Notices
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

radiator fluid....green or pink? what gives..?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 10:20 AM
  #1  
chugs's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
radiator fluid....green or pink? what gives..?

What's the difference between the green and pink radiator fluid?
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 10:31 AM
  #2  
Ringmaster's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 814
Likes: 0
From: Spokane Valley Washington
Green is the old school antifreeze.

Pink/Orange/red is more aluminum freindly type anti freeze. Anti corrosive to aluminum engine/radiator parts.

If you change coolant, refill with the same color as what came out of the rig, their not compatible.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 07:39 PM
  #3  
HAVOC's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 935
Likes: 4
From: Branford, CT.
As far as Toyota is concerned, you can mix the red/pink with the green stuff. But it does make the coolant look like it's dirty/rusty, so stick with one or the other.
If you have a GM vehicle, DO NOT mix anything with the orange coolant. Don't know about any other makes.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 09:42 PM
  #4  
CoedNaked's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
I am pretty sure Toyota uses the red or pink coolant (whatever colour it is) because it reduces or prevents electrolysis between the different metals. I would stick with the Toyota or similar stuff, and try not to mix.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 09:57 PM
  #5  
CJM's Avatar
CJM
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,940
Likes: 2
From: Central NJ
They do use the red stuff iirc from the factory and at the shop at the dealers. I dunno I just stick with what color comes out, but the plain jane green stuff hasnt failed me yet inother cars.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 10:01 PM
  #6  
DCS's Avatar
DCS
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 9
From: East Oregon
Hmmm.

The orange colored coolant specified for use in GM vehicles is DexCool. It is not compatible with other coolants. Mixing the two will cause a sediment fallout problem that can lead to problems.

There are new green-colored coolants available which advertise compatibility with ALL other coolants. These have a different formulation which eliminates the fallout problem.

The DexCool is blamed for intake manifold gasket failure on 1995 to 2001 GM vehicles (give or take a year). It was corrosive to the paper in the gaskets, causing nearly universal failure. Read all about it at fullsizechevy.com.

GM avoided a recall somehow (collusion most likely), and newer GM vehicles have multi-layer plastic/rubber/metal gaskets which are immune to the stuff. I just replaced the intake manifold gasket on my 96 Yukon for this reason. I used a Felpro gasket, it was the new multi-layer variety.

It's quite common among GM owners to flush and fill with old-style green stuff - ethylene glycol. I did.

The only benefit of Dexcool was that it was formulated to protect against corrosion for 100,000 miles. It's downside was incompatibility with other coolants, its higher price, and its corrosive action against paper gaskets.

The 4runner is just fine on ethylene glycol.

I've seen pink coolant; I think it was formulated to taste bad so pets won't lick it off the ground and die. I beleive it's compatible with old and new green colored formulations.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 10:20 PM
  #7  
91muddog's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 864
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara California
Pink coolant it actualy not compatable at all.

A buddy of mine mixed it with the green stuff and it turned into jello.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2007 | 12:03 AM
  #8  
TNRabbit's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,787
Likes: 36
From: TENN Native Languishing in Virginia
I bought Toyota-specific coolant from NAPA; it is kind of a gold color.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2007 | 12:25 AM
  #9  
95yota's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: CAlifornia
i think this helps. try here

http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...tember/04.html
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2007 | 04:35 AM
  #10  
curtiswyant's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Just use green
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 10:51 AM
  #11  
chugs's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
where can i get red coolant?
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 11:04 AM
  #12  
dirtyXplorer's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Mile High
Originally Posted by curtiswyant
Just use green
My 93 had green in it when I got it from the PO...
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 11:08 AM
  #13  
OW3ND's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Tampa,Florida
Here in florida i use straight water and redline water wetter...


I flush my system every oil change tho...


But for thoes who need to run antif/coolant run the green stuff...it also has never let me down...
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 01:21 PM
  #14  
Georgiadave's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 1
From: Marietta, Georgia
1. Toyota coolant is specific to Toyota.
2. There is no off the shelf coolant that is the same as Toyota, which does not have any silcates in it, and uses a proprietary Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT). Trying to decide what is in Toyota coolant is the subject of many dead horse beatings.
3. Color has nothing to do with the chemical makeup of any coolant.
4. Buy Toyota coolant at the dealer (spit), it will cost about $20 a gallon for 100%. Sometimes it is just better to pay up, and this is one of them.
5. There is no such thing as universal coolant, because there are widely different chemistries used.
6. Just because a coolant has not ruined your cooling system outright does not make it correct.

My $.02, let the comments flow.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 03:51 PM
  #15  
mr toytech's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 532
Likes: 1
From: kc mo
Originally Posted by 89dlx
As far as Toyota is concerned, you can mix the red/pink with the green stuff. But it does make the coolant look like it's dirty/rusty, so stick with one or the other.
If you have a GM vehicle, DO NOT mix anything with the orange coolant. Don't know about any other makes.
that is totally incorrect. toyota does not say you can mix the red with the green. you can mix the red with the pink but you have to use the reds service intervals. mixing the green is very bad unless it is a emergency as it turns to jelly as stated above. if you do this i would totally flush it out as soon as possible.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 03:58 PM
  #16  
rowdy235's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 1
From: Sweet Home, OR
I just use green stuff. Wal-mart special.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 04:56 PM
  #17  
javadoody's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: colorado
and the gods have spoken:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...tember/04.html
enjoy.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 06:49 PM
  #18  
tnactsuj's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
some pink is RV antifreeze for winterizing the water lines
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 06:57 PM
  #19  
CJM's Avatar
CJM
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,940
Likes: 2
From: Central NJ
Wanna know what color mine is? Its vanilla, aka it comes from my shop is is a longer life, universal coolant.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2008 | 07:13 PM
  #20  
notanymore's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 972
Likes: 0
From: Wenatchee WA
iv only been driving a few years so i dont really know but how long have companies been using different antifreezes? but i always have used the green ethyl glycol stuff in my truck.
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:47 AM.