Getting the right coolant for a Toyota Prius

kissenger

kissenger

kissenger

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So as I was driving home from a NYE thing this morning I got a engine coolant temperature warning light. Got home and checked the inverter fluid reservoir of my '06 Prius and it was pretty low. So low in fact that I don't think I'll even chance driving it until I can get some coolant to top it up. The manual says to only use Toyota Super Long Life Coolant, which is surprisingly hard to find, or a 'similar high quality ethylene glycol based non−silicate, non−amine, non−nitrite,and non−borate coolant with long−lifehybrid organic acid technology.'

I've found some Toyota SLLC on eBay and I will also check my dealer when they open tomorrow but I was hoping I might be able to just use my local Halfords. I put my details into their checker and it recommended this stuff:

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/en.../halfords-oat-ready-mixed-antifreeze-2-litres

But it doesn't specify whether it's ethylene glycol based, etc. Do you think it would be okay to use it?
 
kissenger said:
So as I was driving home from a NYE thing this morning I got a engine coolant temperature warning light. Got home and checked the inverter fluid reservoir of my '06 Prius and it was pretty low. So low in fact that I don't think I'll even chance driving it until I can get some coolant to top it up. The manual says to only use Toyota Super Long Life Coolant, which is surprisingly hard to find, or a 'similar high quality ethylene glycol based non−silicate, non−amine, non−nitrite,and non−borate coolant with long−lifehybrid organic acid technology.'

I've found some Toyota SLLC on eBay and I will also check my dealer when they open tomorrow but I was hoping I might be able to just use my local Halfords. I put my details into their checker and it recommended this stuff:

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/en.../halfords-oat-ready-mixed-antifreeze-2-litres

But it doesn't specify whether it's ethylene glycol based, etc. Do you think it would be okay to use it?
Click to expand...

Might as well buy the concentrate for a couple of quid more - it'll make up 5 litres according to the reviews.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/en.../halfords-oat-antifreeze-concentrate-2-litres

If it's the right type, Wilko has the cheapest coolants I've seen "on the high street". I THINK these are the same as the halfords ones.

Ready mixed - http://www.wilko.com/car-care-products/wilko-oat-ready-to-use-coolant-1l/invt/0342805
Concentrate - http://www.wilko.com/car-care-products/wilko-oat-concentrate-coolant-1l/invt/0342804#fullDesc
 
Great. I'll go with that then. Will I be okay topping up with this stuff even though I don't know which brand was used by the previous owner?

I would assume you would be okay with different brands so long as it's the same basic type of coolant (i.e., pink/ethylene glycol).
 
use a toyota genuine. last time i bought coolant from them they had a deal £25 for 25 litres. ended up buying a 5 litre for the same price due to praticality
 
sovietspybob said:
I'd be slightly more worried about where my coolant had gone, it's a sealed system so shouldn't ever go down.
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure they filled it up properly because I never checked after the last coolant replacement a few months ago. The guy at Toyota also said it could have been 'air in the system' which has since been displaced, hence the apparent reduced level of coolant.

But I know a leak is also a possibility. I will keep an eye out but I've not noticed any patches under car on drive, etc so I think I'm okay.
 
I buy all my lubricants from Toyota these days, they give such cracking deals on service items. Even cheaper than going to Halfords, just remember to try and get the 10-15% discount for being a toyota customer!

5l 5w30 Oil - ~£15
5L Toyota Long Life Coolant - ~£18
 
Don't mix another kind with the toyota red coolant it can sludge up due to silicates and other stuff not found in the toyota coolant. Mix with distilled water.
 
Dave85 said:
You did have the inverter water pump recall done?
Click to expand...

I've only had the car a few months. I don't know if the recall was done, but certainly I paid to have the water pump fixed just recently (I didn't know anything about a recall at the time and Toyota said nothing).

Incidentally, I topped up with TLLC the other day and already there's around an inch less coolant in the inverter tank. I really hope I don't have a leak.
 
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