ok, is my coolant pink or red - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Sella Turcica · 03-31-2010, 12:31 PM

I looked under my hood. I searched. I didn't find an answer. Now I am asking. K?

So, my 2003 2.4L camry is low on coolant. There isn't any in the reservoir, and opening the rad cap doesn't help. I really don't know what color coolant this is, it could be pink type or red type. I looked online and saw no definitive guideline. It's even possible that the PO could have put the wrong fluid in, so I don't care to go on the color of what's in there.

With that said - does anyone know what color coolant I should buy? And no, I don't automatically trust the guy behind the parts counter.

Thanks.

The7 · 03-31-2010, 12:39 PM

Don't buy according to the colour. It could be deceptive.
Ask the parts department from the dealer.

Sella Turcica · 03-31-2010, 12:41 PM

*facepalm*

Agent556 · 03-31-2010, 01:04 PM

My coolant is pink, but I have a 3MZ. My dad's camry is a 2002 LE 2.4L and his coolant is pink too.

Sella Turcica · 03-31-2010, 01:20 PM

that's interesting - I recall that they switched from one to the other during the production span, I was under the impression that the 02 and 05 would be different colors. Maybe it's a 4cyl versus V6 thing.

LE05 · 03-31-2010, 01:48 PM

possibly, my 2005 I4 2.4 L also uses pink coolant. It should be labeled on or near the radiator cap: super long life is pink, long life is red.

Sella Turcica · 03-31-2010, 02:10 PM

I took a look around under the hood but saw no mention of the coolant type. I'm guessing it's the red type since I took another look - but it could still be the wrong stuff via the PO...

glenn14 · 03-31-2010, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sella Turcica

I took a look around under the hood but saw no mention of the coolant type. I'm guessing it's the red type since I took another look - but it could still be the wrong stuff via the PO...

Do you have the owner's manual to your Camry ??? If so did you check there ?? And no I am not trying to be a wiseguy... just trying to help out.
My gen6 2.4L is the Toyota Super Long Life Pink premixed coolant.

Glenn

Sella Turcica · 03-31-2010, 03:23 PM

d'oh. I figured the manual would say something lame like "use toyota coolant only, or your car will explode", but it actually does say "long life" coolant (without a color description). That correlates with my thought that it's more reddish than pink. I think we have a solution. Thanks guys!

laphan · 03-31-2010, 11:53 PM

They switched the camry coolant from red to pink in 04 MY.
Some early 04 has red coolant and later built uses pink.
If you have 03 and older, use red coolant. Do not mix red and pink coolant.

Long Life Coolant = red coolant (older type)
Super Long Life Coolant = pink coolant (only come in pre-mixed bottle)

***judge34411*** · 04-01-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sella Turcica

I looked under my hood. I searched. I didn't find an answer. Now I am asking. K?

So, my 2003 2.4L camry is low on coolant. There isn't any in the reservoir, and opening the rad cap doesn't help. I really don't know what color coolant this is, it could be pink type or red type. I looked online and saw no definitive guideline. It's even possible that the PO could have put the wrong fluid in, so I don't care to go on the color of what's in there.

With that said - does anyone know what color coolant I should buy? And no, I don't automatically trust the guy behind the parts counter.

Thanks.

This is the right answer below. Do as suggested, they will give the info free of charge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The7

Don't buy according to the colour. It could be deceptive.
Ask the parts department from the dealer.

bronzemaxell · 04-01-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laphan

They switched the camry coolant from red to pink in 04 MY.
Some early 04 has red coolant and later built uses pink.
If you have 03 and older, use red coolant. Do not mix red and pink coolant.

Long Life Coolant = red coolant (older type)
Super Long Life Coolant = pink coolant (only come in pre-mixed bottle)

My 2003 4cyl SE has Pink coolant, still original fluid, i have not change it since i got it from dealer with 6 miles on odometer, now it is only 17k miles.

LE05 · 04-01-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by judge34411

This is the right answer below. Do as suggested, they will give the info free of charge.

yeah... i wouldn't trust the parts department either. last time i went to get coolant, the guy told me my car took the red coolant. almost drove off with the wrong stuff when i popped the hood to check just to make sure what color i had

evilwillieg · 04-02-2010, 03:36 AM

I can't speak for Japan-made but in KY, there was a running change in '04. Red to Pink. It was all vehicles, not just 1 engine or another.

Sella Turcica · 04-02-2010, 10:44 AM

ugh - so I went to the dealer to get some red coolant and they tried to sell me the pink stuff. They told me they don't stock the red stuff anymore, and topping off with pink is fine. Needless to say I'm paranoid and didn't buy it.

What's clear to me is that I need to do a flush/fill since this is probably 7 year old coolant, but in the time being, can I just add a little water to the red stuff and be ok?