2001 Corolla coolant maintenance?

[sw99]

I bought the car in November with 48K. It's currently at 58K. This car was owned by an elderly woman and I am pretty sure the coolant is the factory fill Toyota LL coolant. The coolant tank is clean with no sediment that I can see. The color in nice and red as it should be. I figure a couple drain and fill sessions should get me up to par with the age of the vehicle. Anyone see any issues with this?

 

[Kira]

Hello, Short answer: No, I see no issues with this approach.
Longer answer: I'd get the engine warmed up and pull the bottom hose and unscrew the drain plug and catch what comes out.
I'd decide to alter my cooling system maintenance plan with regard to what I saw.
How do the hoses look? Kira

 

[bepperb]

Drain and fill with Toyota long life (red) is probably ok. If it were me I'd drain, fill with distilled, drain and fill with Toyota Pink (super long life), Zerex Asian or Peak Global Long Life and be done with it.

 

[zzyzzx]

I would just leave it if it test OK with it's freezing point. If you are going to flush it out completely, I would use regular long life Prestone (green stuff) since it's way cheaper and easier to get than that red stuff. The only thing the red does is cost more and get you confused with respect to exactly what it leaking.

 

[Lolvoguy]

dont' simply go by freeze point and appearance.

Get some coolant test strips. They will give you the freeze/boil point as well as the Ph level of the coolant.

 

[Jeffs2006EvoIX]

Toyota Coolant is very good. The idea you have is good, I would do the same plus add a bottle of Redline Water Wetter, but thats just me

Jeff

 

[sw99]

A gallon of Toyota LL coolant at my local dealer is $35. Mixed with distilled water will give me two drain and fill's. I'm totally fine with the protection this adds and I really dont want to go through the hassle of switching coolant types.

 

[sw99]

Actually just found some online for $27 shipped so even better...

 

[artificialist]

Is there a CarQuest nearby? Sometimes they have Toyota Red in stock, but the price varies.

 

[901Memphis]

Totally disagree with using Prestone in a Toyota and also redline water wetter. Prestone does not have the proper additive package for your application and water wetter is supposed to be used with straight water and is useless with 50/50 mixture.

Good move going with the oem coolant!

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: sw99
A gallon of Toyota LL coolant at my local dealer is $35.....

Now that is whacked! The stealership strikes again.

As for topic, assuming you are using distilled water for d&f's, plan sounds fine to me.

Even at $27 for the red though, I'd be looking at PepBoys Asian PHOAT full strength for $20/gal. Or Peak Global Lifetime full strength from Napa for currently ~$14.50/gal, which I'm currently using in a Tacoma. And unlike Red, both are extended service interval AF's. But that's just me.

 

[sw99]

Thanks folks. I have read several reports that state that Toyota LL coolant was specifically designed for the Toyota components. I just feel more comfortable using the OEM stuff in this Corolla.

 

[Boss302fan]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
Drain and fill with Toyota long life (red) is probably ok. If it were me I'd drain, fill with distilled, drain and fill with Toyota Pink (super long life), Zerex Asian or Peak Global Long Life and be done with it.



Ditto... You could probably also just do a radiator drain and fill and be fine.

 

[Drew99GT]

There are 2 types of Toyota coolent; a newer pink color that is only available pre mixed with distilled water (Super Long Life), and the older style Long Life that is red and only comes concentrated. I'd use whichever one was factory fill which I think is the older RED style; according to this thread, Toyota was still using the Red as late as 2003.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1507961

Carquest carries the Red.

 

[sw99]

Got the Toyota red LL coolant the other day and did the first drain and fill. Took about a gallon (Mixed with distilled water) like I figured. I'll save the other gallon I mixed up for next years drain and fill. Thanks everyone.