I decided to get toyota red antifreeze from dealer. I am moving to Alaska so i decided to put in a 195 degree thermostat in case the original one was 180. I have also noticed trouble warming up in the morning but up until this point (I am in georgia) car hasn't seen cold weather.

A little history of my 94 runner:

Bought last year in El Paso Texas.
Drove to Georgia.

Today I Pulled off thermostat housing and found out why it has been taking awhile to warm up in the morning (see pic). I am going to fill up radiator a couple times with distilled water, run, then drain. I put the gutted thermostat back on for now until i am done flushing.

 

nice two piece!

 

why the switch to Toyota red? I live in one of the most extreme climates in America, certainly in Alaska, and do just fine with Prestone at a 70/30 mix, anti-freeze/water, respectively.
I would wait until you get to Alaska to change the thermo to 195. While you're driving up, its going to be warmer, plus, your engine is going to get hot from driving 500+ miles a day.

Where are you moving to in Alaska?

 

Red toyota AF is just red global

 

Do some research, you will find out why Toyota Red coolant is what you want. The absence of silica's being one of the most important.

Did you get the proper toyota thermostat for the 22re? (dual valve)

 

Them dang things are 30 bucks or so. I will put one on my Xmass list. Part #90916-03070

 

Ya, I did a quite a bit or reading about antifreeze these last few weeks. I finally went to the dealership and picked up three gallons of the red stuff for about 80 bucks. I figure it pays to spend a few extra bucks on something you only do once a year to keep your water jacket clean.

I put the gutted thermostat back in, filled up with distilled water, ran motor for a minute, then pulled off bottom radiator hose. I did this a half a dozen times before putting in new thermostat and filling with one gallon toyota red/one gallon distilled water.

Anyway, I don't have the 22re, i have the 3vze 6 cylinder. The picture I attached to my original post has the new thermostat (from advance auto) and the gutted one I pulled out of motor. The new one is rated for 190-195 degrees.

The motor holds its temp now when I park it and go into the grocery store, etc, and doesn't take as long to warm up in the morning. It is still pretty mild here in georgia but it is still a little chilly in the morning.

It is understandable why someone would tear out the thermostat in The southern states where the climate is a little severe (120+) degrees in the summertime. El Paso was miserable in the summer, too hot to do anything besides go to the beach and there aren't many beaches in west texas.

 

Found out yesterday we aren't going to Alaska anymore. My wife had her orders recinded and it looks like we will be going to Maryland instead, gotta love the army, they let you have a few months to prepare for one thing and then flip things upsidedown. I would prefer the west coast (ft. lewis)because of the waves and the rocky mountains but I guess we will see what the northern east coast will bring.

Mind you, that was the last we heard, supposedly orders will be cut by the end of the week.