Hi all Recently moved my 2012 Prius from the west coat to east coat. I'm pretty sure most standard coolants include an antifreeze, yes? Or, would my Prius require anything additional or stronger now that it has moved to the lower temps back east? I've always had it maintained out in California and asked one of the California service guys if he'd thought I'd be okay with my existing coolant, but he wasn't 100% sure. Thought I'd ask here before I bring it to a local shop. Thanks all!
»» The water freezes at 0 degrees centigrade. Antifreeze can lower the temperature to around 30 under zeros and not freeze. What facilitates the ignition. If you are in a place where the temperature reaches 0 degrees or less I recommend using antifreeze Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Beside the obvious use, Antifreeze also contains corrosion inhibitors which are very useful in any climate. A tester is less than $3.
Where on the east coast? In Florida, 50/50 mix works all year round. If you are in Maine, you'd have to check the owners manual, I believe it calls for more coolant than water, but since I don't have the manual in front of me and too lazy to go look, can't say for sure.
if you are using toyota coolant, you're covered sorry to hear about your move to the least coast.(least natural disasters)
Easy. Ask a shop in your new area to test it. At 6 years old, it probably could stand to be replaced anyway. If you do that, do NOT buy into the scam of paying extra for a "flush".
Chemistry Lesson: Any solute in a solvent will both lower the freezing point of that solvent and raise its boiling point. So, by having coolant (which has particles dissolved in it so that its boiling point is higher than water by itself), you automatically have antifreeze. The more particles dissolved per volume solvent, the higher the boiling point will be raised/lower the freezing point will be reduced. If you're moving somewhere with extreme cold in the winter, you might want to adjust the mix. It's been a while since I've looked at a coolant bottle, but they used to have charts showing the mixing ratio with water for desired temperature performance.
Thanks, all. We are in Boston. I've always had the Toyota dealership add the coolant, so based on some of these replies, I believe I am fine. If unsure, I will take it to a shop or buy the cheapo tester from online. I also would like to check my wife's Crosstrek (also brought from California), so maybe the testing tool is the quickest route.
Toyota Canada has 55% pre-mix coolant. I wonder if some places in the States also get this, say Alaska and the north central States. Either way you'll be fine. One thing that's always puzzled me: why don't the coolant testers show percent, not freeze protection? I think they're pretty much pointless: if all that's ever gone into your system is 50/50 premix, that's what you've got.
the poor southern states deserve some love to. Consider certain cities of various Southern States' low temps on one occasion or more; Alabama 1966 - 27°f Georgia 1940 - 17f Cali 1937 - Arizona 1971 - 40f Texas 1933 - 23f New Mexico 1951 - 50f California 1937 - 45f I get severe shrinkage just thinking about those kind of temperatures ok sure - it's not most of their cities nor most of their years, but show the southern peeps some love with a nice hot toddy. Even folks that don't regularly see freezing temps can use a good stiff shot of antifreeze because we travel. You hit the mountains or travel to Frosty places for vacation and if you don't have it in your radiator, next morning, you may very well wish you did. .
Toyota only sells the (specified) "super long life coolant" pre-mixed? So how would you make any adjustment, short of switching to an alternate coolant that is available un-mixed? They have another coolant, that's not rated as long a life, but does come in concentrate, I think.
