Red or pink coolant? (Answer: 03 and earlier - Red; 04 and newer - Pink)

[geargarcon]

so I went to the dealership to buy my heater Ts and pick up some coolant. I expected to just say “and give me a gallon of coolant” and them to oblige. Instead they asked me “pink or red?”.

I did a quick search but couldn’t find the answer easily. With people behind me and not wanting to hold up the line I posted this thread hoping to get a quick answer. Well I ended up finding the answer before any response, but I will update the title to help others so they don’t have to read through other threads looking for the answer.

Thanks to @JunkCrzr89 for the answer

 

[94SRUNNER]

What happened here....weren't you asking about coolant?

 

[geargarcon]

What happened here....weren't you asking about coolant?

I was. I was in line at the dealership and had people waiting on me. I tried looking up old threads but internet was slow and I didn’t want to keep making people wait so I made a post hoping to get a quick answer.

I eventually found the answer in a thread before anyone responded. I tried to delete the thread so as not to have another thread on coolant, but since I couldn’t delete it I just erased the content.

I might add it back to help people easily find the answer in future searches.

 

[nukegoat]

Pink

 

[97 AZ LC]

The answer is it depends on what model year you have. Pink has long been associated with premature water pump failure and other leaks. The question on my mind is whether you can use red in a vehicle for which Toyota calls for pink. I'm fine with the more frequent changes of red in exchange for longer water pump life.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

03 and earlier takes red, 04 and later takes pink.

 

[MarkTR]

I just ordered 00272-SLLC2, Toyota Super Long Life Antifreeze for my '05 470. I did not know that there were two different types.

Did I order the correct pink-- or do I now have a gallon of red?

 

[JunkCrzr89]

I just ordered 00272-SLLC2, Toyota Super Long Life Antifreeze for my '05 470. I did not know that there were two different types.

Did I order the correct pink-- or do I now have a gallon of red?

You bought the right stuff for 2005.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

 

[94SRUNNER]

View attachment 2793202

Not to ruffle feathers, but I use red in my 06'

No issues for the last 4 years.

 

[MarkTR]

View attachment 2793202

Thanks---

 

[97 AZ LC]

Not to ruffle feathers, but I use red in my 06'

No issues for the last 4 years.

Thanks, great to know. I've had both a parts person and service person at Camelback Toyota roll their eyes on the mention of pink. I think it's caused more problems than people realize.

 

[Hokie99]

Stupid ?, but let’s just assume that pink is a fine coolant and is not going to cause premature water pump wear for the sake of this ?

Both my kids have 100 series ones a 98 and ones an 02

I like to keep one coolant in the garage as I have 2 other Toyota products that are newer and I like to keep things simple…if I can

If I flush and use Pink in the older 100 series, is there really going to be a problem caused by the Pink?

 

[MarkTR]

Stupid ?, but let’s just assume that pink is a fine coolant and is not going to cause premature water pump wear for the sake of this ?

Both my kids have 100 series ones a 98 and ones an 02

I like to keep one coolant in the garage as I have 2 other Toyota products that are newer and I like to keep things simple…if I can

If I flush and use Pink in the older 100 series, is there really going to be a problem caused by the Pink?

The garage that did my timing belt installed red in my '05 rather than the pink.

Per your question about stocking only one AF fluid--- I assume that the shop repairs many pre-03 LC and LX's, so just stock the red reasoning that red will not harm the later trucks. I would think it would be the other way around if pink does not harm earlier parts. Why would either one harm any year truck? I will be interested in how others answer your question.


I could not tell the difference between the red and the pink until bought a gallon of pink and then saw the shade difference when I had to drain AF to install my Ts.
I am going to keep it in until next year and then change to the correct pink. I have to say--diluted red and diluted pink are pretty close in shade.

Will I have to perform a complete flush including the block-- or can I drain the radiator as much as possible and then pour in the pink?

 

[jerryb]

I'm gonna use the xerex valvoline blue asian next time if it's cheaper. Maybe even the PEAK brand!

 

[MarkTR]

I'm gonna use the xerex valvoline blue asian next time if it's cheaper. Maybe even the PEAK brand!
View attachment 2832718

Thanks-- so the pink is does not allow for longer change-out intervals than the red per this TSB?

I thought the pink advertised that it had a much longer changeout interval than the red. If it does not, then I wonder why the change from red to pink.

Still good to know they will mix.

 

[RPCR]

I just ordered 00272-SLLC2, Toyota Super Long Life Antifreeze for my '05 470. I did not know that there were two different types.

Did I order the correct pink-- or do I now have a gallon of red?

Okay so I just bought a LX470 2003 with 189,000 mi on it. I live in Costa Rica and the Toyota dealerships here don't stock the red anymore Is there something specific in a 2003 LX470 versus a 2004 LX470 that would cause me to not use the pink 50/50 mix with Toyota is telling me I should use? I see there is some discussion in other chats on other websites that some older radiators and components if they're not aluminum may not work well with this should I be concerned putting the 50/50 pink mix in a 2003 LX470? My main concern is I don't want to destroy something like the head gasket by using the wrong coolant but I'm kind of between a rock and a hard place when Toyota in this country doesn't stock the red anymore. Is anyone else been using the pink in the 2003 or older LX470 or LC100 without issues for many miles I know I can probably put it in it may seem fine but I don't want long-term effects down the road. I'm trying to keep this rig going for the longest amount of time possible and something as simple as a coolant I don't want to be the weakest link.

 

[Mike NXP]

Okay so I just bought a LX470 2003 with 189,000 mi on it. I live in Costa Rica and the Toyota dealerships here don't stock the red anymore Is there something specific in a 2003 LX470 versus a 2004 LX470 that would cause me to not use the pink 50/50 mix with Toyota is telling me I should use? I see there is some discussion in other chats on other websites that some older radiators and components if they're not aluminum may not work well with this should I be concerned putting the 50/50 pink mix in a 2003 LX470? My main concern is I don't want to destroy something like the head gasket by using the wrong coolant but I'm kind of between a rock and a hard place when Toyota in this country doesn't stock the red anymore. Is anyone else been using the pink in the 2003 or older LX470 or LC100 without issues for many miles I know I can probably put it in it may seem fine but I don't want long-term effects down the road. I'm trying to keep this rig going for the longest amount of time possible and something as simple as a coolant I don't want to be the weakest link.

Check your owners manual to confirm. I checked online and for your 03LX470 it does indeed say to use the red ( dilluted to 50/50 with distilled water), super long life coolant ethylene-glycol based coolant for proper corrosion protection of aluminum components.

I'm a stickler for stuff like this if your goal is indeed to get max life out of the vehicle.

That being said, there aren't really any reports of using the pink causing any direct failures.

The red can still be found, just venture out further, call other toyota shops, or look around online.

 

[Tareq]

If I flush and use Pink in the older 100 series, is there really going to be a problem caused by the Pink?

Mine is 2002.8 production JDM and it had pink, so I flushed it with 3 gallons of pink. Good for 5 years or 150k km. In Canada it is 55/45 mix.

 

[Mike NXP]

Mine is 2002.8 production JDM and it had pink, so I flushed it with 3 gallons of pink. Good for 5 years or 150k km. In Canada it is 55/45 mix.

But your vehicle calls for red for the reason cited above.... I don't know if the JDMs were any different but I also have a 2002.10 production date

Pink VS Red for reference. Toyota filled me up with pink but then after educating them they took it out and put the red back in. This happens every time i go in, so I get a double flush for the cost of one. Way to go Toyota