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Is the pink stuff in the engine all the same coolant?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by raspy, Nov 6, 2017.

  1. raspy

    raspy Senior Member

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    I opened the bonnet today and noticed two reservoirs full of pink liquid, both at the low marker.

    I'd like to top up levels, and it's not clear from the manual, are they both for coolant, and for the exact same coolant from Toyota?

    Do I just walk in and ask for a pint of the pink stuff, or are there two types of pink stuff on tap?
    (This is a serious question, but I wanted to ask it in a very British way) coolant1.png
     
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  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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  3. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Same coolant for both. Use only Toyota's Super Long Life Coolant. Accept no substitutes, although others on this forum may say otherwise. In the U.S. it's sold by the gallon, not pints, UK may be different.
    Screen Shot 2017-11-06 at 6.52.49 PM.png
     
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  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    My question is - why is is so low? Mine was a whisker above at last service, and now 6000km later hasn't changed. Any signs of a leak?
     
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  5. raspy

    raspy Senior Member

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    Thank You! So helpful since my local Toyota dealer never seems to pick up the phone or takes a day or two to return my calls. I shall head over to Toyota this morning and get some of the super long life coolant.
     
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  6. raspy

    raspy Senior Member

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    Good question Alan. I shall take a look before topping up and monitor the situation closely after that.
     
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  7. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    How full was it after the last service?
     
  8. raspy

    raspy Senior Member

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    I don't recall.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Both engine and inverter coolant reservoirs were nearing low mark on our 2010 at 4.5 years and 50K km's. I topped both up. Now at 7 years and 72K km's, the engine reservoir is again getting kinda close to the bottom, while the inverter reservoir hasn't budged, from the full mark. To be fair, with the engine reservoir, I mighta spilled a slight amount when I did the EGR clean, though I was pretty careful.

    Couple of excerpts from 4th North American Owner's Manual:

    upload_2017-11-7_6-49-48.png
    upload_2017-11-7_6-50-26.png
     
  10. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Now if you were buying again they'd be back to you in a flash.
     
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  11. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    It's quicker for me to nip down to the dealers, 2 miles away, than to wait for them to answer the phone. :rolleyes:
     
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  12. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    ...same here! ;)
     
  13. raspy

    raspy Senior Member

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    I didn't buy from my local dealer. They showed no interest in me as a customer. So luckily, I found a dealer 500 miles away who over the phone did everything possible to get me the car I wanted at short notice.
     
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  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    I thought the vendor (Toyota's representatives, the dealer) was required to provide repair parts for a period of time after a model is sold. Your local dealer may be breaking the law in that respect.
    I can relate except my selling dealer is only 150 miles away and I dealt much through email.
    My local salesman insisted our lower trim only came with black interior, He did not even read his own sales material, apparently. He also refused to be competitive on price.
    The salesman I purchased from is still enjoying his Generation 1 Prius and was very thorough and helpful
     
    #14 Prodigyplace, Nov 9, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2017
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  15. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    The classic case of YDMV, ie your dealer may vary.
     
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  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    That is not the main problem though. The main problem is 90% + of the dealerships are incompetent "stealerships".
    In this case the varying ones are the good guys.
     
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  17. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I rest my case, M'Lud!
     
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  18. Harters

    Harters Active Member

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    Same here, 320 mile round trip to save just over £5000, my dealer was interested buy couldn't match the price (y)
     
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  19. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I often wonder if it's more a case of wouldn't match, rather than couldn't match a price
     
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  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    @raspy Based on this video, it is the same fluid.

     
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