Zerex Asian Coolant(red label) - contaminant in coolant

Purchased the product last weekend for my 4.0L Tacoma at the local O'Reilley. During refill I noticed a white flaky substance in the coolant. Opened a ticket at the Valvoline.com site.

Their first reply was no solid substance in their coolant should be visible to the naked eye. I was then told to call a toll free number or send email to a specific email addr. if I had concerns. I did indeed have concerns, that's why I opened a ticket in the first place. Duh?
Received email asking if a recovery kit could be sent to me in order to collect a sample for their examination. Waiting on that now.

Likely a fluke, but I don't want a repeat of this so their product has been drained, system water flushed and the Dealer SLLC installed.

Photo shows small amt. of the pinkish coolant in the bottom of a cup. White contaminant in the fluid. The cup was first filled with coolant(approx. 32 oz.) then slowly drained 'til a small amt. was left to show some of what had settled - mixed in with the pink coolant.

 

interesting, never seen that in any of the red zerex i have used

 

Never had issues with pink Zerex, either. Weird.

You think maybe some of the white cardboard seal dissolved/broke apart and got into it?

 

If you mean the small white plastic piece on top of the jug(seal)...I doubt it. That came off whole.

I used this product on a 2014 4.0L 4Runner in Aug. 2016 and did not notice this, but part of my refill method was different. In that case, I filled from the jug. Doing it that way you might not notice this at all. For the Tacoma refill I got anal and decided to measure everything going back in. After pouring in a 32 oz. cup, I set it down, went about doing something else and on return picked up the cup to refill with coolant. Looking down into it I saw this stuff on the bottom of the cup.

 

I was going to use aftermarket ASIAN coolant Pentofrost A4 I got from Autozone but started reading about not using the OEM coolant because of possible mixing of different chemical issues and gelling, chickened out and took it back. I got 2 gallons of SLLC for $40 shipped on EBAY instead.

 

what was your total amount drained? I bought 2 gallons i know my manual says at least 9 quarts I hope I have enough for just a drain and refill, should be some old coolant in the heater core still I think.

 

For the Tacoma - I drained 9 qts. 6 oz. total coolant from the system. Vehicle on level surface. I first siphoned a full overflow jug(fluid at full line) - drained the radiator, then the drivers side block, followed by the right side block. My coolant is only at the overflow tank full line when hot. I wanted to know how much fluid it took to fill the overflow bottle from dry to the full line. My overflow tank is built into the engine fan cover so you can't remove it like most to wash out. Here's a break down of what was drained from each of 4 places. Engine stone cold at drain time.

Overflow jug(at full line) - 24 oz.
Radiator - 3 qts. 10 oz.
left side engine block - 4 qts. 12 oz.
right side engine block - 24 oz.

Totals up to 9 qts. 6 oz.

 

May be a little off topic here not sure but I had bought these test strips for coolant and brake/clutch fluid testing on both our cars.


The wifey didn’t understand but the miles have racked up on both and maintainence is key to avoid having payments.
My taco was at a ph of 6-6.5 at 120 k. Hers had the timing belt changed at 90k and her coolant was done then.
I only did the rad and ended up at like 7.5 ph the wife’s suby was at 11? So I tested the Toyota coolant straight out of the 2 gallons I purchased and it had a ph of 8.
Seems the Toyota stuff is just above being called acidic right from the jug while the after market has a much higher ph level.
Both vehicles tested were at about 100% for freeze/boil point.
The taco was at like 90% for freeze/boil before I did the rad drain and fill.

 

You didn't notice it before? It looks like it could be casting sand.

 

Damm the left side holds a lot.
More than the rad. Guess the coolant holds up well. Thought I’d done done like half a flush. If I get a frame I will do it again.

 

6/28/18 - UPDATE to original post. I sent a sample of the coolant I bought to Valvoline using a kit they provided. Last Thur.(6/21/18) they replied by email. Here's what they had to say. Refund check arrived in the mail yesterday:

We received your sample of our Zerex Asian Vehicle Antifreeze/Coolant product and had our product formulators perform some tests. The pH level and water content are acceptable. The white fallout in suspension is an issue that our product development team is aware of and currently working on a solution for. It does not hinder the performance of the product and once it gets circulated in an engine, will go back into solution.

We certainly want you to feel confident in our products and appreciate you affording us the opportunity to evaluate this sample for you. As a one time goodwill gesture, we will be refunding the purchase price of the 2 gallons of product you purchased. You should receive the refund in 5-7 working days. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your business.

Thank you!
Tom
Valvoline Product Support

Thank you,
Valvoline Product Support
Ticket Number: 11-1038071
Subject: Zerex Asian Vehicle AFC Complaint

 

hmmmmm, well at least they are stepping up and giving an honest evaluation on the coolants issue and refund that says a lot about their trustworthiness

 

Yes - by today's stds. I would say Valvoline is a good company. The kit they sent did not include a return shipping label. I had no intention of spending half of my refund on that, so yet ANOTHER email went back to them stating so. Didn't hear anything back as fast as I had been, so a few days later I asked if getting their CEO and 2 of his cabinet members involved would expedite a return shipping label.
Wahlah. I received an email from Valvoline's Product Support Supervisor, Tom Sanders, that included a UPS return shipping label. It was addressed directly to him.