex ASIAN vehicle formula. it a bit to a lot less costly and you can get it most anywhere.
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BlackWorksInc
New member
Yes it is. There's a bunch of threads I and others have posted in about this.
Basically most green coolant if not all (I have not seen a green dyed coolant that meets Toyota specs) is a Silicate formula among other things. Toyota's LLC is a Low Silicate Formula, and the Toyota SLLC "Pink" is a NO Silicate formula (among other things) as well as an OATs coolant.
The main reason that this is important is that in traditional EG (Ethalyne Glycol) coolant you have what's called "Silicate Dropout" which looks like this:
That sand at the bottom of the container is the silicate that was suspended in solution in the coolant mixture, over time it breaks out of solution and becomes solid again. That basically sand blasts your cooling system and gums it up at the same time. That's one of the reason coolant intervals were 30k back in the day, now even with Toyota's SLLC they call for 5yr/50k after the first 10yr/100k service interval. There's also various chemical and metallurgical interactions that can degrade the cooling system over time if not using the correct coolant.
You won't really see symptoms or issues until it's too late with coolant related damage. It's not like it will eat away a headgasket in 30k, but when it does eat away the head gasket and you go to replace it you'll see damage everywhere. The pipes, head, block, passages, ect. will be eaten and pitted and corroded. I've seen a few times what the wrong coolant does to an engine and it's not pretty; sure it runs fine for 50-100k, but when it finally does leak... well that's when you realize the extent of the damage.
Not sure why you wouldn't get the factory stuff (it's pretty affordable online if you look for it), but if you're dead set against using Genuine Toyota SLLC; I've found Zerex Asian to be close enough in formulation to be usable without issue.
BlackWorksInc
New member
Probably no significant damage, but honestly it's hard to say as I don't exactly have solid scientific data to go by in regards to how long certain damage takes to set in, ect.
vanion2
New member
Well I can say that I have done close to 850 miles so far and my coolant reservoir hasn't dropped and other than A/C condensate I have noticed no leaks. While I wish that I didn't have to spend close to $800 to get it fixed I am glad I delayed the trip a day to get it done. I will have a Toyota shop flush the coolant next year to make sure the system is clean and to stick with the pink stuff.
Thanks for all the advice.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Thanks for all the advice.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
