1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Why Not to use SuperTech Coolant in your Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by anonymous, Nov 26, 2019.

  1. anonymous

    anonymous Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    169
    94
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    From the manual:
    On the label of the cheapest SuperTech coolant concentrate:
    And from what I have read, I believe it is a hybrid organic acid technology coolant. So it seems suitable for use in a Prius and is the cheapest coolant I am aware of (especially when using concentrate; $9.88 plus up to $1 for distilled water makes two gallons, while two gallons of pre-diluted Zerex or genuine Toyota coolant would cost around $30 or $50, respectfully). Since I was doing a full coolant flush while doing head work, I decided to try it, thinking it should work perfectly fine.

    Well once I filled the system I found a problem...
    IMG_7986.JPG IMG_7987.JPG

    The coolant is the same color as the reservoir!! You can barely see it! :ROFLMAO:
     
    #1 anonymous, Nov 26, 2019
  2. anonymous

    anonymous Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    169
    94
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    BTW. I remember SuperTech coolant used to be green. While I was getting the coolant I saw most of the bottles had a new label, but there were some left with the old label. Next time I saw they were gone.
    IMG_7558.JPG
    I thought they just changed the label but apparently they changed the formula as well. Information on the back is slightly different too. Here's the old label vs the new label.
     
    #2 anonymous, Nov 26, 2019
  3. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,296
    1,006
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I thought they use Phosphates? Just reading up on the Prime manual just now it excludes all those as well but does NOT mention "no Phosphates".

    moto g(7) power ?
     
    #3 jzchen, Nov 26, 2019
  4. Ed Beaty

    Ed Beaty Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2018
    334
    309
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Question: why (why?) go on the cheap for a product (an IMPORTANT product) that will go 100,000 miles INSIDE your cooling system?

    Why?
     
    #4 Ed Beaty, Nov 26, 2019
    mikey_t and Mendel Leisk like this.
  5. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,296
    1,006
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I have a couple reasons I've done this in the past. 2017 Alfa Romeo Guilia lease I did not want to buy yet another spec coolant, (just to top off on a 27 month lease,) when I already have maybe 8 different types (I believe 12 gallons/partial gallons) from the other cars we've had in my lifetime. 2018 Honda Clarity PHEV-. Had a burning smell driving in hybrid mode on the way to a birthday party on Saturday. Sunday morning when I had a chance to check what was wrong I found the HV battery coolant somewhat low, and dealers closed I went to AutoZone for some coolant. (I ALMOST made the mistake of non-phosphate enhanced coolant but rechecked what I was holding and swapped it with the phosphate enhanced stuff).

    moto g(7) power ?
     
    #5 jzchen, Nov 26, 2019
  6. anonymous

    anonymous Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    169
    94
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Because I'm cheap, and I'm confident that this coolant is perfectly suitable for this cooling system and any more expensive coolant is just a waste of money. But there is only one way to find out for sure and I am willing to experiment.
     
    #6 anonymous, Nov 26, 2019
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,654
    38,202
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I stick with Toyota Super Long Life, because I can't be bothered to exhaustively check the compatibility of something else. Following the Canadian schedule for me, it's going to be once every ten years. Ten, even twenty bucks difference, cheap price to avoid the uncertainty.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Nov 26, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2019
    Bbonez and mikey_t like this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,687
    48,942
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you're not cheap enough mendel.

    we'll be revoking your frugal club membership card.
     
    #8 bisco, Nov 26, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2019
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,347
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I have never understood the logic in spending tens of thousands of dollars on any vehicle...only to cheap out maintaining said vehicles.
     
    #9 frodoz737, Nov 26, 2019
    bisco likes this.
  10. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,642
    1,134
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    While shopping at Walmart, you can by the legit Zerex (Valvoline) equivalent to SLLC for $12.48/gallon. That's not as cheap as the "universal" concentrate, but less likely to result in easily avoided disaster.
     
    #10 CR94, Dec 1, 2019
    jzchen likes this.
  11. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,296
    1,006
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I do believe the Asian manufacturers use a P-HOAT formula, (phoshpate enhanced):

    Engine Coolant &ndash; Choosing the Right Type for Your Car | Valvoline&trade;<br />

    That said a little top off may not hurt...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
    #11 jzchen, Dec 2, 2019
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)