TheDurk
Elite Member
What can I say? You emulate stupid really well.
What coolant to use?
- Thread starter dr_watson
- Start date
What can I say? You emulate stupid really well.
reelamin
New member
Hahaahahhaa....what ever it takes to catch something with a brain the size of a pin head. LOL....just like trolling a democrat...they can't help but bite becuase their pea brain says they have to.... LOL...pretty sure I could shake you off without pliers. Laugh...life is too short.
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You say laugh, we are. Just not with you...
SledgeHammer12
New member
Maybe someone can enlighten me as to why to *not* use any other coolant beside toyotas. I have my 01 since June of 2001, I have never had a tuneup until about 4 years ago. I only knew basic info about cars, things that I learned from a friend who wrenches on commercial aircrafts and knows cars like the back of his hand. As of now my knowledge has increased in the last 1-1/2 years because I am working on cars constantly (current hobby). I remember not doing an oil change for 1-1/2 years because I was out of work for about a year. I ended up doing the oil change once I started working again.
I have used mobil 1 synthetic from the day I bought the car. Never did a radiator flush, always used prestone in the radiator as I said I didn't know any better. As I am doing work on the car myself I am changing all the fluids in the car.
Just to mention, there is nothing wrong with the car, there are no codes and everything runs 100% fine. I am just re-doing the entire suspension myself (all suspension and swaybar bushings, painting areas on the bottom if I see any rust, new shocks etc) since I learned what needs to be changed to get a smoother ride.
I stumbled into some of these posts regarding the coolant because I have to drain the radiator and was wondering if I should just use the prestone or go with the toyota. I cant really tell if the coolant is red or pink, when looking at the reservoir it looks like light purple. Even in our 2016 rav4 and 2013 4runner it looks like the same color. I am expecting red to be red and pink to be pink.
Looking for guidance here folks.... still learning...
I have used mobil 1 synthetic from the day I bought the car. Never did a radiator flush, always used prestone in the radiator as I said I didn't know any better. As I am doing work on the car myself I am changing all the fluids in the car.
Just to mention, there is nothing wrong with the car, there are no codes and everything runs 100% fine. I am just re-doing the entire suspension myself (all suspension and swaybar bushings, painting areas on the bottom if I see any rust, new shocks etc) since I learned what needs to be changed to get a smoother ride.
I stumbled into some of these posts regarding the coolant because I have to drain the radiator and was wondering if I should just use the prestone or go with the toyota. I cant really tell if the coolant is red or pink, when looking at the reservoir it looks like light purple. Even in our 2016 rav4 and 2013 4runner it looks like the same color. I am expecting red to be red and pink to be pink.
Looking for guidance here folks.... still learning...
pluton
Senior Member
Like motor oil, the most important thing about coolant is have it in the engine. It is of secondary importance exactly what brand/type of coolant is in the system.
You can use any coolant in your engine, however:
1. Do not mix different types of coolant. If you are switching types, thoroughly drain/flush the old stuff out.
2. The Toyota coolant is designed to be unusually long lasting. Like 60, 80, 100 thousand miles. Some other cheaper brands may last just as long. Some of the cheaper types may not last as long before the anti-corrosion chemicals poop out.
If I was to switch from the Toyota Red that I currently have in the engine, I'd switch to the "Asian formula" or "Compatible with all types" coolants, and probably change it out more often.
You can use any coolant in your engine, however:
1. Do not mix different types of coolant. If you are switching types, thoroughly drain/flush the old stuff out.
2. The Toyota coolant is designed to be unusually long lasting. Like 60, 80, 100 thousand miles. Some other cheaper brands may last just as long. Some of the cheaper types may not last as long before the anti-corrosion chemicals poop out.
If I was to switch from the Toyota Red that I currently have in the engine, I'd switch to the "Asian formula" or "Compatible with all types" coolants, and probably change it out more often.
SaulG
Member
Red/Pink/Yellow/Blue/Green all are offered in low silicate HOAT...
Red and yellow = pink/orange ( pink+pink+red =ok)
Green and yellow = chartreuse ( green+green+yellow=ok)
Orange and yellow= gold or ? ( orange+yellow=who cares)
Blue and yellow=green ( blue +yellow+yellow= change it)
Red and Blue=violet (blue+red+pink=desperate)
Red and Green=BROWN (no one wants their radiator full of shyt)
Red and yellow = pink/orange ( pink+pink+red =ok)
Green and yellow = chartreuse ( green+green+yellow=ok)
Orange and yellow= gold or ? ( orange+yellow=who cares)
Blue and yellow=green ( blue +yellow+yellow= change it)
Red and Blue=violet (blue+red+pink=desperate)
Red and Green=BROWN (no one wants their radiator full of shyt)
RedSled
New member
You made me LOL.
Agriess
New member
Didn't realize this was a 3rd gen thred as I have a 4th gen, but nevertheless, this is usually what I go with, I don't do a good job of checking the engine coolant, but never had a problem yet. I just fill it to the recommended level when I catch that it's low. I just bought it today cause I'm tired of my car blowing cold air when idle... That and for my little 16 month old so she doesn't freeze. Their might be a little leak somewhere but I just put 1.5k into new tires, windshield, serpintine belt and the SAR or SAS can't remember, airbag warning light that came on.
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brillo_76
Elite Member
It happens. :] That should work. I use Toyota OEM long lasting antifreeze in my older toyotas. I buy the concentrate and mix 50/50 with distilled water. The pink fluid is used in the newer Toyotas as my 09 Camry and my moms 2011 Camry use it.
If I exchange the antifreeze. I go with the long lasting red fluid. I just top off the newer vehicles I use pink.
I dont know alot about the new pink fluid as it probably replaces the older fluid.
Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
If I exchange the antifreeze. I go with the long lasting red fluid. I just top off the newer vehicles I use pink.
I dont know alot about the new pink fluid as it probably replaces the older fluid.
Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
pluton
Senior Member
Tim, I also do not want to carry coolant on remote trips.
Question: If a hose blew and one had to add coolant to the system after the repair, couldn't one just put clean water into the cooling system for a few days or a week without doing harm?
Adding any water to the coolant will change your ratio and therefore your freezing/boiling points, but it will be fine in the short term. The preferred water to add is distilled water because it doesn't have as many minerals to corrode as tap or bottled water. I would flush my coolant sooner than later after adding tap water to my cooling system.
I always carry a jug of water/antifreeze on remote trips. One time I had a hose blow on a remote back road and had to make several long walks to a stream with a water bottle, at night, to refill the system so I could get out.
replaced lower rad hose and flushed system on my return to civilization.
Used duct tape and the clamp off my intake hose over the hole area...leaked...but I got out. I also now carry rescue tape.overheated the car, that's how I knew I blew a hose..no issues with head gaskets etc, so I was lucky. At first I though I did, but that poor running was related to the clamp off hose on the intake up by throttle body, so fuel air ratio was not correct.
I now use the full strength red antifreeze and mix to proportions needed to get to minus 50.
when I lived in Oregon, would mix 50/50 with distilled water.
replaced lower rad hose and flushed system on my return to civilization.
Used duct tape and the clamp off my intake hose over the hole area...leaked...but I got out. I also now carry rescue tape.overheated the car, that's how I knew I blew a hose..no issues with head gaskets etc, so I was lucky. At first I though I did, but that poor running was related to the clamp off hose on the intake up by throttle body, so fuel air ratio was not correct.
I now use the full strength red antifreeze and mix to proportions needed to get to minus 50.
when I lived in Oregon, would mix 50/50 with distilled water.
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phattyduck
Elite Member
Down here in SoCal, I mix 40/60 antifreeze/water for higher heat capacity (better engine cooling). That's a good reason to stick with the non-diluted Red...
-Charlie
Dieselchessy
New member
I use Green stuff. The latest with added corrosion inhibitors, long life 5 year/100K stuff. I've never owned a Toyota that had the red stuff.
Sometimes I add "water wetter". Mostly cause I like the name and the theory. My rigs still run 189 to 192 degrees despite the claims of 20-30 degrees cooler. I dream that it somehow reduces hot spots in the heads.
If I've ever had issues from silicates I didn't realize it. The green stuff hasn't caused me any issues.
Sometimes I add "water wetter". Mostly cause I like the name and the theory. My rigs still run 189 to 192 degrees despite the claims of 20-30 degrees cooler. I dream that it somehow reduces hot spots in the heads.
If I've ever had issues from silicates I didn't realize it. The green stuff hasn't caused me any issues.
