The one thing no one mentions about backflushing coolant. So annoying.

[200k_or_bust]

I want to do a proper backflush. I am going to install that Prestone spout on the intake hose, and flush the entire system with water. Can someone point me to which hose I need to splice? It doesn't seem clear for a 1999 Camry (4 cyl)

Also, here is my gripe. I have seen a dozen videos, and read 20 pages. HOW are you supposed to fill the damn system with coolant once it is loaded with pure water? Are you supposed to add the coolant into the same spout you connected the water hose to? Do you keep pouring until the coolant starts to come out of the radiator top?

Any links on how to do this would be great. Really kind of surprised this isn't in the DIY FAQ list!

[carsrus]

You dont really need the prestone thing.

Remove thermostat, reomve both rad hoses. W/hose on full blast go from thermostat housing and let run. Then you can do it on the other side as well. Then go through the rad.

Its really simple. Buy premixed coolant, makes life so much easier. After you let everything drain good button it up and fill it with coolant. Trick with the 5sfe is that it takes a gallon basically. Book says more but a gallon is what everyone goes by. Fill rad up, pour whatever rest into overflow (it should be well past the F) After a few drives the coolant level will stabilize. No need to burp air or anything crazy on the 5sfe. Its a solid cooling system design.

[200k_or_bust]

I haven't worked on cars since the 1980s, and have never looked under the hood my my Camry.

Can you be more specific?

Are there links that point out the thermostat? I have no idea where it is.

Also, I'm not sure what you mean by the following:
* W/hose on full blast go from thermostat housing and let run....
What exactly am I point the hose at? And where?

It's also not clear how I am supposed to drain the system.

Also, where do I refill? Just the radiator and overflow?
And then top off the overflow over the next few drives if it goes empty?

Thanks, and sorry if this sounds dumb, but it's too obvious for you, since you've done it.

[fenixus]

once the whole system is full of distilled water, then you only need to drain the radiator and fill it with coolant concentrate like Toyota Long Life RED coolant (not a pre-diluted mixture) to achieve a perfect 50/50 ratio.

if you're going with prestone 50/50 mixture then you could as well flush it with it and call it a day.

[200k_or_bust]

So, how do I get the coolant out? Does it come out of the top of the radiator? Is there an attachment to goes on top so I can direct it into a bucket? Or, does it drain out of the bottom of the radiator?

[fenixus]

I've never had to backflush the cooling system. Usually I drain it from all plugs (radiator and one or two engine block plugs), then close then and fill up.

If you want to backflush it with a garden hose then try doing what was posted above (carsrus post).

[carsrus]

If youve never looked under the hood of your camry now would be the time..... Those directions are in laymans terms.

Cooling systems have not changed much since 1980.

It is a good idea to to a black flush though to get all the random crap though. Some people on this forum like to drop 20$ a gallon on coolant, Peak Global Lifetime is the same for 9$ a gallon at your local Menards, 10$ at autozone.

Just dont fill it up with dexcool and youll be golden.

[Buurin]

In my understanding it would go like this:

Detach both coolant hose
Remove thermostat
Stuff garden hose in top coolant hose and let rip
Stuff garden hose in bottom coolant hose and let rip
Run distilled water through block and rad until clean (and get rid of the hard water out the tap)
Reattach thermostat and both coolant hose
Get cooling system capacity from owners manual and put in half that much Toyota Red, top off with distilled water
Fill overflow tank with 50/50 mixture of Toyota Red/distilled water into overflow tank

I am taking an interest in this because I am about to do this next weekend.

Oh yeah Toyota Red runs $24 a gallon.

[fenixus]

not sure why you show that disrespect towards Toyota Long Life Coolant concentrate and everybody suggesting it ...

dollar by dollar the price is same of the $20 gallon jug of TLLC (plus $0.80 for 1 gallon jug of distilled water from a grocery store) as for that prediluted Peak Global Or Zerex (both are 50/50 mixture) and you need 2 gallons of those ...

oh, and 1 more thing, TLLC can last you 3-5 years easily (with no harm) with no coolant changes, while if using aftermarket Peak or Zerex, be prepared to drain and refill every year or two... so where are those savings after all?
Please do NOT tell anybody that TLLC is same as Peak Global Lifetime or Zerex as this is a total bull shit. The latter two are NOWHERE near same as the TLLC.

I guess some people never change.

Originally Posted by carsrus

Some people on this forum like to drop 20$ a gallon on coolant, Peak Global Lifetime is the same for 9$ a gallon at your local Menards, 10$ at autozone.

[pmesfun]

^Thank you, I can get LLC for 17ish, and when mixed that gives you two gallons of coolant. Now which is cheaper?

[carsrus]

I can get the 100% stuff for 9$. Thats what I meant.

This is a camry. Ive probably said this before but you can probably piss in the radiator and the cooling system will be happy. Toyota designed these engines to run literally on whatever crap is available. A buddy of mine changed the oil with the cheapest stuff he could find and went 395k before totaling his land cruiser. An average oil change cost him 8$.......

Any coolant will go for the 3-5 years. This isnt 1971. Ive been around cars and heavy machinery for a long, long time. Sure newer cars and german cars are much more anal, but a camry is a gonna do great on whatevers laying around.

You can do what you want but in the long run its gonna end up costing and arm and a leg for absolutely no reason.

[garytho]

It's my understanding from long time Toyota mechanics that Toyota Red is specifically made for extremely long life for the WATERPUMPS of toyotas!!!!
Sure you could use any cheap anti freeze and it will work,.....but the silicates in them degrade the pump.
I won't get in the argument of who is giving the best advice here,.....but If spending an extra $10 on antifreeze is gonna break you,.....go ahead and chance it,.....but I would listen to the experts over cheaping out anyday.
You get what you put into it.

[fenixus]

well yeah, choices are to everybody's taste I guess. anyways, I used green coolant with a Bosch water pump once on 5s-fe. long story short, gasket went out after 1.5 yrs and after removal the pump looked like crap (fins covered with some black slime, perhaps parts of the gasket got liquified), I'm sticking to OEM pumps and red coolant, they serve me well for a loooong time with no trouble, less maintenance, less down time, no extra labor costs (even if they are alternative, meaning my own time and muscles). perhaps it's just me.

[200k_or_bust]

For a few bucks, I don't mind overpaying for a mission critical fluid.
That said, I haven;'t changed my coolant in 50k miles, at least. Shit.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by 200k_or_bust

For a few bucks, I don't mind overpaying for a mission critical fluid.
That said, I haven;'t changed my coolant in 50k miles, at least. Shit.

if you were running TLLC and do around 10-12k miles in a year then it all should be good still. mileage is not that critical in terms of coolant longevity, time is on the other hand.
with aftermarket fluids results may vary, anyways keep us posted on how it goes and the best of luck!