Low coolant heater issue
01-05-12, 04:35 PM
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Low coolant heater issue
So I have the infamous low coolant heater issue at idle. Checked the coolant and it is indeed low. My question is when I take my car for service one of the things on the list is to top off a
all fluids. Is coolant not one they should top off?
Next question is I know they recommend using Toyota brand coolant but is that really necessary? And use an off the shelf brand? Do any stores sell Toyota brand coolant besides dealerships?
all fluids. Is coolant not one they should top off?
Next question is I know they recommend using Toyota brand coolant but is that really necessary? And use an off the shelf brand? Do any stores sell Toyota brand coolant besides dealerships?
01-05-12, 07:14 PM
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It's pink, not to be confused with Toyota red coolant. The 2IS all use SLLC coolant.
I'd be a lot more concerned about why it is low. Sure if the car is 3 or 4 years old, it's going to lose some volume from evaporation, but if the car is fairly new, this should not be happening.
If you really want to be cheap, just buy a gallon of distilled water and fill to the full line on the reservoir. It won't hurt a thing and if the original cause was evaporation, you're just adding back what nature removed over time.
I'd be a lot more concerned about why it is low. Sure if the car is 3 or 4 years old, it's going to lose some volume from evaporation, but if the car is fairly new, this should not be happening.
If you really want to be cheap, just buy a gallon of distilled water and fill to the full line on the reservoir. It won't hurt a thing and if the original cause was evaporation, you're just adding back what nature removed over time.
01-06-12, 08:13 AM
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It's pink, not to be confused with Toyota red coolant. The 2IS all use SLLC coolant.
I'd be a lot more concerned about why it is low. Sure if the car is 3 or 4 years old, it's going to lose some volume from evaporation, but if the car is fairly new, this should not be happening.
If you really want to be cheap, just buy a gallon of distilled water and fill to the full line on the reservoir. It won't hurt a thing and if the original cause was evaporation, you're just adding back what nature removed over time.
I'd be a lot more concerned about why it is low. Sure if the car is 3 or 4 years old, it's going to lose some volume from evaporation, but if the car is fairly new, this should not be happening.
If you really want to be cheap, just buy a gallon of distilled water and fill to the full line on the reservoir. It won't hurt a thing and if the original cause was evaporation, you're just adding back what nature removed over time.
01-06-12, 08:26 AM
#5
I bought a gallon of the Toyota super long life coolant at a Toyota dealership for like $22+tax.
If you're going to be adding the coolant yourself here is my experiance:
"The long story is: the overflow reservoir (or whatever it's called) was completely empty. I filled it with coolant to the FULL line. Drove the car couple of days later but the cold air below 1000 RPM problem was still there. After the car had cooled down, I undid the radiator cap (it's actually away from the radiator under the engine cover) and filled the system with coolant through there. Drove the car the next day and the issue is gone!
So if your coolant reservoir is bone dry, fill the cooling system through the radiator cap (ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD). Do it very slowly (I used a seringe) and any extra coolant will flow to the overflow reservoir. At that point add coolant to the actual reservoir."
If you're going to be adding the coolant yourself here is my experiance:
"The long story is: the overflow reservoir (or whatever it's called) was completely empty. I filled it with coolant to the FULL line. Drove the car couple of days later but the cold air below 1000 RPM problem was still there. After the car had cooled down, I undid the radiator cap (it's actually away from the radiator under the engine cover) and filled the system with coolant through there. Drove the car the next day and the issue is gone!
So if your coolant reservoir is bone dry, fill the cooling system through the radiator cap (ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD). Do it very slowly (I used a seringe) and any extra coolant will flow to the overflow reservoir. At that point add coolant to the actual reservoir."
Last edited by oblivionis; 01-06-12 at 08:30 AM.
01-08-12, 07:17 PM
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So I just wanted to share how my situation worked out. I took my car to my dealer and complained that I have had all me services done here and my coolant level should have been checked. They agreed and offered to fill up the coolant but said they wanted to wait for my car to cool down. I didn't want to wait so they gave me a gallon of Toyota coolant. I know it's nothing crazy but they could have denied everything and made me buy the coolant.
01-09-12, 04:04 PM
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I bought a gallon of the Toyota super long life coolant at a Toyota dealership for like $22+tax.
If you're going to be adding the coolant yourself here is my experiance:
"The long story is: the overflow reservoir (or whatever it's called) was completely empty. I filled it with coolant to the FULL line. Drove the car couple of days later but the cold air below 1000 RPM problem was still there. After the car had cooled down, I undid the radiator cap (it's actually away from the radiator under the engine cover) and filled the system with coolant through there. Drove the car the next day and the issue is gone!
So if your coolant reservoir is bone dry, fill the cooling system through the radiator cap (ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD). Do it very slowly (I used a seringe) and any extra coolant will flow to the overflow reservoir. At that point add coolant to the actual reservoir."
If you're going to be adding the coolant yourself here is my experiance:
"The long story is: the overflow reservoir (or whatever it's called) was completely empty. I filled it with coolant to the FULL line. Drove the car couple of days later but the cold air below 1000 RPM problem was still there. After the car had cooled down, I undid the radiator cap (it's actually away from the radiator under the engine cover) and filled the system with coolant through there. Drove the car the next day and the issue is gone!
So if your coolant reservoir is bone dry, fill the cooling system through the radiator cap (ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD). Do it very slowly (I used a seringe) and any extra coolant will flow to the overflow reservoir. At that point add coolant to the actual reservoir."
In your case, you REALLY need to find out where the coolant went. I've never seen a reservoir go dry unless there is a serious problem - blown head gasket, cracked head, cracked block, leaking coolant pump, or some other damage to the engine's cooling system allowing the coolant to slowly escape as steam so the driver doesn't see it. I'd want to know what is happening for sure if it were my car.
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01-09-12, 04:44 PM
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There are quite a few people having this issue. I can't imagine we all have something serious wrong. My overflow was not empty but really low. surely over a 5 year period coolant just evaporates. I never monitor mine I assume the dealership would watch it and fill as req'd. But obviously not.
01-09-12, 06:50 PM
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So I hear a lot about water pump leaks and now I'm worried. I dont see any pink anywhere in my engine but where did my coolant go. I agree with the post that said it should never evaporate unless there is a major problem. I don't hear any weird sounds from my engine or water sounds but should I have it checked out just incase? I was reding through my warranty and it says the water pump is under warranty for 7 years or 70000 miles. Is this true that it covered under the power train warranty?
01-09-12, 07:05 PM
#11
So I hear a lot about water pump leaks and now I'm worried. I dont see any pink anywhere in my engine but where did my coolant go. I agree with the post that said it should never evaporate unless there is a major problem. I don't hear any weird sounds from my engine or water sounds but should I have it checked out just incase? I was reding through my warranty and it says the water pump is under warranty for 7 years or 70000 miles. Is this true that it covered under the power train warranty?
01-10-12, 04:25 PM
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There are quite a few people having this issue. I can't imagine we all have something serious wrong. My overflow was not empty but really low. surely over a 5 year period coolant just evaporates. I never monitor mine I assume the dealership would watch it and fill as req'd. But obviously not.
If you are buying a "service" like a 10k or 15k service, yes, they should inspect ALL fluid levels and if necessary top off anything not meeting minimum service specs.
If you just go in for oil changes or other specific minor service, don't assume they're checking anything you didn't ask them to check.
01-10-12, 07:03 PM
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Just had my car checked out at the dealership and the water pump is leaking. The service tech coolant would never evaporate because it's a closed system. You could lose minimal amounts, but if you lose half your overflow tank you have a leak. You guys with this problem should gets yours checked while its still under warranty. I guarantee if you lost enough coolant that your heater doesn't work then you have a leak. It does not evaporate that much.
05-27-12, 12:49 PM
#14
Awesome thread guys!! I checked my coolant and it is below the "low" line (07 IS 350), going to refill it tomorrow. I will keep my eye on it, if I' am losing coolant at a fast rate I will take my car to the lexus dealership and have them check the water pump.... Kinda confuse on how it was so low since I have taken my car into service numerous times 0_o...
Good info!!
Good info!!
