Little low on coolant; what should I add

Owners manuals are consistently wrong; I’m also verifying that I need to purchase the actual Toyota branded fluid. I’m reaching out to Toyota enthusiasts as they know far more than I do.

Coolant is an area I’m ignorant about and I’m seeking to learn more. I understand that the manual will state to use only Toyota products and services; I’m not bringing my vehicle to the dealer to perform basic tasks like my manual would want.

 

Such as?

 

Yeah, in terms of fluids and spec'd parts in owners manuals i have rarely found them incorrect. In fact, i havent personally found them wrong. Its distributed to the masses and everyone gets them. Service manuals, they seem to have issues with torque specs, maybe some wiring.

 

Consistently wrong is probably a poor choice of words. I meant we consistently find errors in them. For example, “lifetime fluids” in sealed transmissions (I’m coming from the Volvo world, so in particular the AW55 transmissions). The manual clearly states that it’s lifetime and never needs to be changed yet it goes boom if you don’t change the fluid within 75k miles. Or the old school IDI motors having cavitation issues with the coolant they recommended. Or our Tacomas...waiting to change the gear oil at 30k or whatever mileage. You’d be MUCH better served changing it early.

I’m just saying....sometimes they get it wrong or enthusiasts find better methods. I mean, look at the transmission fluid on the Tacoma’s straight from the factory. Mine was under filled by a solid half a quart. Toyota is saying it’s fine, you shouldn’t need to check your trans fluid until you go to drain and fill at like 60k or whatever miles. Enthusiasts are not only saying that you should check the fluid ASAP, but they’re also saying to drain and fill with a better fluid than OEM.

 

That’s good info. I just read the MSDS sheet on all the different ones and came to the same conclusion; they are not the same.

 

I use prestone green in all my vehicles, always have and always will. I do, however, drain and refill every other year. no consequences that I've ever experienced.

 

Good tip bro, thanks!

 

As long as it’s not your trans fluid that you drained from trying to do an oil change.

 

I thought that 50/50 was supposed to be lemonade and iced tea.....

 

They call that the Arnold Palmer