Engine Coolant, What kind? Options

[aslearvert]

Hi guys,

My check engine light came on today, and I think I might be low on engine coolant (I cant see any in the overflow). Do you guys use the orange kind or green kind?... Specific brands? The only thing I know is its not supposed to be alcohol based. I read the manual but I just want to make sure I'm right. Please let me know.

-Thanks very much

[zero07]

The "red" kind........ Toyota.

[playr158]

Prestone universal all brand

[95CelicaST]

Prestone pre-mixed 50-50

[Kadett]

Toyota For Life Coolant all the way.

[hurley97]

[thespacepanda]

Yeah dude, go get Toyota coolant. Only way to go.

[Rusty]

yup..what is it now?? x5 for the toyota stuff

[playr158]

anyone who uses tap water should be shot

[DEATH]

Toyota For Life Coolant all the way.

x2

[delusionz]

Hey guys I'm just about to flush mine, How much fits in the system? I have a 2.5 litre bottle of coolant and was told to pour it all in and fill the rest with water, but I'm aiming for 50/50 ratio so how much should I put in???

[Supersprynt]

Mix it prior to putting it in.

[x_itchy_b_x]

Prestone un-mixed then add some poland spring water. (kidding, i have well water) I don't consider it "tap" water.

[wrathc5525]

i dont know about where you guys are but where i am (for whoever suggested the 50/50 mix) that is the biggest scam ever because it is the same price as a regular gallon of antifreeze. so basically your paying the same price for half as much because your only getting a half gallon of antifreeze.

[crandsberry]

I once had an old '88 accord that ran with tap water for a while.
Yeeep, right up until the water pump completly failed and then the radiator cracked.

She died gracefully.. in plooms of steam

[Redline08]

no tap water! lol distilled water and toyota coolant ftw

[94TRDcelica]

EVANS NPG Coolant!

[Bitter]

low coolant wont cause your check engine light to come on....not until you've over heated, blown the headgasket, and caused a check engine light for misfires or something.

[hurley97]

low coolant wont cause your check engine light to come on....not until you've over heated, blown the headgasket, and caused a check engine light for misfires or something.

that is not true.

[Bitter]

i was being a little facetious, but there is no coolant level sensor that will illuminate the check engine light. those sensors illuminate a coolant level light. theres not even an OBD2 code for low coolant level, unless its manufacturer specific.

[alltracman78]

I use Toyota red and Distilled water somewhere between 60/40 and 70/30.
The big difference between Toyota coolant and most others is silicates [they help prevent corrosion].
Toyota says they damage water pump seals so they don't want them in their coolant.
The problem is, silicates are very good at preventing corrosion from "hard" water, which is why using distilled water [close to pure H2O without extra minerals and stuff] is more important with it than with most coolant.

It's not the end of the world if you use something besides Toyota red, but I suggest you use a good quality one, if you use the autocrap $2/gal stuff don't expect it to work as good.
Also, stay away from ALL Dexcool types, they have a plastic softener in them [softens and warps plastic, like your rad end tanks].

Prestone un-mixed then add some poland spring water. (kidding, i have well water) I don't consider it "tap" water.

Well water is usually worse than tap water as far as mixing with coolant is concerned. It tends to have more minerals in it than tap water.
I've seen a lot of people use regular water [tap or whatever] without problems however.
Using either doesn't guarantee your cooling system will be massively corroded, but it definitely makes it more likely down the road.

Hi guys,

My check engine light came on today, and I think I might be low on engine coolant (I cant see any in the overflow). Do you guys use the orange kind or green kind?... Specific brands? The only thing I know is its not supposed to be alcohol based. I read the manual but I just want to make sure I'm right. Please let me know.

-Thanks very much

Normally low coolant won't cause the CEL to come on, but it is possible.
Why don't you check and see what the code is and go from there?

[hurley97]

right, there is no coolant level sensor that will set off the CEL. But if you are dangerously low on coolant the coolant temp sensor will see the massive air pockets and set a code for the coolant temp. But, yes it is true that you would either notice it overheat or you would have no heat through the vents before that happened.