engine, inverter coolant

The engine and inverter have separate coolant plumbing, even though the same liquid is used in each circuit. I don't worry too much about engine cooling, but I try to baby the inverter since its repair is *so* expensive it would amount to junking the car. You might be ok if you just check the coolant fluid color is still pink and the pH is within specs every year or so -- or change it out every 100k miles per manufacturer recc.

The manufacturer recc is not 18 months or 15k miles.

 

It does indeed say 'Inspect Engine/Inverter coolant' at 15,000 miles/18 months, on page 39 of the downloadable PDF Warranty & Maintenance Guide. However, referring to the appropriate part of the Owner's Manual I think they simply mean checking that there's sufficient coolant in the reservoirs.

Page 50 is the first to refer to 'Replace Engine/Inverter coolant' at 100,000 miles/120 months. The footnote for it is on page 51, and reads:

"Initial engine coolant replacement at 100,000 miles/120 months. Replace every 50,000 miles/60 months thereafter.
Initial inverter coolant replacement at 150,000 miles/180 months. Replace every 50,000 miles/60 months thereafter.
Refer to “Engine/Inverter Coolant” in the “Explanation of Maintenance Items” section in the back of this guide for more information."

The wording under 'Explanation of Maintenance Items' is poor for something you inspect every year and a half but don't replace for ten years! When it is replaced, the suggestion that the qualified tech does it is because it's hard to make sure that the inverter coolant loop, particularly, doesn't have any air bubbles in it.

 

The local Toyota dealer is saying I need to have the engine and inverter coolant changed at 15000 miles per note 3 on the required maintenance log. Note 3 refers to the explanation maintence item, which says to replace the coolant.
This dealer also still says to change oil at 5K. The nearest other dealer is about 50 miles away. I can see why some people call dealers as stealers.
Has anyone else had this issue with the dealer. I don't want to give them any excuses if anything should fail while under warrenty.

Barn

 

I've heard that some people check coolant with digital voltmeter.

Here is what I googled:
"Put your negative probe to the negative post on your battery. You then place the positive probe in the neck of your radiator.
0.2 V to 0.5 V - antifreeze is still good
0.5 V to 0.7 V - antifreeze is borderline
0.7 V or greater - antifreeze is unacceptable. "

I've never done it myself.

 

Barnabus: IMHO, your dealer is a crook, trying to take your money. There's a BIG difference between "checking" and "replacing".

edited: I have over 40,000 miles on my 2006, and have never done more than "check" the coolant levels. Both engine and inverter coolants will last 1000,000+ miles.

 

Yes a lot of people have reported dealers who try to push excessive maintenance on their customers. Tell them you do not want to follow their maintenance schedule, you want to follow the Toyota schedule that is in your Warranty & Maintenance Guide book. If you follow those recommendations there can be no warranty issues because it is the manufacturers recommendation.

 

In the case of the OPs dealer I would put the negative probe on the OP's wallet and the positive probe on the dealers scrotum. Run 120 volts through it. If the dealer screams he's a crook.

 

This discussion is good for me as I'm reminded to take the "recommended maintenance schedules" OUT of the owner's manual (glove box) and ener them into my PDA which I use every day and will refer to more regularly. Sometimes for me, it's out-of-sight, and out-of-mind.

My car's runs so great after 20K, that I completely forgot about maintenance other than oil changes!

Under normal driving conditions, I've never heard of replacing coolant at 15K miles or 18 months. That's just crazy!

Happy Motoring,

Tom

 

And what if he does not scream? :hurt: Don't wound one of these suckers !

Seriously you have to watch these places I was in a local dealership and was waiting in the service area to get my car back a brand new 2009 Toyota Corolla Lemon replaced with the Prius long story.... and as a former mechanic I can tell you even I was shocked by the bull they were telling people and the prices were criminal.

 

This might be handy:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...93946-2010-prius-maintenance-schedule-us.html

 

I wonder what the resistance is. op2:

 

Thanks. Actually I found it when first posted and use it as a handy guideline.

 

I think the ICE is more expensive than the inverter.

 

I noticed that my inverter coolant reservoir is getting low. Would I be able to refill it using the PEAK EXTENDED LIFE RED/PINK ANTIFREEZE +COOLANT? It’s the 50/50 prefigured antifreeze. Will it harm my 2012 Prius V? Thanks for the help.

 

not sure. if no one chimes in, i'd grab a gallon of toyota

 

Welcome to Prius Chat .

For the inverter coolant loop, I’d stick with the pink toyota super long life coolant.

You can buy it at any toyota dealer or online.

Good luck and keep us posted .

 

Just buy a bottle of the spec'd fluid: "Toyota Super Long Life Coolant". It's pre-mixed 50/50 with water (in the States, 55/45 in Canada). There's a disclaimer in the book saying you can use others if it's:

similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, nonamine, non-nitrite and non-borate coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology.

That's a bit too much for my brain cells, I'll get the kosher stuff, sleep soundly.

 

Zerex (Valvoline) Asian formula is the same stuff, and less pricey.