Coolant questions

[fonecrusher1]

Lads heres a few quick questions that i can not get definitive answers for elsewhere on this website.
Correct me if im wrong;

1- A 3rd gen 3ltr turbo diesel surf requires 10Ltrs of coolant.

2- When replacing radiator coolant, top up rad & overflow container.

3- It doesnt matter which colour coolant i use.

4- Its ok to use halfords coolants? (ie; do i have to use toyota coolant?)

Sorry for yet more beginner's questions. Im changing my coolant tommorrow & dont want to make a mess of it.

[Albannach]

1 - Yes
2 - Yes
3 - It doesn't, but you musn't mix them
4 - Yes (this was technically 2 questions. No to the 2nd bit)

[yoshie]

Why would you top up an expansion tank?

[Albannach]

Why would you top up an expansion tank?

It has a high and low level mark on it, should be topped up to the high mark.

[yoshie]

It has a high and low level mark on it, should be topped up to the high mark.

I know, but by top up I bet he meant fill.
It also has to be checked after a warm engine draws back surely, and not on a cold refill of coolant.

[Albannach]

I know, but by top up I bet he meant fill.

Maybe. We'll find out soon whether or not he's honest?

[Albannach]

I know, but by top up I bet he meant fill.
It also has to be checked after a warm engine draws back surely, and not on a cold refill of coolant.

No, cold fill. That's why the high mark is about half way down the bottle, to give room for expansion. (Edit: Expansion from the engine into the bottle.)

[si tate]

I personally would use the toyota stuff "i assume yours is the red type", its not too bad a job on the 3rd gen, use the drain tap on the bottom of the rad to get most of it out then disconnect the two top hoses that go into the bulkhead & stick a hose pipe on one end to flush it out, also disconnect the main top & bottom hoses to the rad & flush that also.

Before reconnecting all the pipes blow through them all to get the tap water out.

When refilling try to have the truck facing uphill so that the rad is at the highest point, this helps to get rid of air locks then just keep an eye on it for the next few days.

[fonecrusher1]

Thanks for your info & patience guys.
Albannach cheers for the straight-to-the-point answers & by the way i genuinely didnt mean top up all the way to the top. Honest.
Yoshie youve settled a bet i had wit my brother, I win. I reckoned your supposed to check coolant while engine is hot.
Si tate your scaring the sh*t out of me with all this talk about hoses & bulkheads???
My plan was to; remove rad plug, Drain old fluid, pour a few litres of tap water down into rad to flush system, start engine, let tap water drain & finally fill rad with 50/50 coolant/water mix to appropriate level.
That should be ok shouldnt it?

[KERRSURF]

Why is it not recommended to mix coolants?

[si tate]

According to toyota you should'nt mix different coloured coolants "SOMETHING TO DO WITH GELLING" nor should you add water, thats why its pre mixed.

[si tate]

SIMON, Its fine if your just gunna drain the rad & then top up but i would still use toyota pre mix of the same colour.

[Diezel Weazel]

Why is it not recommended to mix coolants?

Mixing coolants young man has a curdling effect (bit like milk does)
Get the RED (already pre mixed, suitable for winter too) n have done with it in one go...

There's always a Payback ....Don't know where n ya won't know when !!!!

[MattF]

Red won't mix with any other colour. The other colours will generally mix quite readily. Use red when red alone has been used previously or if you flush/empty the coolant system completely. Green is a better choice if something else, (colour wise), may be in there.

[si tate]

Mixing coolants young man has a curdling effect (bit like milk does)
Get the RED (already pre mixed, suitable for winter too) n have done with it in one go...

There's always a Payback ....Don't know where n ya won't know when !!!!

I just got a case of dayjavou.