Coolant Color - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

redtigerrocks · 06-21-2010, 01:27 PM

Why does my coolant in my overflow reservoir look like rust-ish color? It used to be dark red

***LynchburgCSI*** · 06-21-2010, 01:51 PM

Toyota coolant is dark red and has anti-rust agents in it Regular coolant is lime green and has no rust preventing chemicals. It's okay to mix them. The only reason I could see for the coolant getting a "rusty" color if you've ONLY ran Toyota coolant is simply wear and contaminants in the coolant. It's an old car. It's normal. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Chris Crash · 06-21-2010, 03:23 PM

Also, I would flush it.

TCam01 · 06-21-2010, 07:39 PM

^ Deff flush that ish out and mix toyota red long life with distilled water 60/40 or 50/50 watever yur into

Drewfuspx · 06-21-2010, 07:53 PM

From what I understand all coolant will slowly become more and more acidic over time and so coolant that sits in your car for TOO long can eventually, regardless of it's origin, become bad for all the systems.

***fenixus*** · 06-21-2010, 08:38 PM

just flush it out 3 times through the radiator using distilled water. then fill the radiator with red TLLC, so it mixes with 50% water leftover in engine block, resulting in 50/50 mixture of TLLC based coolant with very little ~6% old coolant leftover.

***JohnGD*** · 06-21-2010, 10:13 PM

You probably have corrosion in there. Maybe even a blown head gasket. When was the last time the coolant was changed?

For curiosity, I'd test for electrolytic corrosion related voltage in the radiator by:
http://www.completeradiators.com/articles/34.htm

Do you read more than 0.3V?

Quote:

Originally Posted by redtigerrocks

Why does my coolant in my overflow reservoir look like rust-ish color? It used to be dark red

***fenixus*** · 06-21-2010, 10:29 PM

wow!

great test, will do it too for fun ... and hoping it turns out ok on my 8mo old pump & coolant ...

***fenixus*** · 06-21-2010, 10:32 PM

if a blown HG is suspected, i may suggest testing the compression of engine. it should tell if that's the case or it was only some rust or strange discoloration coming from mixing different coolants:

DIY camry 2.2L i4 engine 5S-FE compression test

redtigerrocks · 06-21-2010, 10:44 PM

Its been over a year since I changed the water pump so I think they might of done a coolant flush then (not 100% sure), but i know for a fact its been a while since Ive had my coolant flushed. How can it be a blow head gasket? If I had a blown head gasket, wouldn't the coolant be thick and milky? I have no white smoke coming out of my muffler and its not overheating... I checked my coolant color with my Gen 5 coolant color and their identical so I'm guessing I need a flush.

***JohnGD*** · 06-21-2010, 11:47 PM

Not necessarily in the initial case with a blown head gasket. However, we'll focus on old coolant fornow. But if they changed the water pump I hope they didn't just pour back what they drained. Some shops, even the dealer, can do this to you. And coolant isn't the only thing being saved and poured back!

I'd do the voltage test first. And if you have those Walmart 99-cent coolant specific gravity tester (5-ball tester), check it out too. Maybe the coolant concentration is too low. etc etc

Quote:

Originally Posted by redtigerrocks

Its been over a year since I changed the water pump so I think they might of done a coolant flush then (not 100% sure), but i know for a fact its been a while since Ive had my coolant flushed. How can it be a blow head gasket? If I had a blown head gasket, wouldn't the coolant be thick and milky? I have no white smoke coming out of my muffler and its not overheating... I checked my coolant color with my Gen 5 coolant color and their identical so I'm guessing I need a flush.

***JohnGD*** · 06-21-2010, 11:53 PM

BTW, did anyone dump anything other than Toyota Red or distilled water in there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by redtigerrocks

Why does my coolant in my overflow reservoir look like rust-ish color? It used to be dark red

redtigerrocks · 06-22-2010, 12:01 AM

nope just toyota red and distilled water. i have a feelings its rust because I compared it to my Gen 5 Camry (which hasn't had a flush in over 10k miles) and their both the same color. What are the early signs of a blown headgasket? I'm praying that its not it

TCam01 · 06-22-2010, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnGD

Not necessarily in the initial case with a blown head gasket. However, we'll focus on old coolant fornow. But if they changed the water pump I hope they didn't just pour back what they drained. Some shops, even the dealer, can do this to you. And coolant isn't the only thing being saved and poured back!

I'd do the voltage test first. And if you have those Walmart 99-cent coolant specific gravity tester (5-ball tester), check it out too. Maybe the coolant concentration is too low. etc etc

what you can buy a tester that tells you the mixture percent of your coolant and its that cheap too? Can you tell me more about this becuase i would deff want to check mine because i just replaced my radiator and what not

71Corolla · 06-22-2010, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCam01

what you can buy a tester that tells you the mixture percent of your coolant and its that cheap too?

Coolant hydrometer