T0ked

iTrader: (2)

Anybody have information or experience with some new Prestone coolant I saw at K-mart the other day. The label states New Formula which is safe to use/mix with ALL coolant of any color from any manufacturer.

Lexusfreak

I've seen the same stuff......they have a couple different new products actually (including a pre-mixed long life formula). www.prestone.com for more info. I'm personally going to sick with either the Toyota 'long life' (red coolant) OR Toyota / Lexus' new offering that comes factory now on many new models offered called 'super long life coolant' which is Pink in colour......the good thing is, it's already is pre-mixed as well with 55% coolant & 45% distilled water mixture. It's like the long life Prestone & is good for 5 years & 100,000+ miles or so. I just have to confirm with a couple Lexus dealers that it's safe to use in my 2001 ES before my next engine coolant flush.

saber

Can Prestone be trusted? Look at what the old bottles of Prestone claimed:

- Nothing Protects Better Against Rust and Corrosion
- Protects Aluminum and all other engine metals
- Trusted Quality since 1927

Well here's what has happened to Toyota owners who have trusted Prestone in the past:
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/radprest.jpg

And here's what has happened to Toyota owners who have always trusted the Toyota engineers:

http://www.saber.net/~monarch/rad89.jpg
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/radtoyred.jpg

/Aerostar\

iTrader: (2)

Well to be fair to Prestone, alot of that buildup could have been from the use of tap water in the radiator, a big no-no. But then again, I dont know why people would ever use Prestone when Genuine Toyota coolant costs what?, $5 more?

My advice: Save Prestone for your 1984 Ford, and use Genuine Toyota coolant and DISTILLED water on your Lexus

vinster29

Is the prestone Dexcool antifreeze the same as the red coolant used in all Toyota/ Lexus vehicles? I don't know if I trust the new prestone coolant that they say works for all models. I bought some Prestone Dexcool today and it says that it is used for Ford and Chrysler vehicles. Is this the same stuff that Toyota uses?

Lexusfreak

No it's not.....see the other thread here that you posted the same question.

T0ked

iTrader: (2)

I switched over to regular antifreeze many years ago and have always used distiled water. Car runs fine. Drain and fill yearly and no sludge or leaks. Will be changing timing belt soon, so I'll take a look at the water pump at that time. But my general understanding is that regular antifreeze has copious amounts of silica and phosphates, while the Japanese stuff only has tons of phosphates and that Dex-cool stuff is organic phosphates with neither of the silica or phosphates. What is the new Prestone stuff? Is the new Prestone more like the Japanese coolant or is it more a Dex-cool formula that won't gum up when mixed?

saber

No, the Prestone and Havoline Dexcool antifreezes are chemically different than the Toyota Red coolant http://www.saber.net/~monarch/titan.jpg The Toyota Red is high in molybedenum lubricant and phosphates. The Dexcool has none.

Dexcool antifreezes are better than Prestone Green because they don't have nasty borates that can pit and erode aluminum or silicates that abrade the water pump seal and plug radiator core tubes. But Dexcool antifreezes can turn into a terrible sludge like goo called "dealthcool sludge" if the cooling system is contaminated by air past a weak radiator cap or missing cap on the coolant overflow jar:
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/deathcool.jpg
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/deathcool1.jpg
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/deathcool3.jpg
GM even made a Videotape for technicians describing the problem:
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/deathcoolVideo.jpg

Bottom line: The Toyota Red is chemically unique and provides perfect protection of Toyota cooling systems. No antifreeze in an auto parts store is chemically identical to Toyota Red.

nthach

i had Prestone eat away at a Mercedes radiator, there's a reason why Mercedes DOES NOT recommend you use Prestone, only OEM Mercedes coolant or Zerex G-05.

Lexusfreak

Toked, stick with either the Toyota 'Red' or the Toyota 'Pink' coolant......stay clear of everything else.

HarrierAWD

Would Prestone pay for a new radiator if it fails? I doubt it. There are several formulations of coolant out there for good reasons. Use only genuine Toyota coolant in your Lexus.

Lexusfreak

I agree.

mburnickas

Maybe non ES are different, but per Lexus you can use any EG coolant in my 1998 ES. I use Fleetritre for diesel. Worked perfect for over 35K miles!

Lexusfreak

I'm sticking with either the Red or Pink Toyota brand of coolants.

mburnickas

As per Lexus Color means ZERO