Low antifreeze, water pump weeping

[bnllovesme]

I was driving my '05 Prius with 90k miles yesterday and noticed something wrong right away. There weren't any lights or messages but I noticed a noise (coolant, I think?) would flush for 15 seconds, then be quiet for a minute, then start up again. This lasted for my entire 15 minute trip. It hasn't done it since, but my father and I inspected the engine today and saw that the front antifreeze container is on low and there's a bright pink spot under the water pump. (Dad says water pump is going and it's weeping out of a hole?)

My dad told me to go get some antifreeze to fill it up, so I went and got a store brand but the guy at the store said not to fill it because it was so hot and it could be under pressure? Something about the fluids staying hot for 3 days?

I'm planning on calling the dealer tomorrow, but from past experience they probably won't be able to get me in until Tuesday. I still need to get to work and back (70 miles roundtrip) and I don't want to risk something happening on the Interstate.

According to what I've read on PC I really shouldn't add this store brand, but take some from the other container? Could I make it a day or two okay without touching anything until I can get it to my dealer?

[galaxee]

do NOT add the green store brand coolant- it is not compatible with toyota's coolant. you don't want to open the coolant system when the car is hot. the coolant in the chs tank is hot for several days, but not the rest of the system.

get some coolant from the dealer and top it off yourself if you can- keep a close eye on the fluid level and if you get a warning light pull over and shut off the car IMMEDIATELY. no limping it for a minute, get off the road and shut it off.

eta: if you can't get toyota coolant, i'd be hesitant to drive it much if at all.

[bnllovesme]

Glad I didn't add that coolant! Thanks much, I'll update with more info once I get it to the dealer.

[hyo silver]

Could the coolant be topped off with some water in an emergency, or is that a definite no-no?

[IMD1]

I didn't realize this as my 09' hasn't arived yet, but could this "special Toyota coolant" just be Dex-Cool? (ORANGE) That's the only other coolant that I am aware of. If it is, you are correct, you can't mix it with conventional green coolant. It will basically turn to gel and cause the pump to fail. You can however, have the system flushed and replace it with conventional green coolant. I had another car with this so called "extended life" coolant which was just a bunch of BS. The water pump on that car failed at 56,000. So when I replaced the pump I went with green.
A freind, who was a Wynn's Chemical distributor and sold collant, oil and transmission flush machines to dealers and repair facilities as well as the flush chemicals recommended it. I now have 172,000 and have never had another waterpump problem since.

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by IMD1

I didn't realize this as my 09' hasn't arived yet, but could this "special Toyota coolant" just be Dex-Cool? (ORANGE)

No, its not compatible with the orange stuff either. It is called SLLC (Super Long Life Coolant) and it is premixed (don't add water) and pink in color.

[Patrick Wong]

I suggest that you use water (assuming Toyota SLLC coolant is not available to you) to fill the cooling system until you can get to the dealer on Tuesday. Bring along a gallon jug of water and replenish as needed after you arrive at the office and the car has cooled down.

The dealer will drain the old coolant when replacing the engine water pump, and new SLLC coolant should be installed. No harm will be caused by using water in the cooling system for two days (assuming your low ambient temp is above freezing).

[galaxee]

when i was growing up in the frozen north, it was always referred to as "antifreeze" not "coolant" because that was the major purpose of the stuff it took my car overheating one nasty summer afternoon when i was 16 or 17 to make the connection that antifreeze also kept the engine cool! i think it's probably getting a little cold at night in wi to be adding water now.

[dogfriend]

We could get away with straight water here in Sac for about another month; in So Cal they might be able to get away with it year around.

[bnllovesme]

Was able to get an appointment today. Two hours, a new water pump, a gasket, some coolant and $17 for a v-ribbed belt (not covered under warranty, guy said it should be replaced and that it was covered in coolant) and I was good to go. The extended warranty covered the pump and labor.

I did drive to work and back. My father (30+ years of experience working on heavy diesel equipment) laughed at my little leak and said I was blowing it way out of proportion. I guess since the leak was so little (no smells, no pools on cement) and must have just started (I just checked under the hood 10 days ago) and the coolant was a good quarter inch above the "low" marking all equaled fine operating conditions to him. We're both learning.

I can't believe there isn't any temp gauge so you know how hot it is under the hood, or am I missing something?

Thanks everyone for all the help, this has really taught me a lot.

Jackie