Coolant for tercel?

[Kluster]

What coolant should be used in a Tercel 1992?

My GF's car (the tercel) has had some issues last winter with freezing heater core. I did a flush of the system with some radiator cleaner and then refilled it with what look like DexCool (orange stuff). It worked fine. Last spring she was having other issues with the termostat and since I wasn't there, took it to a ma and pa garage. They did a flush again and this time refilled it with Prestone.

Last week, my GF changed her oil (by herself ) and told me the coolant in the overflow tank was low. She used what I had in the garage (remaining of Dexcool). So now there's some Prestone mixed with Dex.

Should I use Prestone, Dex or Toyota PINK.

Taken from a thread on TDICLUB.NET
There are essentially three basic types of coolants:

Traditional North American “green” antifreeze, the original “universal” formula that everybody used until the introduction of today’s extended-life coolants. The fast-acting silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors provide quick protection for bare iron and aluminum surfaces, and have a proven track record of providing trouble-free service in virtually any vehicle application (domestic, Asian or European), assuming the chemistry is correct. For example, OAT coolants should not be used in a vehicle that specifies the use of a hybrid OAT coolant. Again, always defer to the owner’s manual. But the short-lived nature of the corrosion inhibitors means this type of coolant should be changed every two to three years or 30,000 miles (though some products now claim a service interval of up to 50,000 miles with improved chemistry).

OAT-based extended-life coolants. OAT stands for Organic Acid Technology, and includes such ingredients as sebacate, 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) and other organic acids, but no silicates or phosphates (except in the case of Toyota’s pink extended-life coolant, which adds a dose of phosphate to its extended-life OAT-based antifreeze). OAT-based coolants are usually (but not always) dyed a different color to distinguish them from traditional North American green antifreeze. GM’s OAT-based Dex-Cool is orange. Volkswagen/Audi uses a similar product that’s dyed pink. But Honda has an extended-life OAT coolant that is dyed dark green and does not contain 2-EHA.

The corrosion inhibitors in OAT coolants are slower acting but much longer-lived than those in traditional North American green coolants. Consequently, OAT coolants typically have a recommended service life of five years or 150,000 miles.

OAT corrosion inhibitors provide excellent long-term protection for aluminum and cast iron, but may not be the best choice for older cooling systems that have copper/brass radiators and heater cores. It depends on the formula.

Hybrid OAT coolants, also known as “G-05.” This formulation also uses organic acids, but not 2-EHA (different organic acids are used). Hybrid OAT coolants add some silicate to provide quick-acting protection for aluminum surfaces. Silicate also helps repair surface erosion caused by cavitation in the water pump. Hybrid OAT coolants are currently used by many European vehicle manufacturers as well as Ford and Chrysler.

[Tercel GTS]

DexCool has several lawsuits filed for sludging in non european vehicles. I'd flush the system well and use a universal antifreeze even sold as generics. The shop I work at uses advance store brand coolant in everythiung except european.

[Kluster]

So, that's like regular Prestone? or Toyota Pink?

[trd_terc]

ah man i hope you did the 50/50 thing.. never just pour straight coolant in, that will damage seals and blow your headgasket. dont mix antifreeze even tho its the same color. just flush it out, then with water. and refill with the correct type of coolant with the mixture of water and coolant. if your thermostat is acting funny you might want to change it, my thermostat doesnt get in the middle on the tach it acts weird but it still works. lol but yea that toyota stuff i think it's red coolant, works pretty good. anyways good luck!

[Kluster]

Thanks! It was mostly all prestone... Just some Dex in there... but I'll flush it all this week end with water and then fill it up again with 70 Prestone, 30 Distilled water.

[thoughthard]

I like using the Toyota stuff. Seemed to last quite a while in my Paseo. It is easy to spot when you have a coolant leak, like when my water pump had a slight leak.

[matrix37495]

what ive always been told: flush with clear water while its running, the add 1/2 system capacity (should be about 5 qts to fill, so add 2.5 qts) of pure anti-freeze then top off with clear water. this will ensure a 50/50 mix in the entire system, because after flushing there is still plain water in the block.