The Correct Way To Drain/Fill the 4.0 Antifreeze

Yea how can it circulate when there is nothing in there to circulate you just took it all out? when u put the coolant into the radiator does it also fill up the block? i didn't think so. you gonna damge your truck on assumptions, maybe that's a good question for a toyo mechanic to answer................

 

Yes. It will fill the engine block via the lower radiator hose...
The only reason you have to run the engine and massage the hoses is for small air pockets in the coolant channels in the block.
I'm not assuming anything.

 

Jimmyh is right. It will fill the block. Also, there are more Toyota and maybe Lexus Mechanics on here than people realize or care to listen to.

 

Okay cool and thanks guys I didn't know we had so many toyo mechanics out here. You know if that's the case than you can also just remove the bottom hose and also drain the block coolant hah? just a thought. I might do my drain/flush some time this summer. Thanks again guys......

 

What Evile posted on the first page comes straight out of the tech's service manual. I'd recommend downloading a copy, it's good to have around when you have questions, especially when it comes to what parts are reusable and what are one time use and also torque specs.

 

I know this thread is a bit dated but here is my update to draining the coolant from the 1GR-FE. I hope this is helpful to at least one person. This was done on a 2007 Toyota Tacoma 4.0 with just under 68,000 miles. I haven't changed the coolant since I bought the truck in October 2007 and it was still very pink. It didn't look red at all as I've read in other posts.

I started by draining the radiator. I opened this drain by hand.


Next, I drained the driver side engine block. I used a 10mm socket. I got the ratchet onto the bolt by going through the driver side wheel well (with the wheel still on). Then once its on, I used a step stool and go from the top of the engine to loosen it (I'm 5'10" in case anyone was gonna ask).


I know the driver side drain can be hard to find. So hopefully this short video of how to locate it through the driver side wheel well can help. Sorry the video is a little shaky. Its hard to stick my hands back there with my phone in my hand.
http://youtu.be/IZeIkEyaECE

Next I proceeded to drain the passenger with the 10mm socket.

http://youtu.be/h32p9au2s08

I also drained everything that was in the reserve reservoir. You will need pliers to take this clamp off. Be gentle when taking the rubber cap off as its on plastic.


A quick side note. I left the ratchet on the drain cocks while I was draining the coolant. Once everything came out of the drain, I just adjust the racket and start tightening the bolt. This way I don't have to go hunting for the bolt again. Once I drained everything, tighten the bolts back up, close the radiator drain, and put the cap back on the reserve reservoir. Then I filled up the radiator and the reserve reservoir with new coolant. Heated up the engine, rechecked coolant level once the engine cooled, add a little more coolant, and then finished!

So this is how I did it. Hopefully at least one person finds this useful!

 

Thanks for the pics.

 

Great write up & pics helped. Done and done!

 

Damn man those videos/pics are clutch...I tried finding those damn drains for a long time with no luck - much thanks

 

Glad to help!

 

i let the dealer handle this shit for 80 bux. i don't feel like messing with the disposal of the old coolant

 

+1, awesome job!

Some towns do it for free. Plus, every dollar I can save wrenching my own is a dollar I can spend on mods.

 

80 bucks? My dealer told me a flush and fill starts at 189...

 

Thank you for your help . Very helpfull .
I just replace the coolant to my 2005 Tacoma Prerunner. I also replace the thermostast (THERMOSTAT COME WITH THE BASE) and the upper and bottom hoses.

 

LMAO, I just pull the lower radiator hose and let it drain into a pan, then I put the hose back on and fill it back up. Paid for coolant, spent an hour doing it.

 

Starting my 100k maintenance a little early and drained and filled my coolant today. Found both block drains and the radiator drain. Went smoothly.

 

sub'd

 

I plan on doing this very soon.. could i use 1 gallon of full strength coolant w 1 gallon of purified water and 1 gallon of 50-50 coolant? toyota dealer told me full strength was for older vehicles...not too sure i believe them though?

 

I only refilled 1 gallon?? very weird..anyone have any guesses?

 

Toyota coolant from dealer is pre-mixed. No need to water down.