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non-Toyota coolant flush

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by icyrius, Apr 22, 2018.

  1. icyrius

    icyrius Active Member

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    Hello all,

    My gen 3 is at 110K miles and want to do a radiator/inverter coolant flush. The problem is that I got a quote from my local Toyota dealer for their Toyota Super Long antifreeze coolant at $28 per gallon. I can buy Zerex or Prestone Asian vehicle coolant at Advance Auto Parts for $14 a gallon.

    Would you recommend that I switch from the Toyota brand? Since I will also switch spark plugs and clean the EGR valve, it is beginning to add up for this major maintenance.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 icyrius, Apr 22, 2018
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  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Is this all maintenance you will be performing yourself or having someone else do?

    I’m not one for cutting fluid corners as you do the activity so infrequently. I just picked up 2 gallons from the local toyota dealer near us and the parts guy got me down to $24 per gallon which was cheaper than amazon:).

    I’d stick with the SLLC personally as I know it’s what it should be and for not much more;).

    Good luck with your maintenance project (y).
     
    #2 Raytheeagle, Apr 22, 2018
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  3. icyrius

    icyrius Active Member

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    I am doing it myself. Thanks for the advice.
     
    #3 icyrius, Apr 22, 2018
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I would stick with the Toyota coolant, considering that a coolant change is infrequent, and for complete compatibility. About four years in with ours both reservoirs were down a bit so for top-up I've already bit the bullet and bought a gallon of the Toyota stuff
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Apr 22, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2018
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  5. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    or buy the red toyota coolant and you get 2 gallons because you'd have to mix 50 50 with water
     
    #5 tankyuong, Apr 22, 2018
  6. icyrius

    icyrius Active Member

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    And what is the difference between the two types I am showing below? The Toyota dealer had both and said I must buy the 50/50.

    Cooland 1.jpg Coolant 2.jpg
     
    #6 icyrius, Apr 22, 2018
  7. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    One says Super Long Life. The other just says Long Life.
    Since Toyota recommends Super Long Life coolant. why look for anything else? :confused:
     
    #7 Prodigyplace, Apr 22, 2018
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, use the Super Long Life, as recommended in your Owner's Manual, page 501:

    upload_2018-4-22_10-55-12.png

    Watch all the pertenant @NutzAboutBolts videos if you haven't already, they're all linked, in a thread in the 3rd gen maintenance section. Your's is the v, but still I'd think worth watching, probably very similar.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Apr 22, 2018
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  9. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    Since (as been talked about on other threads) you cannot drain all the coolant out I sure would stick with the super long life coolant that's in the car now. Since it seems no matter what you do there is going to be a lot of the old coolant left it's not a good idea to mix things up.
     
    #9 paprius4030, Apr 22, 2018
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Someone disconnect one of the hoses on the exhaust coolant heating circuit. Another way to get more out.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Apr 22, 2018
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  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Super Long Life Coolant has a 50K mile change interval after the factory fill is replaced.
    Long Life Coolant has a 30K mile change interval, and needs to be mixed with distilled water, hence 1 gallon of LLC becomes 2 gallons with addition of the water.
     
    #11 Patrick Wong, Apr 23, 2018
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