Do you have to use Toyota coolant?

think of it this way, it's only once every hundred thousand miles. and you're saving a fortune doing it yerself!

 

as far as I know most here use it and those who do not tend to regret it...I am sure we have a few renegades but I am talking the general masses here

 

Zerex makes an "Asian" car coolant that is totally campatible. Toyota might even buy it from them and rebrand it.

It's about $15 a gallon.

 

if mikes good with it, i'm good with it. ^^^

 

Unless I'm not mistaken, it's 50/50 mix. It is up here: just bought one, to top up the reservoirs. That took about 8 oz, lol.

Personally I'd stick with the kosher stuff, but I'm kinda uptight.

 

I compared the tecnnical specs of the two and the MSDS's. They appear to be the same.

 

someone has to make toyota's, right? they can't make everything.

 

FWIW, Toyota's SLLC is $28.50 on Amazon, Subaru's is $29.90, Mitsubishi's $30.95, Nissan's $28.80 and Beck Arnley's $32.75. Zerex has some extended life (5 yr/150k mi guarantee) for Asian vehicles for only $13.69, but I have no idea if it's compatible with the Prius, etc. I found some SLLC for $21.95, but then shipping was $6.95. Personally, I don't cut corners unless I'm absolutely sure of compatibility and everything I've read here seems to indicate Toyota's prices for most things are pretty competitive, even for the DIY crowd.

 

Right. In the US, Federal Law states that, if a manufacture requires the prchase of ONLY their brand to maintain the warranty, it must be supplied to the owner at no cost.

I use SLCC in the inverter coolant loop. It uses very little. Failure would be a major expense.

On the other part of the cooling system, I use the Zerex and change it every three years.

 

...sounds like the specific Zerex might be a valid equivalent if you want to go that way, but it's got to be either the Toyota or exact equal third party substitute and not just anything off the shelf.

 

I really have no opinion, I'll probably trade before I need a coolant change anyway. I see nothing wrong though with using whatever coolant is compatible and was just offering the prices I found. There are those who use regular oil instead of synthetic and then change it more frequently, IMHO it all comes out even in the end. As I see it, it's 10 yrs/100k miles for $30 vs 3 yrs/X miles for $15. Some people just don't like to go that long and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

this statement contradicts what you said about both products being the same.

SageBrush uses the Asian formula from Zerex, you guys can ask him what he thinks of it. I personally think either can be used.

 

Maybe there's alternatives that work, I just don't feel comfortable experimenting with it.

I'm just as concerned with colour: is the alternate stuff pink? If not, forget it, lol.

 

The pink SLLC is prediluted. The red long life coolant is not diluted.

The pink stuff can go 50k miles. whereas the red stuff only is good for 30k miles.

 

Most aftermarket stuff that's branded to be compatible should do fine. My dad had a similar issue with his Highlander, but at least its not hard to drain and fill it if he decides to do it more often. If you want to drain and fill the Prius as the schedule says, going with Toyota's brand at least assures you'll get the miles with no issues. If you use something that claims to be as good, you might have to do it more often to feel you're getting the same protection.

Honestly, there's rarely an issue with the ability of something to keep the engine temp where it should be...you're more concerned about it preventing damage from corrosion, oxidation, etc. going on in the coolant system.

 

This is a wobbler for me.
I'm normally skeptical when an OEM tells me that I have to use THEIR stuff, but for this application I think that I would DIY the coolant changes and get Amazon to deliver the OEM coolant, probably for less than their asking price and "definitely" without having to deal with the sniveling weasels down at the dealership.

As Mike pointed out:

Your call.
The difference between $30 and $15 is significant, but not if you spread it out over 100,000 miles.

 

Not sure where a dealer said someone has to use Toyota coolant, it seems to me that all manufacturers recommend using their products.

The difference between $30 and $15 is not significant if those who use the cheaper stuff change it more frequently. From what I've read, the first recommended coolant change is 10 years or 100,000 miles. At least one here is changing it every 3 years, turning that $15 into $45 during that period. Of course, there is a difference between recommended and actual, and many simply don't feel comfortable with the extended lifespan of today's products. I cringed when my daughter didn't change the oil in her 2007 Honda Pilot at the 3,000 mile mark like I've always done. She drives it until the maintenance display tells her to change it and it's been trouble free. The Toyota manual only says to use a ethylene-glycol type coolant and that the recommended service interval is based on using Genuine Toyota SLL coolant or similar high-quality coolant.