THIS is a stupid question....cooalnt for radiator?
10-31-2007, 08:52 AM
#21
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The drain? If you have a valve with a knob that would be the petcock valve...and all you have to do is unscrew it and it will drain. Mine doesn't have one (aftermarket) so I have to pull the bottom hose. Some may tell you to pull the freeze plugs at the block (in fact, I think the manual recommends it), but since you have the Buick motor I couldn't tell you where exactly those are. So, if the coolant doesn't look too bad, you might be able to just get away with backflushing the block. And the thermo.....depends on how bad things look in there and how old the thermo is. If you have no idea, it's a cheap thing to replace. I don't know where it is on your motor, though. Certainly a Haynes manual could tell.
10-31-2007, 08:55 AM
#22
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Antifreeze and coolant are one and the same. Usually, 50/50 mix....never 100% coolant. But, again, refer to a manual since I don't know your motor.
10-31-2007, 09:13 AM
#23
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i have a gallon of antifreeze/coolant 50/50 mixture in the garage. it says DO NOT ADD WATER. I think its just a refill or something. I can tell you exactly what it says...you can tell me if it works. I doubt a gallon would be enough
10-31-2007, 09:45 AM
#24
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but that is just me...
the differences between the green/red stuff is the green is the normal ethyl-glycol stuff and the red is the new "life-time of the car" wonder stuff which is a different chemical. As a previous post noted they don't get along together.
10-31-2007, 10:15 AM
#26
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btw my transmission fluid is like a slight purple color but its kinda dark is this bad?
i think i might have toyota tranny fluid not sure...
10-31-2007, 11:49 AM
#27
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Tacoma...
Something I wanted to mention just so you'd make the connection between terminologies. Coolant is antifreeze because, as a coolant, it pulls heat from the motor to be circulated in the radiator for cooling. BUT, since simply using straight water for cooling would freeze there are chemicals added to prevent that. Hence...coolant=antifreeze.
Infiltrator....
Why it's "purple" is odd. I've not seen anything other than red. So, I will assume your tranny fluid was red out of the bottle.
I'm guessing what you're describing as the color is the effect of contaminants interacting with the red hue.....considering, as you said, it is dark. In which case, it is spent and maybe burned. You should smell it and see if it is. Also rub some between your fingers and see what it feels like. I'm sure it will not feel the way it should in consistency.... more like a somewhat thick and slippery lube and not water. If it does smelled burned, you may want to have it checked out as that indicates some damage. On the other hand, if it's shifting normally and not making unusual noises, you're most likely okay and just need a simple change...and possibly a flush. Draining will tell you more. If there's damage, there may be particles in the first bit of fluid that comes out.
Something I wanted to mention just so you'd make the connection between terminologies. Coolant is antifreeze because, as a coolant, it pulls heat from the motor to be circulated in the radiator for cooling. BUT, since simply using straight water for cooling would freeze there are chemicals added to prevent that. Hence...coolant=antifreeze.
Infiltrator....
Why it's "purple" is odd. I've not seen anything other than red. So, I will assume your tranny fluid was red out of the bottle.
I'm guessing what you're describing as the color is the effect of contaminants interacting with the red hue.....considering, as you said, it is dark. In which case, it is spent and maybe burned. You should smell it and see if it is. Also rub some between your fingers and see what it feels like. I'm sure it will not feel the way it should in consistency.... more like a somewhat thick and slippery lube and not water. If it does smelled burned, you may want to have it checked out as that indicates some damage. On the other hand, if it's shifting normally and not making unusual noises, you're most likely okay and just need a simple change...and possibly a flush. Draining will tell you more. If there's damage, there may be particles in the first bit of fluid that comes out.
Last edited by thook; 10-31-2007 at 11:51 AM.
10-31-2007, 12:44 PM
#28
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10-31-2007, 02:43 PM
#29
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Tacoma...
Something I wanted to mention just so you'd make the connection between terminologies. Coolant is antifreeze because, as a coolant, it pulls heat from the motor to be circulated in the radiator for cooling. BUT, since simply using straight water for cooling would freeze there are chemicals added to prevent that. Hence...coolant=antifreeze.
Infiltrator....
Why it's "purple" is odd. I've not seen anything other than red. So, I will assume your tranny fluid was red out of the bottle.
I'm guessing what you're describing as the color is the effect of contaminants interacting with the red hue.....considering, as you said, it is dark. In which case, it is spent and maybe burned. You should smell it and see if it is. Also rub some between your fingers and see what it feels like. I'm sure it will not feel the way it should in consistency.... more like a somewhat thick and slippery lube and not water. If it does smelled burned, you may want to have it checked out as that indicates some damage. On the other hand, if it's shifting normally and not making unusual noises, you're most likely okay and just need a simple change...and possibly a flush. Draining will tell you more. If there's damage, there may be particles in the first bit of fluid that comes out.
Something I wanted to mention just so you'd make the connection between terminologies. Coolant is antifreeze because, as a coolant, it pulls heat from the motor to be circulated in the radiator for cooling. BUT, since simply using straight water for cooling would freeze there are chemicals added to prevent that. Hence...coolant=antifreeze.
Infiltrator....
Why it's "purple" is odd. I've not seen anything other than red. So, I will assume your tranny fluid was red out of the bottle.
I'm guessing what you're describing as the color is the effect of contaminants interacting with the red hue.....considering, as you said, it is dark. In which case, it is spent and maybe burned. You should smell it and see if it is. Also rub some between your fingers and see what it feels like. I'm sure it will not feel the way it should in consistency.... more like a somewhat thick and slippery lube and not water. If it does smelled burned, you may want to have it checked out as that indicates some damage. On the other hand, if it's shifting normally and not making unusual noises, you're most likely okay and just need a simple change...and possibly a flush. Draining will tell you more. If there's damage, there may be particles in the first bit of fluid that comes out.
10-31-2007, 03:05 PM
#30
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(I learned to mod quotes recently. Can you tell?
)
10-31-2007, 03:32 PM
#31
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From what I've gotten to know (little experience with Toy a/t's but a lot with chev's) if the fluid is dark at all (brown, purple-ish, etc.) it means it is old and possibly that it has gotten hot at some point in time. As far as coolant, I replace mine once a year whether it looks good or not, that stuff gets very corrosive over time, I've seen it bore holes in tstat housings after just a few years of low maintenance. Toyota red, I didn't know it it existed until I found this site, I don't think I've even seen mention of it on Pirate lol. I have always ran the green, and with regular changes no problems. If you leave it in too long it can eat at the head showing symptoms of an HG leak, when in actuality it burns a path through the bottom of the head between cylinders.
10-31-2007, 04:28 PM
#32
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Is it necessary to use the Toyata brand coolant. I just replaced my radiator and I used the green stuff and hose water.
Will it hurt to let it go for now and use distilled water next year?
Will it hurt to let it go for now and use distilled water next year?
10-31-2007, 04:49 PM
#33
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Green stuff is fine. Nothing special or expensive is necessary. That's a matter of choice. Your tap water is good for now, too.
10-31-2007, 05:08 PM
#34
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If you've already switched to the green I'd probably stay with that, but get that hose water out of there. IMHO using distilled water is more important than the type of coolant.
10-31-2007, 05:16 PM
#36
Contributing Member
No minerals in it to make deposits and no ions in it to cause electrolysis.
?lec?trol?y?sis /ɪlɛkˈtrɒləsɪs, ˌilɛk-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[i-lek-trol-uh-sis, ee-lek-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
?noun 1. Physical Chemistry. the passage of an electric current through an electrolyte with subsequent migration of positively and negatively charged ions to the negative and positive electrodes.
?lec?trol?y?sis /ɪlɛkˈtrɒləsɪs, ˌilɛk-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[i-lek-trol-uh-sis, ee-lek-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
?noun 1. Physical Chemistry. the passage of an electric current through an electrolyte with subsequent migration of positively and negatively charged ions to the negative and positive electrodes.
10-31-2007, 06:16 PM
#38
Registered User
In the end, though, you are right....and coolant is cheap anyway. So, it wouldn't hurt [Tacoma] to drain and start over.
I found this article last night (while posting in another thread) on electrolysis. Good explanation.
http://www.drivewerks.com/Newsletter/vol-7.htm
10-31-2007, 06:44 PM
#40
Registered User
just use a good brand of antifreeze doesnt matter what brand really as long as its all the same type. and 50/50 40/60 60/40 are all good mix's depending on your climate and whether you need more heat protection or more freeze protection.
