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Engine coolant?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by boxxed, Jul 9, 2011.

  1. Jul 9, 2011 at 8:36 AM
    #1
    boxxed

    boxxed [OP] Well-Known Member

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    What is the preferred coolant of choice for the 09 Taco. My reservoir is almostto the low line. Is that normal? I have not done a thing sine I got the truck.

    Thanks
     
  2. Jul 9, 2011 at 9:01 AM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Use the Toyota stuff. Your local dealer should top it off for ya at no charge.
     
  3. Jul 9, 2011 at 9:32 AM
    #3
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    Perfectly normal, especially if cold. When engine's had time to operate and get really hot the coolant will expand and flow into the reservoir... when it cools it contracts and draws it back out. Over time it's normal for hot coolant to evaporate from the tank, lowering the level.

    Check it frequently, if it's on or below the low line when engine's cool add the toyota pink coolant in a 50/50 mix with clean water to about half way to the hot line.

    Basically, just keep it between the lines and you'll be OK, but always well above the bottom of the dip tube in the reservoir... you never want it close to that.

    If you wanna be anal about it use distilled water to mix, but never use seawater.
     
  4. Jul 9, 2011 at 9:38 AM
    #4
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    :rofl: The guy wasnt expecting that!! The look on his face when I "educated" him was priceless!
     
  5. Jul 9, 2011 at 9:43 AM
    #5
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    Maybe yours does... both the toyota dealers near me require an appointment to take it. Then next week sometime I drive it in and they ask me to wait in the room for a half hour with about a dozen crying kids and mommy's while someone tops it in a service bay about a half mile down where I can't see what they're doing.

    no thanks...
     
  6. Jul 9, 2011 at 9:57 AM
    #6
    OH-MAN

    OH-MAN Well-Known Member

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    Just buy a gallon or what ever amount Toyota sells it in and check every oil change top as needed.
    You will save money in the long run by not driving to the dealer, the thearpy sessions needed from sitting in a waiting room with all the little darlings running amok while parents watch Regis on the tube.
    Don't forget the MMA lessons you won't need any more to help with your talk with the service writer.
    Spend a bit and save your sanity!
     
  7. Jul 9, 2011 at 10:13 AM
    #7
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    dunno, haven't priced it... but mix it 50/50 with water. NEVER use it undiluted as that actually degrades performance. It will last a long time.

    I am using up some VW stuff I had instead... basically the same. But if you're unsure of what you're doing just use the Toyota stuff and you're gold!
     
  8. Jul 9, 2011 at 10:18 AM
    #8
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    40 bucks pre-dilute? OMG! that IS expensive!

    I'll stick with the VW stuff!
     
  9. Jul 9, 2011 at 8:07 PM
    #9
    WilsonTheDog

    WilsonTheDog Kylie's dad

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    I'm seeing $15-$25 via a cursory Google search.
     
  10. Jul 10, 2011 at 8:38 AM
    #10
    ecoterragaia

    ecoterragaia Everyone lives downstream.

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    Also check for a water pump for slow leakage, which will be indicated by a thin trail of pink crust down the front of the engine block. Happened on mine with only 18,000 miles, covered under powertrain warranty.
     
  11. Jul 10, 2011 at 4:46 PM
    #11
    boxxed

    boxxed [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hmm thanks but I dont make it to the dealer to often.
     
  12. Jul 10, 2011 at 4:49 PM
    #12
    boxxed

    boxxed [OP] Well-Known Member

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    guess i have to take a peek.

    thanks
     
  13. Jul 10, 2011 at 6:36 PM
    #13
    Monkeysuncle

    Monkeysuncle My Cat's breath Smells like Cat Food

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    Had a Jag, Audi, everything Mechanic tell me its all B.S. This guy builds motors in his sleep. Different colors and different whatever...he doesnt buy it. He's been an import mechanic for longer than I have been alive. His shop, where all imports-racers-mercedes-audis volvos toyotas do some work all use recycled antifreeze. He has a company come in and test it, filter it add the whatevers and pump it back into his 55 gallon drum. I have the green mix in my 1999 V6 since he did my waterpump. I also gained 25 horsepower.....not
     
  14. Jul 10, 2011 at 7:00 PM
    #14
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Some coolants have better heat absorbsion qualities than others. Also, some have addatives to prevent corosion in an all aluminum engine, such as the 1GR-FE. Ive seen 20* temp differences with different coolants. best to stick with what the manufacture recomends.
     
  15. Jul 11, 2011 at 5:05 AM
    #15
    tacomathom

    tacomathom Well-Known Member

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    It's not new, it's not Mexico
    "The coolant level is satisfactory if it is between the full & low lines on the reservoir when the engine is cold. Use Toyota Super Long Life Coolant or similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, non-amine. non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology in a 50/50 coolant to distilled water mixture." I think the last time I bought a jug from the dealer it was $16.95 for the 50/50 premixed. Of course other brands meet the Toyota requirements cheaper and distilled is about .99 cents a gallon.
     
  16. Jul 11, 2011 at 5:58 AM
    #16
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    That'd probably work, since 90% of antifreeze is made from ethylene glycol. Some use propylene glycol and brand it 'green' since it's non-toxic, but it's also slightly less effective as a coolant-- probably the stuff Chris ran into that performed poorly. Both are very, very stable if not exposed to sunlight so in-shop recycling is definitely possible.

    But a 'mix-it-yourself' from recovered anti-freeze probably gives you no idea what kind of anti-corrosive package it has since it's doubtful they could remove the stuff that was in it to start. You're really safer if you stay with the hybrid-OAT package Toyota (and VW and most auto manufacturers now-a-days) specify. It's not THAT expensive even if you use the maker's branded stuff (except that $40 a gallon dilute someone has).

    FYI: the best coolant there is is plain water. If you aren't worried about anti-freeze protection just use water, some WaterWetter and an anti-corrosive additive and you'll have the best 'coolant' possible.
     
  17. Jul 11, 2011 at 7:12 AM
    #17
    Lurkin

    Lurkin Well-Known Member

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    This might not be popular, but I am in the 2nd year on my 09. I add straight distilled water on the rare occasion that I need a top off (1 so far...). When I get to 3 years, I will flush the system and change it over to off-the-shelf coolant, Prestone is what I've used in the past. I used to do this every 2 years, but am now up to 3 years. I realize the stock stuff is "long-life" but I'd rather change it out to off-the-shelf coolant to make life easier long term. I also like to flush the coolant, since it's a fluid that degrades over time, just like lubes and brake fluid. Just ensure that the coolant meets the anti-corrosion/HOAT requirements and you're good to go. At that point adding coolant is easier than finding a "reasonably priced dealer".
     
  18. Jul 11, 2011 at 7:21 AM
    #18
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    If you really enjoy the work then you can't be harming anything except the environment :eek:. Actually, the glycol used in this application really is very, very stable so the stuff you buy may be re-cycled. But since it will have been formulated in a factory you can be a lot more comfortable the anti-corrosive package it contains meets what's on the label.

    Just be sure to us a hybrid-OAT like Toyota specifies; Prestone is famous for their green in-organic (high in silicates) that cause Japanese water pumps to fail early.

    As far as adding only water goes, just remember it's diluting the ratio so that freeze protection is degrading. From what I've been able to read the OAT protection will continue even to a fairly low dilution, well below what you should be comfortable with for freeze protection even in Texas!
     
  19. Jul 11, 2011 at 7:48 AM
    #19
    Lurkin

    Lurkin Well-Known Member

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    I've heard the "buy factory" mantra on too many boards, from trucks to cars to motorcycles. I've used off-the-shelf like I described above, for domestics and Asian brands and haven't had a cooling system failure of any sort up to 100,000 miles,,, anecdotal evidence to be sure, but it has worked for me and lessens the number of trips to the dealer for overpriced items.

    As for more work, just a part of my maintenance regime. Once every 2-3 years is not too much to handle, IMHO anyway.
     
  20. Jul 11, 2011 at 8:06 AM
    #20
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Although water "IS" the best coolant, it also has a reletivley low boiling point. Depending on altitude, the water could boil at operating temps.
     

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