i have the 3.4 and will be flushing the radiator tomorrow. do i have to use toyota red coolant? i bought some prestone stuff from wally's and am going to clean/flush with distilled water. the chart there said that the fluid i got was good for imports. its yellow, and the dealers will be closed tomorrow here. ill be cleaning it with a small thing of prestone rad cleaner, to remove any scaling.

if you feel there is a need for the TOYOTA brand, tell me why please. anybody NOT use the "yota red"?

 

as long as you get all the old coolant out you should be fine

 

thanks, the stuff i got says it could be mixed with any kind of coolant. i am going to flush it twice and clean it once

 

If I were buying a used Toyota, it would be very reassuring to see some nice clean Toyota red coolant in it--
apart from that, just make sure your mix is up to the task of keeping things flowing this winter.

 

thats what food color is for!!!! :j/k:


i will be making an exact 50/50 as i am moving to hawaii!!

 

http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...tember/04.html

I personally went for the GM DexCool stuff at Wal Mart, but that's just me. It was only $9 there.

 

thanks for the link, i have no idea what the toyota stuff goes for but i bet its not cheap!!!
the stuff i got isnt premixed so its cheaper and i get more! i was going to get the orange til i saw gm on it! it would have cost me $30 for that one and i payed 20 for the equivelant of 4 gallons

 

toyota red is about $20-25 bucks for a gallon

 

anyone take a 3/8 hose to the drain by the pet-cock valve? did you just let the fluid drain out?

 

I just let the fluid drain out...with the skid plate off of course.

 

Thats how we do it at work. Just attach a small hose to that downspout. Also, make sure you drain it into a container and take it to a recycling facilty to be disposed of properly....many auto parts stores can also handle the fluids.

DO NOT just let it drain on the ground!!!! BAD BAD BAD that ends up in storm drains and kills fish and other things. Like cats. And we al love kittys.

 

It really does not matter what type of coolant you use to replace you stock Toyota coolant. One type is not better at cooling than the other.

Some of the newer coolants are suppose to be easier on the environment than the old type green coolant. As long as your cooling system does not leak and is not overfilled to where it overflows out the reservoir the green stuff has no impact on the environment. Oh yea, don't dump the stuff down the drain; take it to a recycler. The only thing is some types do not mix well or at all.

Both the old type and the new type coolants have additives that help with scum buildup. There have been claims that the newer type coolant additives last longer but I have not witnessed this myself. Frankly, I have not run the newer coolant long enough to test this claim out.

The only thing is some types do not mix well or at all. If you plan on switching coolant make sure they are compatible or flush the whole system. You must also use the appropriate tester for they coolant you are using. I have had problems with anti-freeze testers that did not read the mixure correctly when to "compatable antifreezes" were mixed.

Personally, I use the cheap green coolant in my 1990 Toyota truck. Also, if cooling sytem work is required on newer fleet vehicles (at my place of employement) the coolant is switched to the green antifreeze.

 

DeathCouger, your a little quicker to respond than me. exept for the loving kittys part!!!

 

DANG!, the place on the base would have closed to soon for me to complete this task cause the fluid would have to cool down. i wonder if it will make a huge mess if i did it in the parking lot in the aprtments!!! j/k have to wait till wednsday now

 

you might consider a new thermostat while you are in there.

 

BTW: I meant into a bucket, not just on the ground.

 

i know!! just had the water pump changed and the thermo with it less thank 5k ago.

i was kidding, i think it will make a mess either way i do it! my luck i guess. ill just wait to put the runner on a lift and fill some buckets that way. i have to retap my tranny drain plug so i can do that while things cool down in there!

 

I would only use the Toyota coolant. Here is a link to a great writeup on why to use toyota coolant.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...toyota+coolant

 

come on strap, either i missed it or that write up said NOTHING to state the facts that using the "yota red" is a must.

maybe you posted the wrong thread!!!

 

im using toyota pink.