Toyota cars, SUVs, and trucks are brilliant. They deliver outstanding performance. However, their performance often depends on proper maintenance. One of the essential maintenance requirements for Toyota cars is quality antifreeze.
An antifreeze or liquid coolant ensures the engine remains in good condition with less wear and tears.
However, the question that haunts most people is, “How often change antifreeze Toyota?” It is crucial because not replacing the antifreeze coolant in automobiles will lower their longevity, endurance, and performance.
Usually, you need to change the cooling system for every 30000 miles in Toyota. Alternatively, replace it every two years.
Today, we will discuss when to change Toyota antifreeze and the right way to do it. We will also show you the symptoms when your Toyota needs its replacement.
What Is a Toyota Antifreeze?
Many people might not be familiar with antifreeze term. Well, coolant might seem familiar. Yes, antifreeze and coolant are the same things. Manufacturers will use ethylene glycol to make this chemical-based cooling and anti-wearing material.
When used in automobiles, the cooling system will lower the freezing point of the car water. So, the water in the car engine won’t freeze. It is essential for winter days and in colder regions, where the temperature will often fall below sub-zero.
However, it also has different additives in it. So, it works between other engine parts to stop friction. It, then, prevents unwanted wear and tear.
It ensures your Toyota engine remains in good condition for an extended period. So, you won’t see engine failure. It also reduces your maintenance cost and improves engine performance.
How Does Toyota Antifreeze Work?
Automobile, particularly Toyota owners, might be keen to know the operational process of Toyota antifreeze. You need to mix the material with water at the recommended level. Unless you combine it with the water, it will work.
You will find its three variations depending on the water ratio, color, and chemicals and additives used in the coolant. These are:
- Green coolants are the most common and standard forms. Usually, it includes inorganic acid technology (IAT) for manufacturing. The chemical is acid-based. Apart from ethylene glycol), it provides phosphate and silicon additives. It stops wear and tear.
- Organic acid technology (OAT) makes Toyota’s orange or pink coolant. It doesn’t have any silicone and phosphate additives. So, it doesn’t provide an anti-wear facility and isn’t recommended for your Toyota.
- Finally, light yellow, or G-5, is the most widespread coolant. It blends different chemicals through organic acid technology (OAT) and hybrid organic acid technology (HOAT) for unique processing. Plus, it includes multiple additives to provide maximum safety to your cars and SUVs.
When you buy your Toyota, the dealer may recommend using a fixed color for the item. However, depending on your riding requirements, frequency, and car performance, you may change it. The best is to consult with your automobile mechanic and follow their suggestions.
How Often Change Antifreeze Toyota
You see the importance of using the correct antifreeze for your car. Also, it is equally important to change the coolant timely. If you replace it timely, its chemicals and additives will retain their charm.
So, it will become useless. As a result, the engine water will freeze even at a higher temperature. You will also see corrosion in the engine parts. It drops the engine performance.
So, when is Toyota’s automotive coolant life? How long it lasts?
You must change the coolant in your Toyota after 25000 to 30000 miles. You might change the coolant every two years to help the engine operate perfectly.
It depends on where you ride and the riding frequency. You may need to replace it sooner for aggressive driving.
Thankfully, many signs will help you know when to change the cooling system. Yes, the car will show one or multiple signs if you have been using too-old coolants for an extended period. When you see these signs, it’s high time you replace the engine coolant.
Nonetheless, there’s a catch. Toyota says they add a lifetime antifreeze coolant for their cars, SUVs, minivans, and trucks. So, you don’t need to change the coolant for the first 100000 miles. After that, you can add new additives to modern vehicles.
Also, you mustn’t flush out the existing lifetime coolant from Toyota. Instead, add the new ones with it. Toyota claims it provides the best effect and considerably reduces rust and friction.
How to Know When My Toyota Needs Coolant Replacement
Did you forget when you last changed the antifreeze in your Toyota? Do you need clarification on whether your car needs coolant replacement? It’s mandatory when your vehicle shows the following signs and symptoms.
Abnormal Coolant Color
When the coolant gets too old, it will lose its original color. So, the fluid will appear cloudy or have changed color. As it happens, you must check the last time you changed it. You may have forgotten to flush the coolant timely.
The coolant changes color or appears foggy due to constant reactions of the chemicals. As it retains more in your Toyota, its color will vary. So, the abnormal color quickly suggests that it needs replacement.
Leaks and Clogs in the Water Tank
At worst, you will see leaks in the engine’s water tank. Sometimes, the engine water tank or coolant reservoir may start leaking. As it happens, the coolant will drop through the leaks, leaving you with nothing.
If you suspect leaks, immediately look underneath the car for antifreeze. It has a solid color, so it should be easy to identify.
Besides leaks, the pipe that transports the coolant from the tank to an engine may get clogged too. Usually, debris and residual development will cause engine clogs. As the blocks take place, it lowers or stops the liquid flow to the engine. So, it can’t protect the engine due to inadequate flow.
Burning Smell
A common symptom of old coolant is a burning smell coming from it. You may experience an abnormal odor. However, check if the odor is coming from the radiator or not. If the burning smell comes from other parts of the car, it might be due to different reasons.
You should check the antifreeze only when the burning smell comes from the radiator. The Toyota coolant has likely grown too old and lost its charm. Many riders have commented that the scent resembles maple syrup or butterscotch fragrance.
Engine Light Signs
Suddenly, you will see the activation of the “check engine light” message in the dashboard. Or, the engine heater of the car will neutralize automatically. It happens as the system becomes too hot. These signs show that you must flush the coolant and get a new one.
Tips on Changing Toyota Antifreeze
You must be careful when changing your Toyota’s coolant or antifreeze. Follow the suitable flushing method for the coolants to work considerably even after replacement. Hence, you must follow the proper way for cooling system maintenance.
When you add new coolant, flush the existing one first from the cooling pipes. As you have washed the material, it will remove the sediments. However, for the first change, Toyota discourages flushing their actual coolant.
If you need to check the coolant, always do it when the car is cool. By removing the radiator cap, you may use a container to get the coolant from the drain valve. Also, check the color in proper lighting to see if it has disintegrated.
When changing the coolant, also replace the petcock and drain plug. It helps the plug and system work better.
You must also maintain proper water and coolant ratio. For instance, the user manual of your Toyota may say, 3 quarts of coolant. In this case, you must mix 1.5-quart of antifreeze with 1.5-quart water.
Use a funnel to add the item to the radiator flush. You don’t need to hurry. Instead, carefully follow a steady pace to add the coolant to the radiator.
After adding the coolant, start the engine and keep it idle. It helps the engine to warm up and adjust. Also, knowing that the new system is working is helpful.
Consequences of Not Changing Toyota Antifreeze Timely
When you don’t change the fluid timely, it disrupts the vehicle cooling system. As a result, your car engines will experience overheating issues. Also, it will suffer from the cold-start problem, especially in sub-zero temperatures.
There will be no coolant, so the engine will have difficulty dealing with the temperature. So, it will use most of the energy in tackling the heat. It lowers the vehicle’s performance and causes malfunctions in the vehicle system.
Lastly, the vehicle failed to control overheating due to inadequate coolant. It puts pressure on other parts of your Toyota. The overall result can be dangerous as you will see a severe performance drop in this case. It also causes rust in the metal parts.
Conclusion
How often change antifreeze Toyota? It would help if you changed the antifreeze in Toyota every two to three years. Alternatively, change the antifreeze every 25000 to 30000 miles.
As you change the material, run complete flushing to remove residues. Plus, you must maintain the proper ratio of the coolant and water to help it deliver the best performance.
For Toyota, you can choose the green one as it works best. Its additives will also lower friction and prevent wear and tear. So, your automobile will enjoy a better life with less maintenance.
About the author
Marcus Brown is editor-in-chief of The FatMech and is a mechanic with ten years' experience based in London, UK. Having worked for major dealerships for many years, Marcus now works for a local independent garage and has experience working on nearly every make and model of car. Marcus also has a passion for writing and teaching, which is where the idea for The FatMech came from. In his spare time, Marcus enjoys playing golf, doing home renovations and gardening. He lives just outside London with his wife and son.