2KHarrier

kaizmauka

I am currently going through cooling issues myself with my 01' LS430...all started last week when I noticed some dried coolant pooling below the radiator. Checked the reserve tank to find it bone dry...topped it up with the pink toyota coolant and the thing kept running dry until a visible leak developed on the top of the radiator (plastic part obviously). Now there is a pinhole sized leak that has formed and is shooting out fluid.
The radiators on these car's aren't the best in my opinion...I wish they could have put in all-aluminum radiators and not used all these plastic parts.
Anyhow, I am currently ordering a DESNO 2214100 and new Aisin Thermostat, Gasket, Rad Cap, and uppder + lower hoses. Keep in mind my Lexus has over 220,000 miles...but eventually you will get leaks in your cooling system so might as well address it sooner than later...lot's of plastic parts in there that will have seen years of weathering even if the car has low miles.

Bocatrip

kaizmauka

Isn't the red fluid just the same as pink just that it isn't a 50/50 mix? Well when I went into Lordco here I specifically told the guy that I think my car needs the Red but he kept insisting that I needed the pink....like I know that they say red for this vehicle but there was pink fluid in it ever since I bought the car...
What issues might arise using the pink vs red fluid?

Bocatrip

StanVanDam

I have consolidated many different information sources on the Internet regarding Toyota red vs pink coolants:

Toyota TSB PG010-02 published on March 22, 2002 states:
"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."

However, pink is NOT just pre-diluted red. There are chemical differences between red and pink:
Red LLC (Long Life Coolant) (00272-1LLAC-01) uses OAT (organic acid technology, namely sodium benzoate with potassium hydroxide) and requires dilution. OAT is used in 1996-2001 Toyota/Lexus, Audi, Land Rover, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Kia, VW, Jaguar, Saab and Porsche.
Pink SLLC (Super Long Life Coolant) (00272-SLLC2) uses HOAT (hybrid organic acid technology, namely sebacate/sebacic acid with potassium hydroxide) and is pre-diluted. HOAT is used in most 2002+ vehicles.

There are issues with the interaction between organic coolants and lead solder, so using OAT in a copper radiator is not recommended.

Red contains sodium benzoate (an organic acid salt, not a true organic acid), and reportedly contains phosphates, molybdate and a triazole to protect copper/brass/lead/cast iron.
Pink contains sebacic acid (a true organic acid), which makes it "super", and is a standard extended-drain-interval organic-acid technology for Asian car makes. However, pink reportedly doesn't have the inhibitors necessary to protect older copper/brass and lead-solder radiators and heater cores (not a concern for LS430 radiators and heater cores, which are aluminum).

From https://toyota.pressroom.com.au/press_release_detail.asp?prID=1023&clientID=2 :
Red is rated for 40,000 km (Canadian website says red antifreeze is good to -50C)
Pink factory-installed is rated for 160,000 km and then 80,000 km after, and pink antifreeze is good to -35C (strangely, the Canadian website says pink antifreeze good to -56C)

Red Ingredients: Ethylene Glycol (107-21-1), Diethylene Glycol (111-4-6), Water (7732-18-5), Organic Acid Salt (532-32-1, which is sodium benzoate), Hydrated Inorganic Salt (1310-58-3, which is potassium hydroxide)
Pink Ingredients: Water (7732-18-5), Ethylene Glycol (107-21-1), Diethylene Glycol (111-4-6), Sebacic Acid (111-20-6), Potassium Hydroxide (1310-58-3, same as what red calls Hydrated Inorganic Salt)

Note that all ingredients are not listed on the bottle, and also note that ingredients listed on the bottle are not required to be listed in the MSDS. Manufacturers can pick and choose what they list on the bottle, and can also decide what to list on the MSDS, so long as the amounts are small enough to not be hazardous (which is true for inhibitors).
Red MSDS: worldpac_dotcom /tagged/SDS_00272-1LLAC_Toyota_Genuine_Coolant.pdf
Pink MSDS: worldpac_dotcom /tagged/Toyota_super_long_life_coolant.pdf

The most accurate tool for measuring OAT and HOAT potency is a refractometer, which is an expensive piece of equipment, so you should have the coolant checked by a service station before deciding whether to replace or refurbish it.

Regarding coolant weeping through the water pump, Toyota TSB T-SB-0117-11 published on September 1, 2011 states:
"If debris becomes trapped between the mating ring and seal ring, a small gap is formed. This allows coolant to bypass the mechanical seal, flow into the fluid catch pocket, and drain out of the weep hole. This condition is temporary and will no longer be present once the debris is crushed or works its way out of the seasl. WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT IS NOT NECESSARY."

Peacebay

jimbosr1

I always check my coolant when its cool and insure the level is at the full mark.