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Accidentally added red vs pink coolant

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by athlete11, Apr 14, 2020.

  1. athlete11

    athlete11 Junior Member

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    2012 Prius. Thought I was being frugal buying the concentrated version as opposed to the 50/50 mix.

    Just now realized my mistake. It was only a drain and fill, although this was after repairing head gasket so I had quite a bit more coolant drained from hoses.

    Best to dump the coolant and add pink or just go 30k miles since it's already in there and replace it then?
     
  2. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    it's not gonna hurt, just leave it & replace it later with the pink one /
     
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  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Just go 30K miles and replace the coolant after that interval.
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe 30K or 3 years?

    I know with the pink SLLC (after the initial changes), for both circuits it's 50K or 5 years.

    Yeah there's nothing wrong with the concentrate, it'd be shame to dump it so early.
     
  5. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    No problem.

    When you get ready to change it again down the road just dump the rad only that way you will not invoke an airlock Then dump the rad again in a few months. It works Quick and easy really helps. G3's don't have as bad an airlock as G2's.
     
  6. Umar Ali

    Umar Ali Member

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    coolant drain and fill is very straightforward and simple job. if u did ur head gasket then coolant replacement is nothing comapred. if you are still concerned then replace it, i have found coolant drain refill to be easiest job on prius than my other vehicles.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    When you drain, keep in mind you won't drain it all. Maybe stick with the shorter interval till the next time (if a next time happens). Measure what you drain, so you have some idea how much of the shorter interval coolant is still in there. System capacity in the attached. I believe the number is 7.3 liters (7.7 US quarts). I'm not clear if that's drain-and-fill guideline or full capacity.

    I would try to drain as much as possible: open the engine block petcock as well. You might also pull off the lowest exhaust heat recover hose, see if you can get some out there.
     
  8. Umar Ali

    Umar Ali Member

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    totally forgot that 2010 prius has bleed valve up top wheras later models doesnt have that. it is way easier to fill with the valve open, leaves no air pockets. but mendel leisk is right about having hose disconnected it makes things way easier.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The hose disconnect I was thinking of was on exhaust heat recovery, just for a more thorough drain. But yeah in absence of bleed bolt on later 3rd gen model year, disconnecting a hose where bleed bolt was would serve same purpose.