rosie

just bought a '92 lexus LS 400 and had it checked over by a mechanic. Everything looked ok except when he checked the antifreeze there was a layer of pink stuff that looked like pepto bismol. Below that layer was antifreeze. He did not know what it was or why it was there. Anyone know what this could be? Also, I am in need of an owners manual and would like to know where I can get one.

dacecil

Owner's manual on Ebay. Have your mechanic flush the coolant. He should have suggested that and done it.

91LS400LEX

My LS has pink coolant in it from the dealer when I had the timing belt changed. Sounds like someone has mixed in green with pink coolant.

19psi

your car should have toyota red coolant in it. somebody put green in there. flush it now. green and red don't mix. they turn into a nasty sludge taht will clog up the entire system.

sonyman

I wonder if it could just be chemical decomposition of Toyota LL coolant. In any case, flush the entire system and refill it with Toyota Long Life coolant. It's red and needs to be mixed with water.

91LS400LEX, it sounds like your LS400 is filled with Toyota Super Long Life coolant, which is also fine. It is pink in color and comes premixed with water.

91LS400LEX

Thanks. Well, the timing belt and water pump were changed at a Lexus dealer before I bought it last year, so I am assuming they were the ones that put in the pink coolant. I had heard of red and pink. Good to hear the pink is OK too.

I also have a 88' Mercedes. Mercedes recommends MB coolant only - not the green coolants. Mine has the green coolant, which is OK for now (thanks to the PO), but I want to get it flushed out and replaced with MB coolant soon.

ryanSC300lover

iTrader: (1)

WHere is the best place to buy the TOyota Red Coolant? Should I just get it at the dealer?

LiCelsior

iTrader: (32)

yea pick it up at the toyota dealership...much cheaper.

ryanSC300lover

iTrader: (1)

Thanks will do.

Vander

You can use green in any of your engines, as long as you do a proper flush and it is ONLY green. Green or red are both good, just no mixing!

ryanSC300lover

iTrader: (1)

My system has been flushed and has OEM red. I just want some, so if it gets low over time, just want to add a bit.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

no, it isnt.
go do some reading in the maint. forum about the sludge/corrosion problems.

nthach

I'd use only Toyota Red/Pink or Honda Blue in our systems, Peak GLOBAL Long Life if you're in a pinch or don't want to support the stealership. Peak Global is chemically identical to Toyota and Honda coolants minus the phosphates. All three have no 2-ethylhexanoic acid and sodium neodecanate/potassium neodecanate which is the chemical pack found in Dex-Cool that is responsible for why it HATES air and attacks plastics - hence the reason why Toyota, Honda and Ford don't want Dex-Crap near their cars.

Green stuff is bad due to the silicate content, and green coolants have a tendency to turn acidic/basic rather quickly.

Kingsoup

Interesting coolant info I didn't know! Thanks Nthach!

Vander

Agreed. Thanks Nthach for providing that information, it supports what I was trying to say.