Toyota Coolant

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VWguy

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Hi all.
I replaced a water pump on a 2006 Tundra 4.0 V6. The truck had the pink coolant, which I reused. But I topped the system with Toyota Red.
What are the differences with the Toyota Pink and Red coolants? Any compatability issues?
Thanks in advance, Bill
 
I've seen that TSB before, and I've wondered what it means exactly. One could read it to say that pink fluid is back spec'd to any car that uses red (if it is mixable in one engine why wouldn't it be in another?) Yet, AFAIK I have never seen a blanket TSB that says any Toyota that was delivered with red can use pink and so on.

I have two older Toyotas that were delivered with red and in the past I have always used red when changing fluid. However, I would like to use pink if I got a longer lifetime out of it. But the TSB says that no intervals are affected - so I always read that to mean that I could use pink but would still be stuck with the red intervals.

But then again nowhere have I seen a statement that the two are backwards compatible in all instances. Also, why wouldn't Toyota discontinue the red if pink was the official replacement, much like Honda did with Type 2?
 
kschachn,

I'm wrestling with the same issues. I have two Toyota Tundras, both of which came from the factory with Pink, so no problem there. But my 2003 GS430 was made right before the switchover to Pink, so I have continued to use Red in it.

The local Toyota dealer charges about $19.30 for a Gallon of pink, but for some reason, they are now charging $37.50 for a gallon of red! I suspect their reasoning is you need more pink fluid than red (since you don't mix the pink with water), so they charge more for red.
 
Wow, $37.50?? Sheesh.

In general coolant prices have been going up but that is extreme. For a long time my local dealer sold the red for just under $20 a gallon. The last stuff I bought (a few weeks ago) was either $25 or $26, and IDK the price of the pink.

BMW blue is the same price, $25-something a gallon. It's a concentrate too.
 
Originally Posted By: btanchors
...The local Toyota dealer charges about $19.30 for a Gallon of pink, but for some reason, they are now charging $37.50 for a gallon of red! I suspect their reasoning is you need more pink fluid than red (since you don't mix the pink with water), so they charge more for red.

Actually when I last checked, around the time of the thread I linked to above, it was just the opposite. The Red LL was ~$18.50 and the Pink SLL ~$22 a gallon. Imo, the quoted price change is because Toy is gradually moving away from the Red to the Pink, so less inventory/supply of the Red.

That said, at the quoted prices I don't care how good the Red or Pink are. Next flush of my 01 Tacoma, I'm doing as Bill IU has suggested and going to full strength Peak Global LT from Napa. Up to $16.50 a gallon, but still relatively inexpensive compared to the Red or the premix Pink.
 
One small problem with Peak Global Life Time, it's amber in color, so that it's hard to see the coolant level behind the reservoir plastic container. Same with Zerex G-05.
 
I do know that on the Lexus GS-430 I mentioned above, I recently replaced the timing belt. As preventative maintenance, I went ahead and replaced the water pump and thermostat as well. After 84K miles over an 8.5 year period, the insides of the old water pump, and the passages I could see after removing the water pump and thermostat looked absolutely spotless, and could not be distinguished from new parts on the inside.

This engine has only had a diet of Toyota Red and distilled water, changed regularly, Initially at three years, then every 2 years or 30K miles.

The red stuff has done well for me, I hope the pink does as well!
 
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
One small problem with Peak Global Life Time, it's amber in color, so that it's hard to see the coolant level behind the reservoir plastic container. Same with Zerex G-05.


I was thinking of using either Peak Global or Zerex G-05 in my Corolla when I change out the factory pink stuff.
Does the Corolla have a dry intake manifold...because if it does I would use Prestone's Dexclone.
Has anybody used G-05 in a Corolla (or any Toyota) and what was the outcome?
 
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
One small problem with Peak Global Life Time, it's amber in color, so that it's hard to see the coolant level behind the reservoir plastic container......
Ehh, as you said, small issue. Majority of the vehicles I maintain the recovery tank is easily viewable. 01 Civic location is kind of a pain, but I purchased/installed a new tank when the head gasket was done, because it had dark residue that couldn't be cleaned. Much better now, and with help of a flashlight, it will be doable.

And, for the prices I'm reading here for the Toy Red/Pink and the Motorcraft Specialty Green on the other thread, I can live with that minor negative. On the plus side it's full strength, not a premix.
 
Originally Posted By: pbm
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
One small problem with Peak Global Life Time, it's amber in color, so that it's hard to see the coolant level behind the reservoir plastic container. Same with Zerex G-05.


I was thinking of using either Peak Global or Zerex G-05 in my Corolla when I change out the factory pink stuff.
Does the Corolla have a dry intake manifold...because if it does I would use Prestone's Dexclone.
Has anybody used G-05 in a Corolla (or any Toyota) and what was the outcome?


https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/1379547/
 
Originally Posted By: pbm
Has anybody used G-05 in a Corolla (or any Toyota) and what was the outcome?


I use G-05 in our 2002 Camry 4 cylinder.

No problems whatsoever. The initial fill followed a triple flush with distilled water, and then a fill with 60% G-05 and distilled water.

80,000 miles later the radiator is perfect.
 
2010 Tacoma with the V6...Peak Global, bought it at 7-11 for around $10 per gallon.

Yes, it is a bit more difficult to inspect the coolant level. But not a big deal.

Kept the drained coolant for the wife's Corolla.

PK
 
I use Zerex Asian Formula which seems to be the equivalent of SLLC for $13.99 at Napa was $9.99 two years ago still cheaper than the dealer which was $19.99 or $29.99 two years ago.
 
Last edited:
Why use Peak Global which doesn't quite meet spec when there's a cheaper alternative which may be the exact same thing in a different container?
 
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Quote:
Why use Peak Global which doesn't quite meet spec when there's a cheaper alternative which may be the exact same thing in a different container?

For me, the main reason is ZAF is a premix, and doesn't come in a concentrate.

Anecdote. Recently did a flush of an 01 Civic because the stealer used original green when replacing the head gasket. Used Honda Type2, a premix, and did a distilled flush series. After getting the fluid to run clear with distilled, I began adding Type2. It took several more wasteful d and f's and almost 2 gallons to get a concentration close enough to 50%, a real pita.

That helped me decide, it will now be full strength PGL after a distilled flush series. PGL is close enough for me, and it has no 2eha. And, I also don't like paying for half water when buying any coolant.
 
If you need to buy Genuine Toyota Red, Full Strength Coolant, I purchased 4 gallons at Car Quest for a lot less than the stealership wanted for the coolant.

The price at Car Quest for the Genuine Toyota Red, Full Strength, coolant is $22 a gallon where the dealership wants almost $38 a gallon.

The only reason I can figure out for the low price is excessive inventory by Toyota for the Red since the switch to Pink.

So if your Toyota is an older model and can use Red this is a good price, IMO, for Toyota Red.
 
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