Toyota coolant issue

A purist would tell you to change it to the official "pink" Toyota fluid. However, there are other fluids that meet the requirements, such as Prestone extended life, which I think is yellow. You could check with the dealer and find out what they put in, or have the fluid changed to be sure. I don't think you would have caused any damage even if the wrong fluid was used, if it was in there for only a few months. Was the other dealer a Toyota dealer?

 

have a pressure test done, do it your self its cheaper
and change out coolent again.. do it your self its cheaper.. also.. its simple on prius, cause its small and the engine block isn't huge

 

Just a warning to all. I needed some additional Toyota SSL coolant so I went to the closest Toyota dealer parts department. They gave me some "Long Life" (the red one, undiluted). When I objected, they said that I was wrong about the manual stating ONLY SSL in my 2004 Prius and they only use the older long life coolant in their service department. Yet another reason I do not use their service department an go to a dealer that is further from my home.

JeffD

 

Hi Jeff,

Guess it was too hard for them to read the little decal in the engine compartment that provides engine coolant change info.

Do you think this dealer uses 10W-30 viscosity engine oil?

 

Yes. The overflow reservoir is behind the radiator and adjacent to the black plastic radiator cover.

 

Take it back and tell them to replace it with the correct stuff at their expense. If they balk tell them you'll take it up with Toyota for voiding your warranty.

Do you always check the oil level after a change? They may have been doing that wrong, also.

 

Nothing simple about a complete coolant change on a Prius or a pressure test on the rad either. Both require expensive tool sets. Complete coolant change and air purge has nothing to do with the size of the engine and everything to do with the relative position of the engine to the radiator.
Like most modern cars it requires a vacuum evac tool which uses compressed air. Have read many many posts here in the last 2 years of peeps complaining about overheating and gurgling noises in the dash because of improper air evac of the coolant system. The coolant system for the inverter is the same. An air purging PIA.
This is not a DIY unless the DIY'er is a professional mechanic.

 

Very interesting. So it sounds like it is not as easy as I have thought it would be to change coolant on a Prius. I've done numerous coolant changes on several Nissan, Ford, and Toyota vehicles but no experience on a Prius. I'll have to educate myself on this and see how a 'DIY' can manage this in a house garage.

 

Maybe you will find my post #22 of interest here: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...shooting/30813-changing-engine-coolant-3.html

 

This is a DIy project.. not that hard.. and tools can be expensive depending on what you consider expensive..

 

it took you 15 months to respond? glad you're not my attorney!

 

Remember Biscco, these threads are eternal, so if not timely, then, somewhere down the line somebody will appreciate it. As for coolant changes, anybody can do it, providing, you take your time, know where the bleeder screws are and read all the posts first. No special tools are required! Only a minuscule amount of special knowledge. Obtained on Priuschat.
:cheer2:

 

Amen to that! If you are not qualified and do not have an airlift device, keep your hands to yourself and let a pro take care of it. And don't be surprised if most dealer techs are not Prius qualified...and they are not God, as some people think.

Happy motoring.