Coolant question.

When I was power washing my engine the other day I noticed that my coolant reservoir was empty. Tonight I pulled off the radiator cap to check the coolant level. I can see coolant at the top of the radiator but would like to top it off. On these Tacoma's do we have to use the Toyota coolant or can we use other stuff? If we can use other stuff, what is one I can mix with the factory Toyota coolant?
Thanks!
Jay

 

Drain and flush. Check for leaks. I think its 50/50

 

I think the change interval is at 100k miles. Just go buy a gallon of distilled water and fill the resevoir to the low line. Unless you have choclate milk in your engine oil or a coolant puddle under your truck, I doubt there is a problem.

 

good advice. if it's just the reservoir that's low, just add distilled water. keep an eye on it and find where the leak is. to answer your question, yes, always try to use toyota coolant.

 

5 year old coolent. I would change it.

 

If you're not going to do a proper flush, at least drain the entire radiator, fill that, and the resi with 50/50 mix of long life red Toyota coolant.

 

Sorry for reviving an old thread, but my coolant resi is also below the low line and has been like that for a few months now. Truck doesn't get hot at all but I'd still like to top it off. I have never seen any leaks and its an 09 with 40k on it. Radiator is full. Is it OK to put some distilled water just to top it off or should really buy a whole gallon from Toyota. Thanks

 

Hi all.

Buy the gallon of 50/50 mix from Toyota.
Don't get in the habit of adding water. Even if you live somewhere where you don't need the freeze protection, you still want to keep the ratio of coolant to water for various reasons.

Here in Canada the ratio is 55 % coolant to 45 % water for the freeze protection.

Cheers..

 

These systems lose a tiny bit of coolant to evaporation over time, like maybe a pint in 5 years. Replacing that with water is no big deal. Bear in mind that the stuff that is evaporating IS water. Mine is 5 years old now too but I only have 75K on the truck. I'll be changing mine completely this fall. IMO 5 years is long enough for any coolant.