Inverter coolant level

The inverter coolant uses the Toyota SLLC (Super Long Life Coolant). You definitely do not want to top it off with the Prestone. Either way you are going to need to go to the dealer to either get a gallon of the SLLC or have the dealer top it off.

 

How low is "just below"? If it's just a couple of mm below the low mark then all you'll need to do is add about 10 ml of distilled water and you'll be fine. At least half of the SLLC is H2O - n'est-ce pas?

OTOH, if it remains at that level it is now - meaning it isn't decreasing over time, you are needlessly fretting about it.

I topped off my inverter coolant level with distilled water when it was just slightly low last year and it's been fine ever since - reads at the high mark when hot. There's not much difference between the high and low level marks anyway.

 

It will go up - slightly. I see it rise from halfway between the low and high marks to the high mark, which again is practically nothing at all if you look closely at where the low and high marks are.

And - I only see the level rise when the temp outside is above 90°F, like today. On a cooler day - bubkis!

 

3 cm is more than one inch. Perhaps you meant 3 mm? If the level is really 3 cm below the low level then it is seriously low.

Especially since you reside in an area with winter low temps substantially below freezing, I would not encourage you to dilute the antifreeze with water. You need all of the antifreeze protection available.

I also would not expect the inverter coolant reservoir level to change very much as the drivetrain warms up.

 

He meant that there was a remaining air bubble in the Inverter coolant loop after refilling the coolant. When it cleared, the coolant level dropped to fill in the space. This is a common problem in the ICE coolant loop after a drain and refill.

JeffD

 

Then there must be a small leak somewhere. Once topped off, there shouldn't be any decrease in the fluid level.

You're going to have to do a pressure check with dye to locate the leak.

 

It sounds like the inverter/transaxle coolant loop has a leak. I suggest that you first look at the inverter, then get under the car and look at the transaxle case and associated coolant hoses, for a pinkish powdery stain.

Or take the car to your dealer and ask them to check the inverter/transaxle coolant system for a leak.

 

The residue may be from when they dumped the Inverter coolant. Its dump bolt is one of the large bolts under there pretty close to the dump bolt for the trans. If you suspect a leak I suggest you hose off the area in question with carb cleaner and rag it clean then any further leaks will be easily detected. Also they use a pinkish colored sealer between
the cases of the trans. You may be able to see it squished out so don't mistake that.


It may not be leaking it may just have a bad air lock caused by shoddy bleeding. That takes a long time to disperse and over time as air evaps it leaves a void and fluid shows low. Takes a long time to fill it back up. Heard many reports of that on this site.

The way to check for air lock or a failed pump is to make the car READY and open the reservoir and look for turbulence in the coolant reservoir reflecting pump flow. Should have good and steady movement of fluid. Or with the car in Ready listen to the pump itself.
Wait till engine shuts off so its quiet. That little black electric water pump can be found right behind the drivers side headlight. It has 2 hoses hooked to it. One coming one going.
Put the car in READY and wait till the engine shuts off so its quiet. Then put you ear as close to that pump as you can and listen to it. It should be smooth and have a soft whine to it like a aquarium pump. If any gurgling or intermittent sounds like the pump is going dry for a second or 2 there's air in it. Should be smooth and quiet.

If quiet and good steady turbulence then there may be a small leak. Never heard of a Inverter coolant leak before. Becasue if there's a leak it will have air in it also.

There's only 2 mechanical openings for the Inverter system. The dump bolt under on the trans and the air bleed petcock. There's a air bleed petcock up top they must use. Maybe they never tightened it. If not it would leak and the Inverter coolant would be full of air.
Not sure how handy you are but you have to take the black plastic TOP front radiator cover off. Its very easy. It has 6 screws. Need a phillips screwdriver. While unscrewing the screw snake your hand under the screw and push up on the screw. Comes right out. The petcock is in front of the Inverter lower left. It has a screw on cap. See if that's tight or see if you can loosen it by hand a bit. If if its loose it must be tightened by tool. If loose take it back as air has gotten into the system and they have to bleed it again.

Good Luck!

 

Ok thanks sounds good. That pink sealant has thrown many people!

 

I disagree with the suggestion that the inverter coolant level will fluctuate 1/2". I live in an area where high summer temps can be 110+ degrees while low winter temps are at freezing. The inverter coolant level will remain pretty constant regardless of the car having been driven for hours, or with the powertrain cold after resting overnight.

Instead of arguing with the dealer staff about this or living with a fluid level below the minimum mark, why not just buy a gallon of Toyota SLLC so that you can fill to the full mark, and see what happens.

 

I am amazed the dealer won't just top up the fluid to make the customer happy. I went to the dealer to top up the engine coolant twice, after they resealed the timing chain cover.

 

Ok dumb question, but I've never noticed a "low level" mark on the reservoir. Does it indeed have both a high and a low level mark and I've just never noticed, or is there but a single "level" mark there?

 

There is a Full mark right above the thick seams and a Low mark right below. Why Toyota put those obtrusive seams there to block the view of the fluid level is way beyond me.