Low coolant on ‘21 (1 Viewer)

[WkndProject]

Wondering if this is normal or if I should go searching for a leak:

This past Saturday I was checking my fluids and noticed that my coolant (engine cold) was below the L. I could just barley see some fluid in the reservoir. I have a ‘21 with 23,000 miles. Is it normal to have to add some fluid within the first 3 years? Is this ambient temperature dependent?

I immediately went and checked my wife’s GX and it was the same situation, although her car is 6 years old with 55,000 miles. I can’t imagine this is something they anticipate having to frequently monitor and adjust considering the difficulty just to access and add coolant on the GX (have to remove plastic cover/shield).

I’ve topped them both up to the proper level and will keep an eye on things.

 

[bloc]

Wondering if this is normal or if I should go searching for a leak:

This past Saturday I was checking my fluids and noticed that my coolant (engine cold) was below the L. I could just barley see some fluid in the reservoir. I have a ‘21 with 23,000 miles. Is it normal to have to add some fluid within the first 3 years? Is this ambient temperature dependent?

I immediately went and checked my wife’s GX and it was the same situation, although her car is 6 years old with 55,000 miles. I can’t imagine this is something they anticipate having to frequently monitor and adjust considering the difficulty just to access and add coolant on the GX (have to remove plastic cover/shield).

I’ve topped them both up to the proper level and will keep an eye on things.

No, not normal. But you now know it’s correct and can monitor from here.

It would be very early for it to happen but my first impulse is to check for the coolant valley plate leak. Usually there will be evidence of pink lines/dried coolant down the bellhousing.

 

[stonepa]

Maybe absolutely nothing unless you regularly check the level at the exact same coolant temp and noticed it was slightly lower than before. Could have easily been this way since it rolled out of the factory.

 

[MeWantLC]

Wondering if this is normal or if I should go searching for a leak:

This past Saturday I was checking my fluids and noticed that my coolant (engine cold) was below the L. I could just barley see some fluid in the reservoir. I have a ‘21 with 23,000 miles. Is it normal to have to add some fluid within the first 3 years? Is this ambient temperature dependent?

I immediately went and checked my wife’s GX and it was the same situation, although her car is 6 years old with 55,000 miles. I can’t imagine this is something they anticipate having to frequently monitor and adjust considering the difficulty just to access and add coolant on the GX (have to remove plastic cover/shield).

I’ve topped them both up to the proper level and will keep an eye on things.

I will advise you to go to Toyota, buy the coolant fluid. Top it up to level. Monitor in the next weeks and see if you see it coming low. If it does, start looking for pink residue around the radiator, lines, etc... around the engine bay. It could be your radiator cracked, it could be a hose , a clamp, or the valley plate leak which is showing up but in later mileage cars.
Post and ask for help ! This place rocks !

 

[manofthewoods]

Wondering if this is normal or if I should go searching for a leak:

This past Saturday I was checking my fluids and noticed that my coolant (engine cold) was below the L. I could just barley see some fluid in the reservoir. I have a ‘21 with 23,000 miles. Is it normal to have to add some fluid within the first 3 years? Is this ambient temperature dependent?

I immediately went and checked my wife’s GX and it was the same situation, although her car is 6 years old with 55,000 miles. I can’t imagine this is something they anticipate having to frequently monitor and adjust considering the difficulty just to access and add coolant on the GX (have to remove plastic cover/shield).

I’ve topped them both up to the proper level and will keep an eye on things.

Unless I'm missing something, it should still be under factory warranty. If so, I'd make sure that they watch/note the potential issue (ASAP).

 

[sdnative]

Fill to proper level and keep monitoring it.

The valley plate leak can be an issue with the 3UR as well as the 1UR which may explain why you are seeing the potential issue in the GX.

 

[WkndProject]

Unless I'm missing something, it should still be under factory warranty. If so, I'd make sure that they watch/note the potential issue (ASAP).

Yes, it’s under warranty for another 2 weeks.


Leaning towards purchasing a 10yr / 100k Toyota warranty this week before the factory warranty runs out. I priced it out from a dealer a couple months ago.

 

[gasman4u]

Yes, it’s under warranty for another 2 weeks.


Leaning towards purchasing a 10yr / 100k Toyota warranty this week before the factory warranty runs out. I priced it out from a dealer a couple months ago.

check the forum for the people selling the Toyota warranties at a significant discount. There are a couple that have been very helpful in the past.

EDIT: Here's one thread

LC Platinum Extended Warranty

I was quoted $2550 for 7yr / 100k mile Toyota extended warranty for my 2019 LC. I thought it was a little pricy based on my reading on this forum. How much have you guys paid?

forum.ih8mud.com

a newer one

Extended warranty and service - Which one?

Hi guys can anyone advise me which of the following providers I should use or avoid for extended service and warranty plans? I am going with extended service plan of 100k miles or 7 years AND Extended warranty plan of 100k miles or 10years Which should I pick, JTMA/Fidelity or Toyota ? Is...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Docwyte]

Mine was a little low over a year ago. I bought the rig used and was doing a fluid check. I topped it up with Toyota coolant and it’s stayed at the full line ever since. So top it up and keep an eye on it.

 

[WkndProject]

check the forum for the people selling the Toyota warranties at a significant discount. There are a couple that have been very helpful in the past.

EDIT: Here's one thread

LC Platinum Extended Warranty

I was quoted $2550 for 7yr / 100k mile Toyota extended warranty for my 2019 LC. I thought it was a little pricy based on my reading on this forum. How much have you guys paid?

forum.ih8mud.com

a newer one

Extended warranty and service - Which one?

Hi guys can anyone advise me which of the following providers I should use or avoid for extended service and warranty plans? I am going with extended service plan of 100k miles or 7 years AND Extended warranty plan of 100k miles or 10years Which should I pick, JTMA/Fidelity or Toyota ? Is...

forum.ih8mud.com

Thanks, I have been working with Jerry Johnson (recommended in 2nd thread), I highly recommend. He’s very responsive and offers the Toyota warranties at a very low markup. My brother went through him for a warranty on his ‘23 Tundra and was very pleased.

 

[WkndProject]

Mine was a little low over a year ago. I bought the rig used and was doing a fluid check. I topped it up with Toyota coolant and it’s stayed at the full line ever since. So top it up and keep an eye on it.

That’s good to hear. I can’t imagine any issues at 23,000 miles. That’s why I purchased the most reputable of all Toyotas. Regardless, will take appropriate precautions to document the issue in case it turns out to be an unlikely early failure.

 

[Sandroad]

Thanks, I have been working with Jerry Johnson (recommended in 2nd thread), I highly recommend. He’s very responsive and offers the Toyota warranties at a very low markup. My brother went through him for a warranty on his ‘23 Tundra and was very pleased.

There is a 5 year, 60k mile warranty on the drivetrain. An engine coolant leak like the valley plate seal should be covered?

 

[WkndProject]

There is a 5 year, 60k mile warranty on the drivetrain. An engine coolant leak like the valley plate seal should be covered?

Good point. Powertrain covers Engine, transmission, and transaxle. Covered items include seals and gaskets, so I’d assume a coolant leak on the engine would be covered.

 

[Docwyte]

That’s good to hear. I can’t imagine any issues at 23,000 miles. That’s why I purchased the most reputable of all Toyotas. Regardless, will take appropriate precautions to document the issue in case it turns out to be an unlikely early failure.

I bought my ‘18 in ‘22 with 20k miles on it. I didn’t think the low coolant was indicative of a leak, just that it never got topped off properly to begin with. So far it’s been fine, I’ve got 42k miles on the 200 now