correct coolant=-

[jamesmetairie]

gm has a bad rep all about dex-cool. when the mechanic changed my 2004 corolla radiator i noticed he replaced with "prestone,gm, approved dex-cool". any thoughts on it?
question = if you plan to drain only the radiator every few months and replace the same amount that drained out would you use= "prestone ,any kind,any color coolant" ??

[Robert1820]

If you are going to change coolant that often, any ethylene glycol based coolant is fine. Extended life coolants like dex-cool or Toyota pink can even be freely mixed with any other ethylene glycol based antifreeze. Mixing these antifreezes does affect the "long life" chemistry and you need then to go to a more frequent change, maybe every two years. In your situation, any color prestone would be fine assuming it is ethylene glycol based. Dex-cool got a bad rap years ago that was undeserved. Cooling system problems in some GM vehicles was not the Dex-Cool but was poor casting, gasket selection and many design problems.

[ratko89]

if it was my car i would drain the coolant from the block and radiator and then run water through the system to clean it out and put toyota red coolant in.

[Robert1820]

I work at an auto service center in Texas and drive a 2006 Corolla. In my experience, Toyota pink "long life" coolant introduced around 2003-2004 passes test strip testing well past 100k miles. Systems that have been low on coolant for any reason that allow air into the radiator may have accelerated ph problems. A bad head gasket can cause coolant to detiorate. Engines with aluminum block and head(s) like the 1zz are usually very easy on coolant. Iron block with aluminum head engines are much harder on coolant with rust and ph problems comon. I will change my coolant at Toyota's recommended time or when testing shows detioration in the coolant, whichever is sooner. If the coolant passes a strip test at Toyota's interval, a simple drain and fill is plenty good.

[tarbasd]

Isn't it the case that the usual green coolants contain silicates that will damage your water pump? I would flush the system and put the Toyota coolant in it.

[PhatRoyale]

I've used green Prestone in my Corolla before without any problems.

Just make sure that you flush out the system completely before switching between types and you should be fine.