carguy07

I'm sure that a math nerd or chemist can figure it out quick, but the lazy way would be to drain back out everything into one container, add 1 1/2 gallons of water, mix and put it back in.

or let out 1 1/4 gallons and add back 3/4 of a gallon of water, then take the 1 1/4 gallons in your pail and mix in 3/4 of a gallon of watter and use that to top it off.

salimshah

I am never a fan of putting back any fluid.

How about draining close to 1/2 gal and add 1/2 gallon distilled water. Buy a hygrometer (I think that is the right name) and measure it that way. And you can keep diluting as needed. Remember to run the engine for a day or two inbetween each addition to let the coolant mix.


If you have the conc jug, it gives you the right amount of mix ratio. People just do a 50/50 mix and I prefer 40/60 (more water) for central Texas.

Salim

carguy07

Why not put back? I usually use a coffee filter or a paper towel to act as a filter in my funnel. Other than junk in the fluid, what don't you like about adding it back?

hypervish

As soon as you put the new fluid in, it mixes with the old fluid. Thus the new fluid is now contaminated. So, re-using that fluid would not make sense. If you are already going through the hassle of draining the fluid again, you might as well put new fluid in. < That's just the way I look at it. Other's may want to re-use the old/new fluid.

carguy07

It's no more contaminated than it was 5 minutes before you drained it, in fact a little less now that you diluted it some more. I can see if you don't want to keep the left overs (well not really) but this ain't blood we're talking about.

salimshah

I understand your position, my point of view is based on when you catch the drained stuff. I use a trough which I use to mix mortar and it has a large open face which collects more than the drain fluid when under the vehicle. If you use a hose/tubing and collect the stuff in a clean bottle then it would be fine and you can filter the stuff as well.

Salim

Lexmex

Yes. I forgot in my mind those cooling system test strips they have.

JERKRICE

Lexmex, can i remove the timming belt cover,without messing up the engine mounts ?

Lexmex

What exactly are you trying to do related to doing the coolant, as none of this should be necessary for this DIY?

1nablxsonr

Heya, is there a DIY for thermostat replacement ?Just gotta P0125 Cel, along with Trac off indicator. y'all recommend changing out coolant, but how bout thermo?

crawdad

hey I see u mix mortar...R u a bricklayer...just wondering...coz I am anyway we just got a 2002 RX 300(made my wife VERY Happy) and I am loving all the DIY in the forum thanks to everyone

salimshah

Just a hands-on guy. Did some stone-retaining walls. My neighbor paid some one to build his side and my handiwork does not seem too shabby in side by side comparison. Glad you Mrs is happy! RX is just wonderful. 14yrs and I am still not tired of it.

Salim

Aprazur

I see that we have a couple of mortar forkers on our forum.

ididit

so we should not mix different coolants together?

can we use any aftermarket coolant for RX300?

salimshah

I have exclusively stayed with Toyota Red. I change fluid every 3 years and put in about 1 gal concentrated Toyota Red and 1.5 gal distilled water. Cost to me is about $30.

If any one is tad short on coolant, I would suggest top up with distilled water. 50-50 mix is a guideline and not a must. How far can you deviate, depends upon how cold it gets. The mix chart is on the concentrate bottle.

Other coolants should work but check if they are safe for Toyota engines,


Salim