where is the coolant drain on our cars? is it on the bottom l=of the radiator like most cars? drain and filll the overflow resorvoir when cool?

 

rkw, I'm (finally) replacing the radiator on my '01 with 270K miles - no leaks, just preventative maintenance. Could you post the manual pages for R&R of radiator? Thanks.

 

Here you go, Tom...

 

For what it's worth Tom, when replacing my radiator I stayed with the recommended Toyota Red which came with my car when new. This requires dilution with distilled water 50/50. Later models used the pink which is premixed. I specified this to Lexus after they put the pink coolant in which they readily replaced. There is a difference in the actual chemical content. I'm somewhat of a fanatic and like everything to be as it should.

 

To answer the OP, there are 3 coolant drains: one underneath the radiator, and one for each of the 2 cylinder banks of the engine. You don't need to lift the car for the front drain, but the location of the 2 under the engine is a real tight space. It's doable without lifting the car if you are fairly skinny, have air suspension set to high, and you take the correct size tubing and drain bucket with you the first time you shimmy in there (or have a helper slide the items to you).

If you have a lift, it's a no-brainer, just walk underneath the engine and you'll see the 2 engine block drains. You can probably free-pour off the engine block if you have the car lifted and a bucket handy, but using some tubing should make it less messy.

Regarding the coolant, Toyota USA TSB PG010-02 (issued March 22, 2002) and Toyota Canada TSB EM-02-003 (issued April 15, 2002) both state: A new pink colored LLC is being phased into production for all 2002 Japan Built Toyota models. The color change does not affect the maintenance procedures or intervals established for the red coolant. The new pink coolant is 100% compatible with the current red coolant and red coolant can be used to replace, top off, or mix in with the pink coolant with no adverse effects.

The pink is premixed, the red is not. I have not seen any Toyota documentation stating there is a difference in actual chemical content - if anyone has such information, please provide references.

 

Thank you!

 

I've read most of the threads on coolant and I recall your posts when you went through that dealer experience. I'm going to use the Toyota/Lexus concentrate coolant and do a 50-50 mix with distilled water. It is red. > https://www.amazon.com/Toyota-Genuin...us+coolant#Ask

I wouldn't have a problem though with using the pink-colored coolant, however I find it only in the pre-mixed / diluted gallon. I don't mind mixing my own with distilled water. The original red coolant is an OAT (organic acid technology) The pink 50/50 is a newer formulation - HOAT (hybrid organic acid technology). Both are suitable for your LS. Toyota/Lexus recommends coolants that are non amine, non borate and that contain no silicates but that do contain phosphorous as a corrosion inhibitor. I have seen Lexus manufacturer specs that state the red and pink coolants can, in fact, be mixed in your system without issue.

Edit: And, you'll all think i'm crazy, but my '01 is running just fine (and cool) on the original coolant (other than what was replaced when the TB/WP was done (once) at 181K miles, as well as on the original radiator (now at 270K miles). Never flushed the system, never had a problem with the radiator. Talk about "Long-Life" coolant!