coolant fluid

I've searched and read and know everyone recommends Toyota pink long life coolant but is there a difference in quality between that and Prestone. Prestone is $10 gal vs. $30 gal for Toyota. Thanks

 

$30 a gallon seems high, i get the toyota red long life at my dealership for that. The pink comes pre mixed 50/50 also so no need to get distilled water. It runs about $15 a gallon. I personally wouldnt use anything else unless stated for Japanese vehicle and was pink. Zerex makes one but hard to come by in my area.

 

Thanks. Keeps the opinions coming.

 

I serviced my cooling system (drain/fill) at the 100k mike mark (as recommended) at the beginning of this summer. I paid ~$25 a gallon for three gallons of the premixed.

Spendy for coolant? Sure...

I would stick with the OEM fluid on this truck though...$75 every 100k isn't bad at all.

Do a bit of research on mixing coolant types, and I think you'll come to the same conclusion.

 

A couple years ago I paid $24 for a gallon of the red Toyota coolant. Whenever my coolant gets a little low in the plastic tank I mix some 50/50 with distilled water and fill it to the full mark. I've always used Toyota coolant and have never had a radiator problem in any of the Toyota's that I have owned. Is it better than Prestone?? Who knows!

 

I flushed the OEM coolant at the 3 year mark, and replaced it with Prestone. I wouldn't mix the two though unless you absolutely have to, "should" be fine, but why risk it.

 

Thanks. I guess ill use the Toyota and take back the prestone.

 

I'm using the Zerex 50/50 stuff with no issues so far.

I do have to add a bit to the reservoir from time to time,
so it's a thing i keep an eye on when under the hood,
not sure why it's using fluid...no leaks i can see...
nothing weird in the oil either?

tis normal?

PC

 

This is $17 gallon shipped. I would pass on the dealer pricing. What a scam and people fall for it, kind of like the gear oil at $35 quart scam.

$22 Zerex Asian Vehicle Red Silicate and Borate Free 50/50 Prediluted Ready-to-Use Antifreeze/Coolant 1 GA

http://www.amazon.com/Zerex-675130-Vehicle-Anitfreeze-Coolant/dp/B0033QO022

.

 

It's not a matter of whether the Toyota or Zerex extended life is better or worse than Prestone, bottom line is is the anti freeze formulated for the metals in your radiator. I'd stay away from Prestone as the additives in it corrode the inside of the Tacoma Radiator. Either spend the money for anti-freeze or replace your radiator and water pump....you do the math.

You should be fine with the Zerex Asian formula. If there's an Oreilly's near you, they have it for $14.99 a gallon.

 

Everything that I gathered was that the Zerex asian stuff and the toyota are made by the same place. I did lots of reading before adding some to mine.

 

What data led you to this statement? Not challenging, curious, as I did not find that same info.

 

Anytime I see something like this I ask myself the following question. Does Toyota manufacture its own coolant? The answer to that as far as I know is "NO". So that means that someone else is manufacturing the Toyota brand coolant and just putting a Toyota label on the jug. It could even be Prestone for all we know. The Toyota coolant is no better or worse than any other coolant. Just costs 3 times as much.

 

Here is tech bulletin http://www.valvoline.com/pdf/zerex_asian_vehicle.pdf

And it says it's available at Napa and Oreilly http://www.valvoline.com//products/brands/zerex/antifreeze/105

Anyone have the Toyota coolant info?