Coolant change

tauqeer · 07-02-2006, 03:47 AM

Hi Guys
I need you help, I have got Toyota Camry CSi 1999 model, I bought this car in 2001 from used car dealer, and then had this serviced in 2002 and he changed the coolant and did the flushing. He recomended that coolant last for only 2 yrs and I have to change it after every 02 yrs. I serviced my car through my mechanic like oil and filter change but he didnt say anything about the coolant as level of my coolant is always the same and its a Red colour coolant. I have been to car auto shops , they sell fully concentrated Ethyle glycol or mixed 50/50 EG .water based coolants. But all these coolants bottles suggested that coolannt last for 5 yrs or 250,000 kms , but some Toyota dealer suggested that coolant must be changed in 2 yrs , so please advise who is correct. as I havent chnaged the coolant in last 4 yrs , so should I change coolant now and then leave it for 5 yrs or do what they say to chnage after every 02 yrs and which colour coolant is required Green or Red , as my car has red colour coolant at the moment, whats the difference in Red and Green.

Also my car has done only 60,000 kms on the odometer. When I bought it in 2001 ih has 40,000 kms so I only drove 20,000 km in last 5 yrs.
Beside servicing oil change and filter, what other things needs to be changed , please advise as I am very new to this auto maintenance and rely heavily on what dealer and mechanic says, so need your help so that I can have some idea when I negotiate with these mechanics and service dealers.

Mike Gerber · 07-02-2006, 12:14 PM

You can use either red or green coolant; it's only a color. Using green now for a drain and refill may make the coolant look brown, as you are not draining the engine block, only the radiator. I would probably stick with the red. As far when and how often to change it, I do a drain and refill myself every 3 years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. It's really not too hard to do yourself. Get a manual and read through the section on coolant drain and refill and see if it's something you feel comfortable doing yourself. If not, take it in.

As far as other services I would do now; I would do a transmission drain and refill and a brake fluid flush and refill. These services probably never have been done to your car. I do them on the same 3 year or 30,000 mile interval as the coolant. These too can be done yourself. The brake fluid flush and refill is a little more involved, requires just a bit more skill and also requires a second person to help in the procedure by pumping the pedal.

A little reading and a friend who has a bit of experience doing these services would be a big help and save you some money.

Mike

somick · 07-02-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

You can use either red or green coolant; it's only a color.

From the information I have: THIS IS WRONG!
Red and green antifreeze DO NOT MATCH!
Red antifreeze suppose to last you 5 years or 100,000 miles, whatever comes first.

Sam

Mike Gerber · 07-02-2006, 01:28 PM

I have used green coolant in my 94 and 98 Camrys since the first coolant change I have done on both cars. That would be roughly when they were about 3 years old. No problems at all. I can't remember what color coolant came with my 86 Camry when new, but I also used green on that for 15 years and 173,000 miles with no problems.

Just my opinoin.

Mike

Toysrme · 07-02-2006, 02:10 PM

Don't mix toyota red with a traditional coolant.
You can use whaever you like, provided you flush the system thouroughly before hand & flush it back out before it breaks down.

somick · 07-02-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

I have used green coolant in my 94 and 98 Camrys since the first coolant change I have done on both cars. That would be roughly when they were about 3 years old. No problems at all. I can't remember what color coolant came with my 86 Camry when new, but I also used green on that for 15 years and 173,000 miles with no problems.

Just my opinoin.

Mike

I can once again say that the most information I have is the information I got from reading different sites and technical books. They all say that no immediate effect will be seen after you flush/replace your coolant. But on the long run you will deffinately benefit from it. Antifreeze does a hard job of cooling the engine and it (antfreeze) eventualy breakes down. Regular flushes (2 year for green and 5 year for red) remove all the sediments, oxidation and other contaminants from the system. The result on not doing regular maintenance is most likely clogged radiator. Which will eventualy cost you a lot more plus headaches.

Sam

tauqeer · 07-05-2006, 05:11 AM

thanks SAm and Mike
for your reply, now I feel more confident.

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