Hello all,
I'm going to flush/refill my cooling system ('03 Toyota truck) as part 
of its 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance.
As I'd like to do the work myself, I'm wondering how important it is to 
open the engine block drain plugs as part of the flushing process.
Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time locating them, and know that 
they'll probably require some dexterity to reach, and if it's not 
crucial, I'd opt to leave them closed.
The existing coolant appears to be in good condition--not cloudy and of 
good color.
Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch wrote:

> 
> Hello all,
> I'm going to flush/refill my cooling system ('03 Toyota truck) as part
> of its 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance.
> As I'd like to do the work myself, I'm wondering how important it is to
> open the engine block drain plugs as part of the flushing process.
> Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time locating them, and know that
> they'll probably require some dexterity to reach, and if it's not
> crucial, I'd opt to leave them closed.
> The existing coolant appears to be in good condition--not cloudy and of
> good color.
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Mitch


You must flush the cooling system at least every 3 years. The coolant also
has another function; it contains additives that prevent corrosion. In most
cases they last for 3 years.

"Mitch"  wrote in message 
news:Rt3Pe.52926$3S5.6609@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...

> Hello all,
> I'm going to flush/refill my cooling system ('03 Toyota truck) as part of 
> its 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance.
> As I'd like to do the work myself, I'm wondering how important it is to 
> open the engine block drain plugs as part of the flushing process.
> Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time locating them, and know that 
> they'll probably require some dexterity to reach, and if it's not crucial, 
> I'd opt to leave them closed.
> The existing coolant appears to be in good condition--not cloudy and of 
> good color.
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mitch


Drain what you reasonably can and replace with new, then repeat every two 
years, you will have no trouble.

mrcheerful

On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:01:05 GMT, Mitch 
wrote:


>Hello all,
>I'm going to flush/refill my cooling system ('03 Toyota truck) as part 
>of its 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance.
>As I'd like to do the work myself, I'm wondering how important it is to 
>open the engine block drain plugs as part of the flushing process.
>Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time locating them, and know that 
>they'll probably require some dexterity to reach, and if it's not 
>crucial, I'd opt to leave them closed.
>The existing coolant appears to be in good condition--not cloudy and of 
>good color.
>Any thoughts?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mitch


You should check with a Toyota dealer.  Many Toyotas are filled with
red "forlife" coolant.  Only needs replacing and flushing if it's
contaminated - either oil due to gasket failure or topping up with
something else other than "forlife" coolant.

"Peter Hill"  wrote in message 
news:49rrg1p6kibda6o9rde4a8dsb4u05qjt50@4ax.com...

> On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:01:05 GMT, Mitch 
> wrote:
>
>>Hello all,
>>I'm going to flush/refill my cooling system ('03 Toyota truck) as part
>>of its 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance.
>>As I'd like to do the work myself, I'm wondering how important it is to
>>open the engine block drain plugs as part of the flushing process.
>>Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time locating them, and know that
>>they'll probably require some dexterity to reach, and if it's not
>>crucial, I'd opt to leave them closed.
>>The existing coolant appears to be in good condition--not cloudy and of
>>good color.
>>Any thoughts?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Mitch
>
> You should check with a Toyota dealer.  Many Toyotas are filled with
> red "forlife" coolant.  Only needs replacing and flushing if it's
> contaminated - either oil due to gasket failure or topping up with
> something else other than "forlife" coolant.
>

Why do Toyota owners manuals state to be changed after the first 5 years, 
then every 2 years ?
Changed mine myself when it was about 5 years old, and it looked fine - 
unless the previous owner had got it done before they sold it at 3 years 
old but I doubt it.

Anyway, it's called LongLife now.  I guess the reason for the name change is 
because it doesn't really last "For Life" :-/

I didn't drain from the engine drain though, just the radiator and the 2 big 
pipes running under the car (it's mid-engined).

Johnny wrote:

> 
> "Peter Hill"  wrote in message
> news:49rrg1p6kibda6o9rde4a8dsb4u05qjt50@4ax.com...
> > On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:01:05 GMT, Mitch 
> > wrote:
> >
> >>Hello all,
> >>I'm going to flush/refill my cooling system ('03 Toyota truck) as part
> >>of its 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance.
> >>As I'd like to do the work myself, I'm wondering how important it is to
> >>open the engine block drain plugs as part of the flushing process.
> >>Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time locating them, and know that
> >>they'll probably require some dexterity to reach, and if it's not
> >>crucial, I'd opt to leave them closed.
> >>The existing coolant appears to be in good condition--not cloudy and of
> >>good color.
> >>Any thoughts?
> >>
> >>Thanks,
> >>
> >>Mitch
> >
> > You should check with a Toyota dealer.  Many Toyotas are filled with
> > red "forlife" coolant.  Only needs replacing and flushing if it's
> > contaminated - either oil due to gasket failure or topping up with
> > something else other than "forlife" coolant.
> >
> Why do Toyota owners manuals state to be changed after the first 5 years,
> then every 2 years ?
> Changed mine myself when it was about 5 years old, and it looked fine -
> unless the previous owner had got it done before they sold it at 3 years
> old but I doubt it.
> 
> Anyway, it's called LongLife now.  I guess the reason for the name change is
> because it doesn't really last "For Life" :-/
> 
> I didn't drain from the engine drain though, just the radiator and the 2 big
> pipes running under the car (it's mid-engined).


The time limit is for the anti-corrosion additives. Different coolant products
have different life expectancies from 2 years and up to 5 years.

Peter Hill  wrote in 
news:49rrg1p6kibda6o9rde4a8dsb4u05qjt50@4ax.com:


> On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:01:05 GMT, Mitch 
> wrote:
> 
>>Hello all,
>>I'm going to flush/refill my cooling system ('03 Toyota truck) as part 
>>of its 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance.
>>As I'd like to do the work myself, I'm wondering how important it is to 
>>open the engine block drain plugs as part of the flushing process.
>>Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time locating them, and know that 
>>they'll probably require some dexterity to reach, and if it's not 
>>crucial, I'd opt to leave them closed.
>>The existing coolant appears to be in good condition--not cloudy and of 
>>good color.
>>Any thoughts?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Mitch
> 
> You should check with a Toyota dealer.  Many Toyotas are filled with
> red "forlife" coolant.  Only needs replacing and flushing if it's
> contaminated - either oil due to gasket failure or topping up with
> something else other than "forlife" coolant.
> 
> 

Are you sure it's for life? We've just got a Toyota with red coolant. I 
haven't seen the official service schedule, but Autodata says it is 
renewed every 3 years/36k miles. The handbook says that it should be 
topped up with ethylene glycol based coolant, ideally Toyota *long* life 
coolant. Doesn't that suggest that it's just a bog standard long-life 
(i.e. 3 year) anti-freeze, except that it's red instead of green?

The anti-freeze in the Volvo, OTOH, does not have a replacement interval. 
Volvo say it doesn't need replacing as long as the strength is checked 
every year. If you do replace it, they say you must *only* use Volvo 
anti-freeze. Can't see anything special about it, though. Looks just like 
bog-standard anti-freeze to me (probably what it is). I'm not sure I like 
this idea because it gives no oppurtunity to purge any contaminants out 
of the system.



-- 
Stuart Sharp