Coolant question.

[DM616]

When I bought my GEN4 97 Camry (4cyl) last year, I noticed the coolant was a dark muddy amber color, not the typical red in toyota coolant.

A mechanic said it was fine, and I've been driving it this whole year with no problems, the temperature needle is always in the middle, never high.

Now I noticed today my coolant is just above the 'low mark', so I am unsure of what to do.

Should I drain the old coolant, put in toyota coolant? Should I have a shop flush the old coolant, and have them put new coolant in? Or do I wait until it's even lower? Or do I just add more coolant in?

Here are a few pictures:

Coolant level:

http://i.imgur.com/10l3O.jpg
Coolant color in tank:

http://i.imgur.com/pUVP5.jpg
Coolant color on plate:
http://i.imgur.com/iv93U.jpg
If I have a shop flush the coolant, how much should I expect to pay for a good job?

[Chris Crash]

I would flush it yourself the DIY way. It's stickied.

Fill up with toyota red since that's what was in there before.

[heartdisease]

+1, I wouldn't wait, old coolant turns corrosive.

[DM616]

So where is the DIY? I checked the list, could only find radiator changing and what not. Nothing about flushing.

Either that or I am blind.

Thanks I just really need to know what to do and what tools, I should be set to go then.

[JohnGD]

The coolant looks really nasty and probably hasn't been changed since new. It would be a good time to change out the radiator hoses (plus other coolant hoses), thermostat and radiator cap as well. Plan to end up using 50% Toyota Red and distilled water. Use only Toyota thermostat or Stant "OE" type thermostat, not cheap aftermarket stats without the jiggle valve.

You can use either the drain/refill method if there isn't much buildup, or traditionally the garden hose method. If there is build up then an aluminum-safe cleaner should be used, but make sure to get all of it out of the system or it can cause corrosion later. In any case you should remove the thermostat and put back a new one instead of reusing the old stat. And make sure to run distilled water through the system to flush out the tap water.

Here are some articles on radiator/cooling system flushes:
http://www.castrol.com/castrol/gener...tentId=6004801
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...enance/1272246

You Tube

You Tube

Permatex aluminum radiator flush:
http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...ator_Flush.htm

[JohnGD]

Here is an example of an OE type thermostat with a jiggle valve ($10.70+shipping) usually comes with a new gasket:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1145694

There are plenty of aftermarket style thermostats that I wouldn't use ($5.98+shipping):
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=366573

[pmesfun]

Use Toyota Red and top off the Power Steering Reservoir.

[JohnGD]

+1. OP should do a PS system flush like:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t19334.html

Use at least Walmart SuperTech Mercon-V or Castrol Import Multi-vehicle ATF in the PS system (no plain dinos). Fully synthetic like Mobil-1 is even better. Just don't use a thin fluid like Dexron-VI (6).

[DM616]

I should also do a PS flush? Is that one as necessary as the coolant? Bad question but I know the coolant should be my number one priority. I should flush it, not just add to it?

[Chris Crash]

I think people got confused and thought that was PS fluid. Definitely do a coolant flush and do not just top it off.

[DM616]

Yah I don't know how I went from coolant to PS lol.

I don't mean just top off the coolant, I thought they meant the PS needs to be refilled. I'll worry about that another time because I think it's okay for now.

I just have to find a day to flush the coolant and I should be okay. Basically, you drain the old coolant (remove radiator cap, then petcock etc.), run a water hose through it, then distilled water through it, and then fill it back up?

[Chris Crash]

Yeeeeeep. Use the hose until clear water comes out. Don't forget to flush the radiator too.

[DM616]

Alright, my final question should be how much coolant does the tank hold?

If I have to use 50/50, how much (total volume) is necesssary?

[Chris Crash]

6.5 quarts. So three quarts of antifreeze, the rest of distilled water.

[pmesfun]

Yep, I meant that the power steering level was low.