Heating and Cooling

[Mark7081]

Ok, so I found loads of info on here about doing a cooling system drain, flush and refill and I was feeling pretty confident about doing this a little later in the year when the weather is better.

That was until my heater decided it was getting cold outside so it was time to give me luke-warm air inside the cab instead of toastie niceness

Anyhow, before I go and freeze my nuts off doing the deed (not that one, she's not up for outdoor shenanigans ) a few quick questions.

1) I see Roughtrax do the red and green Toyota coolant and wondered what the difference is? I know you can't mix between the two but as I'm flushing the whole system which would you suggest and why?

2) Also on the subject of the above coolant (may sound stpid but I want to be sure), what ratio of red or green coolant stuff should I be mixing with distilled water - I've read 50/50 is this right?

3) And lastly, what does this little jobby do?

I know it has something to do with the heater system (thanks to Wishbone's post http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/showthrea...coolant&page=2 ) but it doesn't move when I move the heating controls from blue to red, should it?

Thanks for looking.

[muddle]

Yes it should move, one side is hot the other is cold, check it moves manually by pushing it, if yes its likely to be a cable issue somewhere.

[Albannach]

1) I see Roughtrax do the red and green Toyota coolant and wondered what the difference is? I know you can't mix between the two but as I'm flushing the whole system which would you suggest and why?

Red - It's better

2) Also on the subject of the above coolant (may sound stupid but I want to be sure), what ratio of red or green coolant stuff should I be mixing with distilled water - I've read 50/50 is this right?

No more than 50%. Distilled water isn't needed if you have soft water.

[Mark7081]

Cheers guys.

Albannach, I believe the 2.4 has a 10.6 ltr coolant capacity so would it make a massive problem if I was to use 5 ltr of red coolant (as that is the only size I can find) and 5.6 ltr of water?

Muddle, the jobby in question was very difficult to move so I WD40'd it and it moves when pushed directly. You said it should move so at which point should it be facing to get hot air from the heater? I tried both positions and no hot air so I presume the matrix is blocked.

Thanks again

[Albannach]

Albannach, I believe the 2.4 has a 10.6 ltr coolant capacity so would it make a massive problem if I was to use 5 ltr of red coolant (as that is the only size I can find) and 5.6 ltr of water?

Nope, it won't cause any issues at all. The freezing point will be slightly reduced, but will still be lower than we need in the UK.

[shokenore]

As Albannach has stated there will be a drop in anti freeze protection, but is there a reason why you don't just buy two lots of the anti freeze?



If you believe the matrix is blocked you could disconnect the hoses to the matrix and flush through with a garden hose.




If you get the heater matrix clear and are starting to fill the system back up, if you fill the matrix first then put the hoses back on then fill the rest of the system through the pressure cap, when you start the engine to bleed the air you won't have a massive airlock in the heater matrix.

Don't forget to empty the expansion bottle first and put some coolant in there also.

[Mark7081]

To be honest Shokenore I was just hoping the slight reduction in the mix would mean I didn't have to but another 5 ltr just for the shake of 0.3 of a ltr. Don't get me wrong, as tight as I may be, I wanted to be sure that it wouldn't be a false economy in not buying the second tub of coolant if it perhaps could cost me a new radiator (or worse) in the future!

I thought about doing the matrix separately and maybe using the bicycle brake cable idea (I'm afraid I can't remember who posted that one so I can't give credit - Read so many archive posts recently )

Just one thought, all my other cars have either had the metal radiator cap for filling or an expansion bottle. Never had one with both. Am I right in thinking I should be filling from the radiator cap?

[shokenore]

To be honest Shokenore I was just hoping the slight reduction in the mix would mean I didn't have to but another 5 ltr just for the shake of 0.3 of a ltr. Don't get me wrong, as tight as I may be, I wanted to be sure that it wouldn't be a false economy in not buying the second tub of coolant if it perhaps could cost me a new radiator (or worse) in the future!

I thought about doing the matrix separately and maybe using the bicycle brake cable idea (I'm afraid I can't remember who posted that one so I can't give credit - Read so many archive posts recently )

Just one thought, all my other cars have either had the metal radiator cap for filling or an expansion bottle. Never had one with both. Am I right in thinking I should be filling from the radiator cap?

Yes fill from the pressure cap/radiator cap.
I mentioned the expansion bottle to remind you that this will need cleaning out too, no point in putting all the effort into cleaning and flushing the system and leaving a load of dirty ditch water in the expansion bottle.


As Albannach has already mentioned the reduction in red coolant used ie only 5 litres will probably drop the freeze protection from a -36'C to around -15'C.Yes it does not hurt to be sure of these things.

Don't forget it might be a good idea to get a few jubilee clips if you are removing hoses especially if the top picture is your actual heater hose detail.

Ok so we can assume that doing this job you want to be carrying it out in a cost effective manner.
The main cause for concern was the heater not working?

If you get a clean bucket you could drain the existing coolant from the radiator drain plug to the clean bucket, stick this somewhere out the way.
Then you could take off the heater matrix hoses from the heater valves and where they join back on to the coolant system and stick your garden hose into the now removed heater hoses and give it a good flushing to clear all the crap out.
When it runs clear and you are happy you could then re-use your original coolant mix from the safely stored bucket and top up with demineralised water.I say use demin water as the water here is sh1te.

Bleed all the air from the system and check that the heater is working.


Then you could look at spending on the red coolant.

[Mark7081]

Thats a massive reduction for half a ltr. Didnt realise it would make such a difference!

Fair point on the overflow bottle, mine is filthy although the water is clear (not good as I should think it would be blue or green or red).

I did read somewhere on here about buying jubilee clips and disposing of the old ones in next doors roses!!

Thanks again folks

[shokenore]

Thats a massive reduction for half a ltr. Didnt realise it would make such a difference!

Fair point on the overflow bottle, mine is filthy although the water is clear (not good as I should think it would be blue or green or red).

I did read somewhere on here about buying jubilee clips and disposing of the old ones in next doors roses!!

Thanks again folks

I think I may not have explained myself clearly, so let me try again.
The coolant system holds about 10 litres.
If you only put in 5 litres of the premixed red coolant anything else other than more red coolant that you add to the system will dilute it.If you add another 5 litres of water you are diluting the mix by about 50% hence the 50% reduction in freeze protection.So about -15'C , if you think that your truck may encounter -15'C then you should use more of the premix in your system.
The freeze protection is when the temperature for that particular solution is reached, at and below this temperature ice crystals will start to form.

The red toyota coolant is premixed, and comes in five litre containers, you should use two, and if reqd top up the remainder with demin water.
If you have the rear heater disconnected at the thermostat area then I very much doubt you will need the 10.6 litres, plus I doubt you will get all the coolant out of the system by draining alone, for a start you will have some left in the matrix and in the engine block.

You will probably be ok with 5 litres of the red premixed coolant, my coolant frost protection is at about -18'C and I have the right equipment to check it, however if the thought of checking the temperature forecast every night worries you then go for the 10 litres of pre mixed.


If you want to get rid of the old clips in my neighbours roses then please feel free.

[Mark7081]

Nope, I'm bad Shokenore, I misread stuff!

I foolishly thought this coolant was the same as stuff I'd used in other vehicles I have had and needed mixing 50/50 with water. Looking back, your explanations were actually crystal clear had I noticed "pre-mixed" on the Rough Trax advert.

Sorry

Well as long as Rough Trax get my stuff here on time and the weather isn't too bad I shall have a crack on Wednesday when I'm off.

Two quick thoughts though, as both heater matrix have pipes that bend up, would I be as well trying to fill both with coolant and then attaching them to the rest of the system before refilling? And as this red stuff is rated -36' will it be ok for summer months?

Thanks again for all help posted

[shokenore]

Nope, I'm bad Shokenore, I misread stuff!

I foolishly thought this coolant was the same as stuff I'd used in other vehicles I have had and needed mixing 50/50 with water. Looking back, your explanations were actually crystal clear had I noticed "pre-mixed" on the Rough Trax advert.

Sorry

Well as long as Rough Trax get my stuff here on time and the weather isn't too bad I shall have a crack on Wednesday when I'm off.

Two quick thoughts though, as both heater matrix have pipes that bend up, would I be as well trying to fill both with coolant and then attaching them to the rest of the system before refilling? And as this red stuff is rated -36' will it be ok for summer months?

Thanks again for all help posted

Yes more than adequate for the summer, as has stated here and in general section it is not just anti freeze but is a coolant with anti corrosion and probably other properties as well.

If you fill the heater loop first then connect those back onto the system it will help with airlocks...

The red coolant from Toyota is a longlife coolant

[Mark7081]

Well I never got to do the flush and coolant swap as I figured it would be a bit foolish as temperatures were below freezing so instead I took the heater controls to bits.

Long story short was that the cable from the control box to the water valve had snapped so got another heater with cables from fleabay and fitted the next day.

The heater still doesn't get hot so I am presuming the matrix must be slightly blocked or have narrowing on the pipes because of sludge (a bit like my arteries may be with my unhealthy diet).

I have noticed hot water is definately getting through the valve thing I posted a picture of earlier and hot water seems to be coming through the return pipe which i gues is possible with clogged pipe.

Just need a little warmer weather of a garage and I can flush away and hopefully fix the issue.