2008 Corolla coolant change interval

[pbm]

My 2008 Corolla has approximately 45K and will have 50K when it is 5 years old later this fall (built in September 2007).
The owner's manual states that the factory fill Toyota Super Long Life (pink) can go 10 years or 120K.
What are the opinions and recommendations of my fellow BITOGers on when to change the factory fill?

The OE coolant still looks good (bright pink).

(I'll be using PEAK Global).

 

[bluestream]

If it looks clean it fine. 10 years is no problem

 

[hate2work]

I did a drain and refill using a gallon of the Toyota fluid at the 50k mark in my wife's 06 Corolla. The coolant looked fine, but I did it anyway to make me feel better. My plan is to do that every 50k and to sleep well.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: hate2work

I did a drain and refill using a gallon of the Toyota fluid at the 50k mark in my wife's 06 Corolla. The coolant looked fine, but I did it anyway to make me feel better. My plan is to do that every 50k and to sleep well.


I'm tempted to follow your lead even though I'm not sure it's necessary. If the Corolla had a timing belt (which meant I'd be changing the water pump every 90 or 100K) I'd probably go 7 years (10 years just seems too long).

 

[Quest]

Toy ULL pink is good (came from factory assembly line) for 10yrs, then replace it @ every 5yrs interval.

wifey's 04 camry is coming close to 8yrs on factory fill...will change it out in a couple of years time and every 5 yrs thereafter.

Q.

 

[lucerne06]

why switch to peak global??...just do a drain and refill every five years of the PINK...no worries

 

[JOD]

If I were in your shoes, I'd save the money from the early drain/fill, and do it @ 100K with the Toyota coolant.

I'm sure if you research this forum, you'll find an 8 page thread with people trying to figure out what's actually in (or not in) the factory coolant, and in the end no real consensus. Toyota seem to have a good reputation for the robustness of their cooling systems, and the OEM coolant is part of that system (as is the service interval). I've been down this road myself, several times. Ultimately I find it easier just to use the factory coolant.

 

[The Critic]

I had a radiator drain and fill with Toyota SLL at 31k on my 2011 Prius. About 60% came out. I will do the separate inverter loop myself soon once I have time.

Although it was not necessary, I just felt like getting it done that day.

I would only use Toyota SLL, there's absolutely no reason to use PEAK global. I have yet to see any evidence that Peak Global will work as well as SLL. SLL is $21/gal here in the premix and it usually takes 1 gal for the drain/fill.

 

[friendly_jacek]

Originally Posted By: Quest
Toy ULL pink is good (came from factory assembly line) for 10yrs, then replace it @ every 5yrs interval.

wifey's 04 camry is coming close to 8yrs on factory fill...will change it out in a couple of years time and every 5 yrs thereafter.

Q.


I remember a thread where the exact ingredients were specified. It's on the bottle too IIRC.

There is actually a rumor that toyota had problems with waterpump seals after they started using LLC.

Discussed here on BITOG too.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I had a radiator drain and fill with Toyota SLL at 31k on my 2011 Prius. ...
Although it was not necessary, I just felt like getting it done that day.
Who did thae? My Toyota dealer here refused to do any unnecessary service. I DEMANDED a Brake system bleed at 40k and they flat out refused. That T'd me off.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: lucerne06
why switch to peak global??...just do a drain and refill every five years of the PINK...no worries


I would agree. Changing over to peak global would require completely flushing the system. Also global is not likely to offer the performance level of SLLC. It would be simpler to just drain the radiator and add the SLC premix. I don't think it would be unreasonable to do this at 5 years even if the first change is recommended at 10 years.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Peak global is working just fine in every vehicle I have used it in including my 05 Corolla.

From well below zero to well above 100 degrees over the years. A lot of this coolant stuff is overblown IMO.

Bill

PS: The factory fill is fine for the 100k or time.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I agree with posters about leave FF in for 10 years/100k miles. I leave FF in my '04 S2000 until 2014. I don't know which one I will go with when time to change the coolant in my S2000, may be stay with Honda or completely flush out the FF and replace with Peak Global.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Originally Posted By: lucerne06
why switch to peak global??...just do a drain and refill every five years of the PINK...no worries


I would agree. Changing over to peak global would require completely flushing the system. Also global is not likely to offer the performance level of SLLC. It would be simpler to just drain the radiator and add the SLC premix. I don't think it would be unreasonable to do this at 5 years even if the first change is recommended at 10 years.


Mechanix: Do you feel the Zerex Asian is as good as the SLL?

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: pbm
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Originally Posted By: lucerne06
why switch to peak global??...just do a drain and refill every five years of the PINK...no worries


I would agree. Changing over to peak global would require completely flushing the system. Also global is not likely to offer the performance level of SLLC. It would be simpler to just drain the radiator and add the SLC premix. I don't think it would be unreasonable to do this at 5 years even if the first change is recommended at 10 years.


Mechanix: Do you feel the Zerex Asian is as good as the SLL?


In regards to corrosion protection level and service life, I'd say that SLL (and Dexcool) is slightly higher performing than ZAV (and PGL). ZAV and SLL on not exactly the same formula. This is part of the reason SLL (and Dexcool) formulas are selected by OEM and not ZAV and PGL. If you look at the test results they would suggest that but they are hard to find. But the difference in service is very slight especially if you do regular maintenance. ZAV and the rest all meet ASTM standards, so I don't mean to cast aspersion on it. Any difference in performance is probably negligible but they're both premix and the price difference is neglible then factor in concentrate Ford speciality Green and ZAV doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Originally Posted By: The Critic
I had a radiator drain and fill with Toyota SLL at 31k on my 2011 Prius. ...
Although it was not necessary, I just felt like getting it done that day.
Who did thae? My Toyota dealer here refused to do any unnecessary service. I DEMANDED a Brake system bleed at 40k and they flat out refused. That T'd me off.

It really depends on the dealer. Some dealers I have been to are true "factory bible believers" and will not perform any services that are not called for. Due to the long intervals and skimpy service requirements by the OEM, these dealers significantly overprice their services in order to stay alive.

There are the other dealers who price their services more aggressively, but also add in extra services that most traditional DIYers are familiar with and agree with. My selling dealer was one of these, and had no problem with doing the coolant service. However, they had issues with doing the brake fluid so I did this myself since I have Techstream.