For those of you with 3VZE's who have had problems with multiple head gasket failures, assuming the engine was put back properly (head was true, and you used stock or at least very high quality gaskets as replacements and proper head bolts), what kind of coolant have you been running?

 

have not had any head gasket issues but i run the toyota red. have got 30k on the rebuild.#1 rod came apart on previus owner.

 

Hey CoedNaked:

1) first headgasket replacemnet by dealer; this was before we purchased 94 4Runner at 128,000 so can't say for sure
2) at 152,000: Leaking upper idler pulley; culprit, green coolant non issue
car was overheated by by 20 yr. old daughter: Rock Gasket, new headbolts, heads milled
3) at 183,000: this is tricky because I was not driving the car. Now did the cart come before the horse or the horse before the cart. Coolant disappearing, was it trickling out the headgasket(via the exhaust) or did the radiator have some pinhole leaks at the top.
Wish I could tell you.
4) Variables controlled this time: New Radiator (copper/brass); Rock Gaskets
New 10.9 topline bolts, Heads milled .006, torque procedure followed , cylinder head bolt holes chased clean of all gunk. Filled with the New Prestone 5 yr. Extended Life, safe for aluminum, heads. From what I can read it is the same as Toyota Red even with the O.A.T. and "No Silicates" just a lot less money and without the red dye.

We'll let you know the second she blows, trust me I'll be back for a "range of opinions."

Oh by the way car did not have Toyota Red when we bought if off the used lot at the 128 K listed above.

Better question for you to ask: How many rigs have green and are working just fine. (FSM says just use "a good brand of ethylene glycol base" and mix it to the manufacturers directions: 50-50 no more than 70% coolant. Do Not use alcohol based;
*For what it's worth I did not use my well water this time (79cent/gal) for the distilled H2O from Bi-Mart.

I would think if coolant were the main issue it would have been discovered by now and it would be a non issue for us do it yourselfers, most of us grew up on green being ok to use.
The new green Prestone is not the same as the OLD Green we all used to use thirty years ago from what I can tell. Just 2cents again though.

 

I actually use a gold version made specifically for Toyota alloy engines. Got it from NAPA, but don't remember the brand.

 

I use All Weather antifreeze, made from peak, I think. It is a 5 way protection type. Good for aluminum.