My engine coolant is low, so I just picked some up from toyota to top it off. The bottle says to see the owner's manual for the proper ratio. I don't have mine handy. The best I could find was this PDF posted by Bob. But it doesn't have the ratio. Does anyone know for sure what it should be?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...hange-diy.html

 

If you not sure take that back to toyota and get the coolant that already mixed by toyota.

 

I think OEM Toyota/Lexus coolant is ready to use. No mixing needed. You can call the dealeship you bought from and ask them.

 

Toyota has both one not mixed and one mixed..

 

Owners manual in the DIY section states;

Toyota Super Long Life Coolant is PREMIXED with 50% coolant and 50% de-ionized water (for the U.S.A) or 55% coolant and 45% de-ionized water (for Canada)

Of course if what you bought is unmixed then 50/50 should do.

Hope this helps.

JR

 

Funny a couple of Toyota-Lexus mechanic friends of mine dilute the "diluted" Toyota Coolant, like they do it every day. What gives? I use the pre-mix Toyota coolant as specified.

 

The 50/50 mix is designed to compromise between heat transfer in summer and lowering the freezing point to avoid state changes (liquid to solid) in the winter. If you are mixing your own, usually the container gives you the ratios needed to obtain the needed freeze protection.

 

Thanks. I'm not sure if it's premixed or not. I'm guessing it's not. I'll have to check when I get out of work.

 

Just a head's up. I called Toyota to check if they had the premixed and they said it's only for 2003 and later. They said 2002 models require 100%. I called Lexus and they confirmed.

 

Liquid SC: I find that VERY hard to believe. I suggest you check again--perhaps with the most experienced mechanic you can find at Lexus.

 

So is there something special about the "factory" coolant? Would not most folks use parts store extended life anti-freeze?

 

The Toyota parts guy may have meant to say 2006 is different. Looking at Sewell Parts, it changed from LLC to SLLC in 06. But he was very specific not to dilute it in a 2002. Lexus confirmed that. I didn't ask him what year that changed.

 

Straight from '06 SC owners manual:

“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrate and non-borate coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology. “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-mixed with 50% coolant and 50% de-ionized water (for the U.S.A.) or 55% coolant and 45% de-ionized water (for Canada).

LiquidSC, With all due respect I'm with MadHungari, I've never heard of car that used 100% coolant with no water dilution.

 

Using 100% "coolant" ie: anti-freeze would be a very bad idea as straight anti-freeze does not transfer heat well. Water does that best, but using a 50/50 mix gives the best heat transfer with the protection from freezing. Much has been written elsewhere about the problems with extended life anti-freeze (google dex-cool) and some believe that the old green stuff actually works better, but must be changed every two years. Also note there are products known as "sacrificial anodes" which can be used in aluminium engines to prevent erosion of expensive parts.

 

I'm shocked---SHOCKED!---to learn that such simple an issue is so difficult to resolve. I tend to agree with sixonemale (above) and his owner's manual, but two Lexus dealers here in Atlanta do not and seem to contradict Liquid SC's findings, at least as I read them

The parts departments of both dealerships indicate that requirements differ from year to year and model to model (ugh), and that the SC430--at least the more recent edtions--reguire the (their?) unmixed "red" coolant, whatever that is. It took a while to clarify what, exactly, I was asking, and I did not then proceed on to ask if or when the change from (pre)mixed to "red" took place for our cars. Sorry for that.

So who/what do you believe, the owner's manual or the Lexus "experts?" And if we go with the experts, it would be good to determine for sure if a change did occur for the SC430 between the 2002 and 2003 model years and, if so, if there are exceptions for late 2002/early 2003 cars. But then again, perhaps the answer involves what, exactly, of what the "red" coolant consists.

EDIT: Rustfarmer (posted while I typed) is, in my opinion, also on target. Again, is Lexus "red" coolant something special?