Red or Green Antifreeze (1 Viewer)

[OPMACHINE]

I know this has been asked 1000 times, I apologize for wasting everybody's times ......

What color coolant do you recommend for your 2f? @FJ60Cam

Screen grab from @wngrog has me rethinking my life decisions

@Onur is always my go too for advise, but I am trying to ask these questions on the Ih8mud so everyone can benefit.

 

[bhsdriller]

Did they even make the red coolant when 40s came out

Cheapest green for me

 

[FJ60Cam]

Using coolant of any color (over straight water) and changing it at least once a decade is more important than the color!

In the shop, we typically use universal green/yellow on 2F trucks, and red in anything 80 series or newer because that’s usually how they come in.

 

[Living in the Past]

Believe the pink/red started with the 1ZF with an aluminum head. I always use green in my F/2F/3FE and red on all the never Toyota engines.

 

[B y r o n]

Color isn't going to stop leaks like the photo you posted.

 

[OPMACHINE]

according to the internet, Toyota red long-life coolant was released in 1999. Toyota Long-life was deliberately designed with zero silicates. While silicates provide excellent corrosion protection, over the long haul they tend to precipitate out and contribute to restricting coolant passages.

Silicates combined with the minerals (from tap water) precipitate out and restrict coolant passages, as a results an increase in corrosion due to a lowered concentration of silicates.

Internet source: Antifreeze - https://integrityautoinc.com/antifreeze/

 

[Living in the Past]

Most who know anything always use distilled water in the radiator and batteries. Done it for as long as I can remember. Water in most places in the Southwest is loaded with calcium.

 

[OPMACHINE]

Thank you all for your input!!!!

Im pretty new to the 2f, I generally try and copy they guys on MUD that have done it before. I have been reading old threads trying to see what you guys have been using.

 

[wngrog]

I use green coolant in the early trucks. Red with 100 and up.

And you can actually mix them if you have to. It won’t hurt like Mud will tell you it will

 

[cbmontgo]

This is all very helpful. Nice to get some opinions from the original ganstas on this topic.

 

[Steamer]

Interesting coolant info/opinion "HERE"

 

[wngrog]

Interesting coolant info/opinion "HERE"

That hurt my head

 

[ryanwk628]

I used green and distilled water. F engines are based on the design of a Chevy motor with metric and BSPP threads.

 

[red66toy]

Yup! Universal green in my 3FE, red in the 2UZ.

 

[Living in the Past]

Yup! Universal green in my 3FE, red in the 2UZ.

Back in 2002 took my 89 FJ62 into a suppose Toyota specialist shop. Had a rough idle. $90 later got a three page print out of all the work needed totaling over $9K. One of the items was had the wrong green antifreeze instead the correct red. One thing missing from the report was what was needed to correct the rough idle. Needless to say I never went back to that shop.

 

[wngrog]

Obviously it’s best to have one or the other but if they get mixed you will be OK.

 

[Green Bean]

Being somewhat new to all of this, I recently used Zerex Asian. The label said that it was pre-diluted and not to add any water. IIRC, I used about 4 gallons with one of those burping funnels. It wasn't cheap so I hope that with all of this red vs. green debate, that I didn't screw up using red in our old 1F tractor engine.

 

[DEADSALT]

something about Toyota red
it crystalises/oxidizes where it should be leaking

i wouldn’t mix or use pink

if your trucks coolant is green use green, red use red

If you’re replacing all your coolant; drain/flush block
i’d go red, it’s available in concentrate from dealer and good value (21.00 can$/gallon/3.78l),
that’s almost free in US $...

 

[DEADSALT]

not to be forgotten - green coolant is available universally and at every gas station

- red is only available from a dealership and they’re not always open

 

[Steamer]

In case you needed more info, Prestone offers, Red, Blue, Green, Teal, Pink, Violet, Orange, Dex-Cool, and another coolant labeled for “All Vehicles” (color not stated)
EDIT: I've since heard the "All Vehicles" color referred to as yellow. Look yellow/green to me.

“PRESTONE”

I remember when Prestone made just one coolant. It was green and I still use it now. Or at least I thought so. The labeling has changed over the years and maybe the formula, but it still looks the same. I just had a look at my stock and see I have two that I thought were the same but are not. The one on the left is maybe a year older but apparently no longer made. Its label says 5 years or 150K miles. The newer one on the right says 10 years or 300K miles. The contents on the labels are brief but identical so I don’t what changed to double the longevity.

Now there’s another green one that’s for certain Asian vehicles but not all. Maybe it’s a different shade of green because they’re running out of colors. Crazy!