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Prestone Coolant ?? Help

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by AMainer, Apr 25, 2012.

  1. AMainer

    AMainer Junior Member

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    Newbe here. I just purchase a use 2005 with 94,000 and am very pleased with the car. I now have 101,000 and need to do the recommended maintenance. I live in very rural Maine and there is no Toyota stealerships near by. I've looked through the posts now for several days and cannot find an answer to my current problem. I changed the inverter coolant as per usbseawolf2000's youtube video. (I drained 2 quarts plus one cup, but could only put back in a tablespoon less than two quarts, even after a week of driving.) My problem is I think I might have screwed up and put in incompatable coolant. I purchased and used Prestone as the local autoparts store said it was equal. Researching the issue, I think it may not be equal and Prestone has yet to return my call or answer my questions. Here are the facts:

    From the Preston website -
    Prestone® 50/50 Extended Life Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant Extended Life (AF-2100) Water, Ethylene Glycol, 2-Ethyl Hexanoic Acid Sodium Salt, Sodium Hydroxide, Neodecanoic Acid Sodium Salt, Sodium Tolytriazole, Dye, n-Propanol, Polypropylene Glyco

    For those consumers who would feel more comfortable using a phosphate-free antifreeze, our Prestone® Extended Life 50/50 Antifreeze/Coolant is phosphate, silicate, and borate free. This coolant uses a special chemistry and technology that extends the life of the corrosion inhibitor package so that it lasts for five years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first), and is safe for all cars and light trucks (old or new).

    From the Toyota Owners Manual -
    Only use "Toyota Super Long Life Coolant" or similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, not-amine, not-nitrite, and non-borate coolant with long-life hybride organic acid technology. (Coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology is a combination of low phosphates and organic acids.)

    I note the following Toyota requirements vs Prestone:
    1. Ethylene glycol based - Yes
    2. Non-silicate - Yes
    3. Non-amine - Not addressed*
    4. Non-nitrite - Not addressed*
    5. Non-borate - Yes
    6. Low phosphates - No phosphates
    7. Low organic acids - Not addressed*

    * I'm not a chemist and don't recognize these listed in the ingredients

    Would someone help me and let me know if I should immediately drain, flush and refill the inverter with Toyota coolant or if I am good to go because it is a "similar" coolant. Also, am I in danger of harming the inverter because I am a cup short of putting back in what I took out. If I am, how do I get the air out? I bled two tablespoons of liquid from the bleed valve without getting any air after the air stopped coming out. All measurements are very accurate.

    A side note: Patric Wong, you are a terrific poster who has helped many with your excellent advise. However, in 2008, you made a statement I would like to correct. You said adding antifreeze to water increases the heat capacity of the coolant as it makes the coolant more dense. Ethylene glycol has less heat capacity than water, therefore, adding ethylene glycol to water decreases the heat capacity from pure water. What adding antifreeze does is provide a lower freeze point, a higher boiling point and lubrication and anticorrosion properties along with increasing its viscosity.
     
  2. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    Yes, you should have used Toyota Super Long Life coolant.

    But, you are using a coolant now that has been formulated for aluminum radiators. While we frequently see posts here about people putting in the wrong stuff, whether intentionally or unintentionally, I'm not aware of any story of a blown-up inverter or transaxle due to using non-SLLC. It is your choice, whether to be absolutely sure that you use the right stuff, or use the stuff that is easily at hand. If it were me, I would have looked for Long Life Coolant, which can be found or at least ordered at most parts stores, then you also have control over the dilution fractions if you need colder protection than what 50/50 can give you.

    Two things, however.

    1. Was the inverter cooling pump ever changed out by Toyota under the special service campaign initiated in Nov. 2010? If so, then changing out the coolant was not necessary, since that included a drain/fill of the system. If not, then schedule a visit to a dealership, which will switch out your pump and fill the system with SLLC.

    2. Make absolutely sure that you can see turbulence in the reservoir when the car is in Ready. If the reservoir is nearly full it is harder to see. If you have turbulence, then the system is bled, and you can go with no worries.
     
  3. zak

    zak New Member

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    AMainer,

    I'm curious what happened after that... I'm having the same issue here, I topped off using Prestone and seeing water pump and inverter drain plug leak...

    Thank you
     
  4. drmanny3

    drmanny3 Member

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    I honestly would not worry about the coolant. It if anything, it is basic because of the Sodium Hydroxide. The acids have already been combined to somewhat neutralize them. They are now salts. It is like you start off with Sodium Hydroxide and then add Hydrogen Chloride (a base and an acid). You end up with Sodium Chloride (neutral) and water. In this case you have a more complex organic salt. The whole mix is slightly basic. I really think you are ok. The coolant is correct for aluminum components. I believe you can contact a Toyota Dealer and give them your Vin number and they can tell you what the car has had done with respect to any recalls. Also while you are a cup short of the amount taken, could that be easily associated with the coolant recovery tank above the radiator? Run your heater to insure you also replenished that system.
    Manny
     
  5. AMainer

    AMainer Junior Member

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    The car now has 170,000 miles and is running well. I did nothing about the coolant. I did not drain it and refill with a new coolant nor did I ever add a cup to equal the amount removed. The system is full and there have been no problems.

    However, it was stupid of me to have drained any in the first place. It had just been drained and refilled by the dealer on the warranty issue mentioned in the reply posting before I purchased the car. I just did not know this but discovered it when I went to the dealer on another issue.
     
  6. zak

    zak New Member

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    Thanks a lot guys for your feedback!