Coolant Change On A 4.2 Vvti Petrol ?

[IanXT4]

Its about time to change my super long life coolant on my 2004 XT4 4.2 VVT. (Due at 10 years)

I have obtained 5 litres of 50% premixed Super long life coolant from Toyota and have a couple of questions from anyone who has done this before.

1) As the car has climate control I am not sure the is an easy way to reliably control the flow to the heater matrix to drain and fill it. ?

2) My plan is to drain the radiator, drain the engine block using the drain plug on the front. Then refill with fresh fluid and assume that changing most of the fluid is "good enough". Any comments ?

3) I plan to start the car with the radiator cap off and run for a couple minutes or so to burp any air locks before I top off the fluid.

Anyone know of any Gotchas that lead to "Oh Bugger" moments!!!

Like air locks or new fluid not getting to the block unless you do something special ?

[anchorman]

Not much else you can do Ian. If the coolant is sludgy, I often run the hose pipe from one of the heater hoses to flush out the heater and then as far out from that point as possible.

Then I add half the amount of the capacity of the system and top off with water, then I mix 50/50 coolant/water and top up the reservoir (after making sure it was empty). What ever mix is left is used for topping up.

[IanXT4]

Thanks for the reply :)

[Tech01]

Make sure that any water you add to the mix is de-ionised/distilled/demineralised. Avoid using tapwater, as this is contributes to deposits in the system.

Chris

[Big Kev]

Make sure that any water you add to the mix is de-ionised/distilled/demineralised. Avoid using tapwater, as this is contributes to deposits in the system.

Chris

Or use our guid Scottish watter.....if it be good enough to mak the cratur, it be good enough to cool yer motor.......all rights reversed.

[IanXT4]

Did the job today, very easy.

Drained the radiator and then the engine block into a clear container. The super Long life pink coolant that came out looked like new. (after just over 9 years 59K miles) Clear, bright pink with no sediment. As the removed coolant was in such good condition I made no attempt to investigate draining the heater radiator. I suspect this would have required pipe removal as the valves are controlled by the climate control.

I refilled then ran the car for a few minutes and topped up as it burped any air out, finally turned on the heater to just ensure no air had got into that system.

Job took exactly 5 liters including emptying and filling the overflow bottle. I bought a spare litre in case I need to top off after a test drive.

[Tech01]

Ian,

All sounds good. Nice to see the old stuff coming out so clean after all that time.

Good that you've got a spare litre of the new mix. Keep this handy for when you have to buy more - so that you can avoid mixing makes or types. (Some very nasty things can happen when long-life is mixed with standard, etc etc.)

Good job done.

Chris

PS Some peaty Scottish stuff is always nice; just keep away from the calcium-laden stuff down South. It wrecks not only coffee-makers and radiators, but also ruins the whisky.

[Davrav]

Ian,

All sounds good. Nice to see the old stuff coming out so clean after all that time.

Good that you've got a spare litre of the new mix. Keep this handy for when you have to buy more - so that you can avoid mixing makes or types. (Some very nasty things can happen when long-life is mixed with standard, etc etc.)

Good job done.

Chris

PS Some peaty Scottish stuff is always nice; just keep away from the calcium-laden stuff down South. It wrecks not only coffee-makers and radiators, but also ruins the whisky.

Aye but the calcium-laden stuff is better for the heart apparently...............................

[anchorman]

Don't upset him Chris, he'll be painting his face blue and threatening us with allsorts of daft things.

Ian. Treat yourself to 1 tin of cold beer.