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DennisCTB
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2004-03-01          78372

I have a Toyota Tundra and I noticed that the coolant color is sort of pink in color whereas all the other collant I have seen other than RV coolant is "green" in color.

Is there a difference? If so where do I get the "pink" coolant? What are the brands? Labels?



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kubotaguy
Join Date: Nov 2003
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2004-03-01          78375

My parents Olds van came with the pink antifreeze and I think it is the extended life stuff that doesn't have to be changed for a 100,000 miles. I thought that most stores carried it. I think it is more expensive as well. ....

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AC5ZO
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2004-03-01          78380

I think that it is the long life stuff. Auto Supply places that I have checked have had it. Look on the label to make sure that the new brand is compatible with your brand of automobile and the coolant that it comes with. It is somewhat more expensive, but not outrageous for something that lasts 100K if you don't lose it. ....

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DennisCTB
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2004-03-01          78384

I just need to add some to the overflow tank, so I did not want to mix two different types.

I have looked at wally world but did not check a parts store. I need so little that maybe I can get one of the premix 50 50 bottles. ....

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Peters
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2004-03-01          78422

Dennis;
It is no different to the green material. Antifreeze has a limited life as the alcohols will dissolve metals and other contaminates out of the system. The antioxidants, rust inhibitors, lubricants etc break down over time and need to be replaced. The flourescent dyes are added to trace for small leaks.
I have bought some of the cheaper generic antifreeze with the pink dye.
Dennis if you have not replaced the antifreeze it is about time anyway. I am looking at the Dodge the same way.
You need the mixed metals antifreeze and ideally distilled H2O.
....

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harvey
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2004-03-02          78467

Dennis GM uses a pinkish extended life anti freeze. I believe Texaco makes it or is very similiar.

Catapillar also uses the extended life but it is a more of a grape color. Catapillars premix extended is about $6 per gallon the way we buy it.

BTW you must have somekinda Toyota to do all that stuff ;-)
(under equipment and uses :-)))))))))))

....

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AC5ZO
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2004-03-02          78493

The additives in the newer antifreeze are different. It is still basically ethylene glycol, but I don't mix it with the older stuff with the different additive concentrations. It is not that much more expensive and it is not worth saving a couple of bucks on this.

As to using distilled water...I would not recommend it. It is important to use clean water and water that does not contain extremely high concentrations of calcium and magnesium (hard water minerals) because those minerals tend to separate out and form a mineral layer when the water is heated.

Distilled, RO, and deionized water all are more pure forms of water. As you remove the solids that are disolved in the water, it effectively becomes more corrosive. The best way that I can describe it is that the water attempts to achieve a balance with its environment. If the environment is in limestone caverns, then the water will disolve limestone and become "hard." If you put a pure form of water in an engine block (especially with dissimilar metals) then you will set up a corrosive cell that will disolve some of the metal until an equilibrium situation is reached. (Someone will probably say that pure water is a non-conductor and is non-corrosive, but that is a temporary condition that will reverse itself when pure water is in contact with non-passivated metals.)

I mentioned on another thread that I used to make solutions for contact lenses and eye care. The heart of that process is the making of extremely pure water, so I speak from experience when I talk about the corrosive properties. Use good clean soft water in your engines and you will be happy and they will last for a long time. If your manufacturer says to use distilled water, then you should do that because they have made provisions to accept it. ....

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Peters
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2004-03-02          78509

The amount of minerals disolved in the water is insignificant in this application. It is important not to drink distill water, as it will leach minerals from your system. But in this application the you are adding the corrosion inhibitors etc. It is important that you remove the other calcates as they block you tubes over time.
If you think pure water is corrosive then you had better not add the ethylene glycol.
Prestone sell their better grade in the pink guise. The only difference I could see was a surfactant and a corrosion inhibitor listed. It is recommended for the aluminum rads.
I have been using the propylene glycol, Peak sell it at K-mark for only slightly more than standard prestone. It is also recommended for the rads. The propylene is less corrosive then the ethylene also. ....

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AC5ZO
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2004-03-02          78512

Propylene glycol works fine. It has the added advantage of being less toxic than ethylene glycol for dogs and other animals.

I think that we agree on getting much of the calcium and magnesium out of the cooling system and soft water accomplishes that. Water from surface sources should be good enough. With processed soft water the TDS are esentially the same, but the Ca and Mg are replaced by sodium or potassium and remain disolved in the cooling system.

Do you know if there are any pH buffer agents in the additives for the new EthGly antifreeze? It would make sense for the mfrs to use them.
....

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Peters
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2004-03-02          78513

I agree de-ionized or soften water is fine. I have neither from the tap here so resort to buying distilled.
The corrosion additives act some what like a buffer but they are added at lower concentration than are on the label so? ....

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DRankin
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2004-03-02          78515

I am an old water treatment guy too... from hemodialysis chapter of my life.

What AC5ZO is referring too we used to call "hungry" water. The cleaner and purer it gets the more it wants pull metals and other ionic components out of the pipes.

Only plastic piping can be recommended for highly purified water and storage vessels likewise must be non-metallic in nature.

I don't have any direct experience with mixing purified water and various anti-freezes, but I would suspect that adding a huge load of such chemicals would alter the "hungry" properties of the purified water. ....

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AC5ZO
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2004-03-02          78522

You are correct, Mark.

I don't know how all the additives in commercial antifreeze will affect that "chemical potential" but it stands to reason that the corrosion inhibitors would keep the metal from being pulled into solution.

I just did not want someone looking at this thread and putting distilled water in their radiator and then complaining about leaks six months later.

I found the following information about the various types of antifreeze and there is specific reference to not mixing old and new formula antifreeze because the corrosion inhibitors are chemically incompatible. ....


Link:   Antifreeze Information

 
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AC5ZO
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2004-03-02          78524

Here is another link. They are not so negative about the chemical incompatibility, but rather state that adding green conventional anti-freeze will negate the corrosion inhibiting properties of the long life anti-freeze. ....


Link:   Long Life Anti-Freeze

 
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DennisCTB
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2004-03-02          78528

Well it has been a great ride but it looks like I have may answer in the link from the U of Tenn. :

"Toyota uses a red antifreeze in many of its products and should not be confused with the orange type long life antifreezes. it is essentially the green type of antifreeze that contains red dye to give it the red color."

So what I have is the Toyota Red version of the old green standby. Now I know what to get.

Dennis


....

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DennisCTB
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2004-03-03          78580

Seems weird that Toyota is using a Red dye that just creates confusion with the long life stuff or maybe that was the purpose, to look like long life? ....

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jasonsewell
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2004-03-13          79718

The extended life antifreeze is called Dex-Cool. ....

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DennisCTB
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2004-04-05          82246

Luckily I have not added any coolant yet.

I read my owners manual ( good idea ) it says use "Toyota Long Life Coolant". This seems to indicate the coolant is not just green short life stuff died red as many places besides here have posted.

I went to Toyotas site and they say they are using a "non silicate" ethyl glycol formula, this again sounds like long life to me again, as I now believe one of the primary deltas between long and short is the silicate thing.

I guess I may just have to go to Toyota and buy their "gold" priced fluid rather than go to wally world.

....

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AV8R
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2004-04-05          82249

Dennis: It's all about "Please buy our special TOYOTA BRAND coolant for your truck only." That's why the red color. Not many people would ask the questions you are asking, they'd just go to the dealer and pay $39.99 (or whatever) per quart and think it's something special! ....

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Peters
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2004-04-05          82253

As toyota is not shipping antifreeze from Japan nor do the make the stuff I am sure the Preston long life will suffice. ....

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DennisCTB
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2004-04-05          82259

Peters,

That is what I was leaning towards as the Preston Long life is non silicate same as whoever Toyota is getting theirs from.

AV8R I am belaboring this because I hate buying Preston with Toyota logos, and also because of the confusing information that is available on this topic. Also at least for my Toyota the Red color = Long Life non Silicate coolant, whereas it seems some people indicate Toyota has some vehicles with silicate based red dyed coolant LOL

Dennis

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jeff r
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2004-04-05          82272

I sometimes use the water out of my dehumidifier for mixing with my antifreeze is that good or bad? Other times I use my tap water softened with a water softner. ....

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treeman
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2004-04-05          82273

This web site link will answer most of your questions. Most manufactures use different coolants that shouldn't be mixed. Pink, red, and orange are all different. I hope this helps. ....


Link:   Coolant Information

 
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DennisCTB
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2004-04-06          82287

Jeff r,

I always thought dehumidifier water was the same as distilled, not sure, butI used to use it for batteries and coolant mixing. I haven't had one for a long time now though.

Here is another article in the link below which helps a little more for any Toyota owners. Unless I can find what is called "Japanese Conventional" which is non silicate high phosphate coolant, I guess I am off to Toyota.

Dennis ....


Link:   Another Coolant Link

 
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Peters
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2004-04-07          82398

Well I stand corrected and afirmed. There seems to be a reason not to use the american extended life in the car. I I can not see any reason to not use the silicates. The statement that is is essentually sand is not exactly correct the phosphates are not exactly fertilizers are they. I have run high performance gear pumps for years with high concentrations of silicates yes there is wear but you could have run soapy water and had the same wear. Dilute solutions in a non clearance pump sorry I have better things to worry about.
It does recommend using distilled water. The water from your humidifier is like distilled if the coil does not have alot of organics growing on it. ....

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