Thanks to all that have replied so far on my question. I decided to get genuine Toyota anti-freeze. So I went to the Tampa Lexus dealer Friday with intentions of buying Long Life Red. While standing at the parts counter, 2 mechanics were within ear shot when I was asking the attendant for the Red stuff. The mechanics spoke up and said they (at least Tampa Lexus) do not sell Long Life red anymore, only Extra Long Life Pink.
They went on to explain to me that Toyota stopped giving them (undiluted) Red and they only stock (diluted 50/50) Pink now. It was their way to give you half the product for the same price. So, you cannot purchase undiluted Toyota anti-freeze at my dealer. I paid a little over $17 per gallon for the Pink and bought 4 gallons (2 for each vehicle). They said after the flush, fill with 2 gallons and just top off with water. I told them I'm doing a full flush on a '99 GS300 and an '01 LS430 and they agreed I would be fine as that is what they put in all vehicles there now days. I plan to flush out one or both cars next weekend if I can find the time.
I'll follow up with some type of completion post after both flushes. I'm going to follow the most excellent DIY outlined at lexls.com here: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/cooling/coolant.html (it is on an older LS400 but I have diagrams on exactly where the petcocks are for my two vehicles from the service manual)
Pink is not the same as just Red+water. So don't get so caught up on the diluted vs. non-diluted and that this is a way for them to just sell you twice as much. These are 2 different formulations.
Your car that is specced for Red will do fine on Pink though.
It is more like if your car is OK for dino oil, synthetic is just fine too.
It's interesting that many people are perfectly willing to spend 2x for synthetic for "piece of mind", but then balk when there's only Pink coolant and no more Red.
mechanics spoke up and said they (at least Tampa Lexus) do not sell Long Life red anymore, only Extra Long Life Pink.
They went on to explain to me that Toyota stopped giving them (undiluted) Red and they only stock (diluted 50/50) Pink now. It was their way to give you half the product for the same price.
My dealer still stocks the red coolant, fortunately. For $27 a gallon, unfortunately.
As was said earlier, do not confuse pink coolant for "diluted" red coolant. They are different animals. While they are in fact compatible, pink coolant is supposed to go for 100K, instead of red coolant's 30K intervals. So, take the 50/50 $17/gal pink coolant and compare it to $27/gal red coolant, and the price is almost the same (when you factor in the dilution). But since the pink stuff is supposed to last 3 times longer, it's probably a better deal - except that Lexus says to maintain the current change interval for older cars. That's why I stick with the red stuff.
Pink is not the same as just Red+water. So don't get so caught up on the diluted vs. non-diluted and that this is a way for them to just sell you twice as much. These are 2 different formulations.
If they are different formulations then there's no way they can be mixed/interchanged. Running Red + Diluted water can get you to 100k miles easily (just not suggested by Toyota due to the unknown quality of water used in mixing).
If they are different formulations then there's no way they can be mixed/interchanged. Running Red + Diluted water can get you to 100k miles easily (just not suggested by Toyota due to the unknown quality of water used in mixing).
Uh no. They are different formulations. I won't get into details, but google red vs. pink toyota coolant for the nerdy details.
Like I posted before, an analogy is like dino oil and synthetic oil, you can interchange those and mix those together, but just because you can interchange and mix them doesn't mean that they are identical.
Well, if you want to stick with your perspective, you are 100% correct that you can use red if that is what your car came with. Just like you can use dino oil for the life of your car. But just because it can be used/mixed/interchanged doesn't mean it's the same.
uh yeah. you're a pro for googling red vs. pink coolant and going by the first result coming up on your search screen. i'm sure this make you more of an expert than i am in this field. pulling up an anology that has nothing to do with this argument also makes your argument better than mine right?
i'm not gonna even waste my time with you over something as minuscule as this. carry on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by raytseng
Uh no. They are different formulations. I won't get into details, but google red vs. pink toyota coolant for the nerdy details.
Like I posted before, an analogy is like dino oil and synthetic oil, you can interchange those and mix those together, but just because you can interchange and mix them doesn't mean that they are identical.
Well, if you want to stick with your perspective, you are 100% correct that you can use red if that is what your car came with. Just like you can use dino oil for the life of your car. But just because it can be used/mixed/interchanged doesn't mean it's the same.
Thanks for the clarification on the differences between Pink vs. Red. It's interesting to see involved debating over anti-freeze :-). I'm still going to go with my Pink stuff in both vehicles. But now I'm thinking I want to do a more involved flush (especially on the '99 GS300 w/137k miles). I'd like drain the old fluid, then refill with distilled water and drain that. Then fill with new Pink stuff. Given the age and miles, I think it's worth the extra step.
I'd love to read the debate on the red and pink...but that's only if you guys feel like it...not instigating, just want love to see intelligent discussions.
Not trying to be a "pro" here, but I worked for Toyota. The difference between the two is the chemical make-up,. Red, being Long-Life, is recommended to go 30k, but can go farther. Pink is Super Long-Life, and is a 50/50 mixture from the factory, and is a hybrid organic mixture, and is supposed to last for 60k. This is a TSB I found...
Page 1 of 1 Toyota TSB:
PG010-02
Title:
ENGINE COOLANT COLOR CHANGE
Models:
'02 Japan Toyota/Lexus Models
Technical Service
BULLETIN
March 22, 2002
A new pink colored LLC is being phased into production for all 2002 Japan Built (Lexus) Toyota models. The color change does not affect the maintenance procedures or intervals established for the red coolant. The new pink coolant is 100% compatible with the current red coolant and red coolant can be used to replace, top off, or mix in with the pink coolant with no adverse effects. If red coolant is mixed with pink, it will shorten the interval in which it will need to be changed.
So basically, it's interchangeable, so let's not spread misinformation. I would also like to add that many people have reported that if you use this is a brass/copper radiator, it causes corrosion, but if it's an aluminum rad. it can use either or with no ill effects. Thought it might be nice to hear it directly from Toyota...
And... Both...
Red...
And Pink....
When I went to Toyota in 07', I purchased an 01' GS430, and switch from LL to SLL. I have put 42k miles on my car since then, and I have not had any ill effects. In fact I have only added to it once. I also have a 92' LS400 that is running on the (red) LLC. Just thought I'd share my personal experience.
Not trying to be a "pro" here, but I worked for Toyota. The difference between the two is the chemical make-up,. Red, being Long-Life, is recommended to go 30k, but can go farther. Pink is Super Long-Life, and is a 50/50 mixture from the factory, and is a hybrid organic mixture, and is supposed to last for 60k. This is a TSB I found...
Page 1 of 1 Toyota TSB:
PG010-02
Title:
ENGINE COOLANT COLOR CHANGE
Models:
'02 Japan Toyota/Lexus Models
Technical Service
BULLETIN
March 22, 2002
A new pink colored LLC is being phased into production for all 2002 Japan Built (Lexus) Toyota models. The color change does not affect the maintenance procedures or intervals established for the red coolant. The new pink coolant is 100% compatible with the current red coolant and red coolant can be used to replace, top off, or mix in with the pink coolant with no adverse effects. If red coolant is mixed with pink, it will shorten the interval in which it will need to be changed.
So basically, it's interchangeable, so let's not spread misinformation. I would also like to add that many people have reported that if you use this is a brass/copper radiator, it causes corrosion, but if it's an aluminum rad. it can use either or with no ill effects. Thought it might be nice to hear it directly from Toyota...
...stop the copy
Linear Mode
