Coolant Change Interval on Low Use Toyota

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Since brand new, I have changed the coolant in my 14 year old Avalon every two years using only Toyota Red coolant with distilled water. Recommended change interval is 2 years or 24k miles. This worked well since I used to drive 10-12k miles per year. Now I only drive about 6k miles per year. Can I extend the coolant change interval to, say, every 3 years without causing corrosion in the cooling system? Thanks.
 
IMHO, YES! I use Toyota Red in my wifes '01 Lexus RX and have faithfully changed it every 3 years since new. I actually thought it called for every 3 years
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Originally Posted By: Char Baby
IMHO, YES! I use Toyota Red in my wifes '01 Lexus RX and have faithfully changed it every 3 years since new. I actually thought it called for every 3 years
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I just checked my manual. Recommended interval is every two years or 30k miles. Don't know where I got the idea it was 24k miles. Recommendations are based on driving 1250 miles per month.
 
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Yea, not a problem though, as Toyota RED Long Life is a 3 year coolant anyway...IIRC!


I was under the impression that RED was good for 5 years or 100k miles?
 
Originally Posted By: chadmills
I was under the impression that RED was good for 5 years or 100k miles?

Nope, that's the Super Long Life pink premix.

As for the Toyota Long Life red, my research/reading indicates the recommened service interval to be 24 months or 30k miles. That said, 3 years ~30k likely would be ok. Your call.
 
I dunno, I know on my TDI using the wrong coolant, or more precisely, mixing different types, causes sludge issues. I wouldn't change types unless if I could know that I got all the old coolant out.
 
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
So, the "long Life" is only for the initial fill and after that it's got the same life as regular green. What's the point?
I would just flush the system and install something more readily available, cheaper and be done with it.


Super Long Life (i.e. Pink) for initial fill is 100k miles, and then every 50k miles.

The (Long Life) red is 30k miles whenever, initial or therafter.

The Toyota coolant is actually a great antifreeze. It keeps the coolant passages and such looking like new, absolutely zero corrosion.
 
With that knowledge I would go ahead and use the Pink. I believe they can be mixed with each other so you wouldn't need a vigorous flush. Downside is it only comes in 50/50.
 
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