My coolant was a bit low so I topped it off with some green coolant at home before reading in the Forum about using the Toyota red. I intend to use the Toyota stuff going forward but is their any problem with having a little bit of green in the system.
Coolant Question - Red vs Green
- Thread starter Cantatan
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Oh no! You used green? 
I read somewhere that you should not mix the red and green because the phosphates in the red and the silicates in the green have some kind of reaction with each other that reduces the life of the corrosion protection. The same document said that up to 10% mix is ok, but any more than that is not good because of above reasoning.
You haven't done anything catastrophic, but it's not good to mix them. They are two totally different formulas. Flush the system and stick with red.
How much did you have to add? I'd be tracking back why you're loosing coolant if it were much.
How much did you have to add? I'd be tracking back why you're loosing coolant if it were much.
- Thread starter
- #6
I added maybe a quart. Service advisor at Toyota told me it wasnt a big deal but to top up with the toyota one going forward
I just bought the LC about 2000 miles ago. Cannot recall if I checked the coolant fluid but had two seperate mechnics look at it. I will monitor it closely going forward
I just bought the LC about 2000 miles ago. Cannot recall if I checked the coolant fluid but had two seperate mechnics look at it. I will monitor it closely going forward
I had an OEM toyota (brass, I think) radiator clog after about 6 months after doing a coolant change from green to red in my 4Runner way back. The problem was, I forgot to flush the heater core (otherwise flushed the cooling system w/ water before adding coolant). So I figure maybe a little less than 1 qt in a 8 qt capacity was the wrong color. It started making this sound like water running down drain pipes in the wall of your house (like when someone flushes the toilet upstairs and you hear the water gush through the pipes). It did that for a number of months, especially when the engine was warming up and the thermostat first opened. The radiator looked like it was clogged up with silt afterwards. Had to replace it. Lesson learned...never mix red & green! Don't worry, a new radiator is probably only a few hundred $$. 
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- #8
OK from cruising through the various posts on the subject it will be worthwhile if I do a flush. I am probably going to do it myself as it looks realtively simple and then at least I know what has been done. I am probably going to wait a few weeks just to monitor if I possibly have a coolant leak problem. Does anyone have any perspective on what a normal coolant loss level is acceptable?
Thanks for all the help. This is a great forum.
Thanks for all the help. This is a great forum.
Do it early. I did some reading on changing from one type to the other, read that the coolant is worked into crevices and gaskets, you can never get the old type out by flushing. Get it out before it soaks into gaskets and stuff. Run with water for a while no problem, that'll only help flush. Preferrably distilled water, it's only a buck a gallon.
At a quart added I'd do it sooner than later. Like Jim said, the two coolants can act against each other and start to build up deposits in the system. Depending on how many miles are on your truck, I'd check the water pump as a leak. Mine was replaced at 100k during the timing belt service and it was leaking slightly. Not enough to put a drip on the ground, but enough to change it.
look this up in the 80's section. Then bleed your junk and change back to red.
Don't wait, take it into the dealer have it flushed and pressure checked, buy a new rad. cap and you are good to go. The level after the bubbles work their way out should not go down at all, when comparing cool to cool and hot to hot.
Based on your posts I would not do this yourself and have the dealer do this work or it could cost you a lot of money in the long run.
- Thread starter
- #13
You are probably right, Notwithstanding the problem of having to dipsose of the used fluid it is less risk having the dealer do it. Going to cost about 129 dollars at the local dealer.
Regards
Regards
The "Tech" is the one who told him it's ok to add the green stuff... just sayin'...
A Toyota dealership knows how to pressure check and flush and fill a 100 series. I would not worry about that.
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- #16
Sorry to be dense but whats the merit in buying a new Radiator cap.
To HKS's point the reason why I was considering doing it myself was due to the distinct lack of confidence in dealers that emanates from this board. I am going to take it to the local Lexus dealer to see how they perform. I have not been particularly impressed with the first Toyota dealer I tried.
To HKS's point the reason why I was considering doing it myself was due to the distinct lack of confidence in dealers that emanates from this board. I am going to take it to the local Lexus dealer to see how they perform. I have not been particularly impressed with the first Toyota dealer I tried.
You don't state what year 100 you have or miles on your 100 or if it is a Lexus or Toyota. So I assumed the worst. Rad caps get old and need to be replaced. Lexus dealer should do a great job. I don't know why members are down on dealers? The tech's are trained on the product and if they screw something up you have some recourse.
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- #18
Its a 2006 LC with 38K. I just got back from dealer. They pressure chcked and didnt find any leaks One thing that did concern me was that they only charged for 3 gallons of the premixed as opposed to 4. This led me to think that they did not fully flush the system. However when I asked him about this he said that they actually used 4 gallons but he just charged me for 3. I dont know enough about how they go about doing it in the fdealership to know whether this sounds reasonable or not.
Anyway its done and I am pleased they didnt find any leak. I will still monitor it going forward
Thanks for all the advice
Anyway its done and I am pleased they didnt find any leak. I will still monitor it going forward
Thanks for all the advice
If you have a 2006 LC they should of used the "PINK" fluid which is 100K mile fluid. What color is your new fluid? If they used "RED" then you will need to change it every 30K miles. A 2006 with 38K miles should not need a new Rad. Cap. Good luck.
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- #20
Its the "Super long life coolant" Lexus P/N 00272-SLLC2