2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

With these cars aging and trading hands as they do, anyone use pH test strips to make maintenance decisions? The strips I have do both pH and glycol freeze and boiling point. Grabbed them mainly for the Tundra as I have no record of coolant changes and if it's OEM coolant at 13+ years old, it tested okay but looks cloudy.

The 350 tested good and the street bike shows the pH corrosion inhibitor is on the decline at the 6 year mark. I think its Prestone glycol...




#2IS Maintenance

MikeFig82

iTrader: (13)

On the GS with 110k miles picked up. I shelled out for 4 gallons of coolant SLL. Not sure what the previous owner did. I drain and filled 3 gallons with a week in between drains. I hope it's at the correct PH level now. At 140k I'll probably dump the last gallon, and do one more transmission drain and fill with Amsoil OE.

Zmon

iTrader: (2)

iirc, SLLC should be good for 10 years or 100k miles on the factory fill. I want to say Lexus recommends 5 years or 50k afterwards as long as you're still using SLLC.

The strips are nifty if you don't know the cars maintenance history, but I wouldn't spend the money on them for a car I've owned for a while. Personally, I stick with a 50k interval on coolant on my daily, but I'd do 5 years on a car I don't drive often. I recently had to do a drain/refill since my cap popped off and let all my coolant out. Considering how old my IS is now, and it's over 200k, I figured why spend the premium for Toyota SLLC and just bought a few bottles of Peak's OET Asian.

On my IS, I do the following for fluids:
Oil = 5k OCI
Brake fluid = 1-2 years (humidity is important for this one)
Rear diff = 50k miles.
Transmission = 100k.

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

What year is the GS?

Yes, I spent $60 on 3 gallons of Yoda SLL but as the weather goes to crap wanted to know if I could wait until spring. This made me feel better but it's still has a window of doubt in play.

Everything you wrote here is spot on and how I manage my equipment. Although from your list I kick up the transmission OCI.

Bottom line is pools and fish tanks have been using these strips for eternity, so how different is coolant? Probably not that much...

Anyone seen SLLC fail? If so, how long did it last?

Thanks guys!

MoonBase

I was thinking of doing this too.

If coolant PH strips are anything like pool/aquarium test strips, there are a few things to keep in mind for accurate readings.
The strips do expire and will become less accurate, though will still change color.
Time to read after exposure is specific & usually stated on the side of package. Waiting too long or not long enough can cause misreading when matching the reference color chart. In my experience it's about 1min then read, 5min would be too long, 10sec too short. Depends entirely on the test strips.

jgscott

iTrader: (1)

So even if the PH level is good. Would old fluid not still be subject to contaminations? The Coolant is cheap and easy to change. I just change it every 2 years.