3FE "winterized" coolant?

[mulchiro]

my wife and I are getting ready for a road trip in the 91. We are headed to Colorado for a few weeks right after Christmas. I have been doing a lot of research and as much PM as I can before we leave. Something that people keel telling me is I NEED to make sure my coolant is winterized.

My question is this: is this just nonsense or should I be worried? I always ran the Toyota red stuff in my 62. I bought my 91 just a few months ago and the PO had been running green stuff. My plan was to drain and flush several times with distilled water and refill with red as I have a couple bottles left. Is the Toyota Copland going to give me any issues in the cold or is that just BS?

Also, I've heard that if you've ever switched to green it is better to just stick with green but that also seems like a matter of opinion.

Anyway, thanks in advance. I just don't like to do things twice if I don't have to do I'd like to be sure.

 

[Heckraiser]

I've also heard that if you've already got green/red, stick with what you've got. Or thoroughly flush and fill with green because you can buy it anywhere at a quarter the cost. I have no clue what "winterized" coolant might be, if anything, they need to sell us saps "summerized" coolant.

Running the green stuff in CO with no problems. I doubt it makes a difference either way. Don't use my opinion to "be sure."

 

[Dave 2000]

There used to be a thing about 'winterising' your vehicle in Europe. Thinner oil in the engine, 50% antifreeze, bleed brakes and so forth. You say you have 'a couple of bottles left' is that enough to get your system to 50% strength? The type of antifreeze is dictated more often than not by the water you use to mix it with. If you are going with distilled then it will not matter, plenty of naysayers for Green, and vice verse.

If you have green and it is clean, get a hydrometer and check the freeze point, drain and top up with more green if needed. Again check the viscosity of the oil you have in there.

regards

Dave

 

[jonheld]

I ran 50/50 Toyota red/distilled water in my 91 for 25 years here in the Northeast without issue. Coolant by its very nature is "winterized". Its main job is to raise the boiling point and lower the freezing point of water. It makes little difference if you're using red or green IMO. Colorado is not Alaska. You'll be fine.

 

[LS1FJ40]

I have Toyota red in my 93. It was -8 two nights ago. She sat outside. She fired right up. I opened the radiator to see if there was a block of ice and it looked completely normal.

I will be switching to green in the spring like I have in my two other 80s. The only reason I didn't switch in the 93 is that it came with 3 jugs of red in the back of it (along with a handful of oil filters and a spare set of belts).

 

[Bigsky80]

I have a 1991 with green coolant up here in Montana and have had no issues. That being said it wouldn't be a bad idea to spent the 12 bucks at a parts store for a coolant tester. I make sure mine is good for -30 every fall.

 

[2 E L O]

Just get a coolant tester and check it. They're like $5. More than likely the coolant will be fine as is.

I live in a fairly rural place so I'm a firm believer in green coolant--it's available everywhere. If I'm in a pinch and need coolant in the middle of nowhere, green is going to be the only stuff I'll find.

In my '92 I have about 2-2.5 gallons of green in there, which I believe is a little under 50% of the total volume. I tested it and it was good to like -40 deg F or thereabouts. I think the record lows where's I live are in the -25 to -30 deg F, so I'm good to go.

 

[Dave 2000]

As long as you have a strong mix that is all that matters. And if you use distilled water then again it will not matter what colour you use.

Get the hydrometer and relax.


regards

Dave