Performance of a 5yr, Long Life, Coolant by Peak

[oldtimer-11]

My Toyota came with the pink extra long life coolant from the factory that is supposed to last 10 years but the manual says when you replace it, only leave the 10 year coolant in 5 years. Why pay the $40 a gallon for 50/50 Toyota fluid when Peak of Prestone cost much less.

[Nevada_545]

I replaced the coolant in my Dodge in 2013 and again this year when replacing the thermostat. I use Mopar 3-year coolant, I don’t obsess over vehicle maintenance for things that do not cause problems. If I drove 30,000 miles a year, I would replace the coolant more often.

[sciconf]

@Nevada_545

f I drove 30,000 miles a year, I would replace the coolant more often.

I would have driven half of that during the 5yr and crystals have started forming. I wish the test strips are cheaper and easily accessible.

Withe the brake fluid, I bought the test device and it seemed unreliable and it eventually broke on its own while being inserted. Perhaps I need a good repair shop - around here all are expensive. I had it done one yr later than manf recommended interval and PepBoys guy told me the fluid looked clean. I know it looked exceptionally clean. So I need to find a way to validate the need before doing it. Tranny is an exception because I can do it so easily and last time it costed me $35 with the revised inflated price. I went for non-Honda gasket.

[vipergg]

The interval on new cars for coolant change is now 10 years or 150000 miles for my Dodge Durango . That is the interval for the serpentine belt now too which surprised me .

[sciconf]

@vipergg

The interval on new cars for coolant change is now 10 years or 150000 miles for my Dodge Durango . That is the interval for the serpentine belt now too which surprised me .

If the shop doesn’t have the strip to test the coolant, you may want find one and start testing from 5yr onwards.

[George_San_Jose1]

@sciconf

if the test strip cost more than $10 or $30,

Doubtful coolant pH test strips are that pricey. I use a science-lab version, maybe $10 for 50 strips.

[sciconf]

@George_San_Jose1

Doubtful coolant pH test strips are that pricey. I use a science-lab version, maybe $10 for 50 strips.

Pls offer me 10 for $2 → LOL

[Nevada_545]

@sciconf

I would have driven half of that during the 5yr and crystals have started forming.

Even if this was a new radiator you can’t be assured that the particles were not in the engine from years ago. That type of debris remains in the block and radiator after being drained.

@sciconf

Withe the brake fluid, I bought the test device and it seemed unreliable

Each car I test for moisture in the brake fluid measures zero, even after ten years, there is very low humidity here. I tested the brake fluid in a vehicle from the east coast, measured 2%, fluid is 2 years old.

[sciconf]

@Nevada_545

Even if this was a new radiator you can’t be assured that the particles were not in the engine from years ago. That type of debris remains in the block and radiator after being drained.

What do you mean - can’t be assured …?

@Nevada_545

Each car I test for moisture in the brake fluid measures zero, even after ten years, there is very low humidity here. I tested the brake fluid in a vehicle from the east coast, measured 2%, fluid is 2 years old.

New perspective - which part of US are you located? I am in Calif.

[Nevada_545]

@sciconf

which part of US are you located?

Blythe, CA, Elvis took a dump here in 1961.

[sciconf]

@Nevada_545

Blythe, CA, Elvis took a dump here in 1961.

Oh you really are in Nevada! You should treat it as if you are in the middle east - why don’t you have oil reserves, LOL?

Oh and those particles could be from engine block too! First time I saw them a first time I left it there for 5yrs. I am waiting on the $2 strips

[sciconf]

@Nevada_545

Blythe, CA, Elvis took a dump here in 1961.

Could u share your biz details - you could msg me directly here Thanks

[old_mopar_guy]

Why are you making this so difficult? If the bottle says 5 year coolant just change it at 5 years.

[bing]

I have trouble not agreeing with @Nevada_545 I would listen to him. No need to track him down unless he wants to be found.

[Scrapyard-John]

@oldtimer-11

My Toyota came with the pink extra long life coolant from the factory that is supposed to last 10 years but the manual says when you replace it, only leave the 10 year coolant in 5 years

I noticed that the 10 year drops to 5 years also, if I remember correctly. Or maybe it was 100k miles for the first change, and 50k for the second. I wonder if that is because they’re assuming you’ll only drain the radiator and replace half of the coolant in the system when you change it, so they shorten the interval? I just drained the radiator at 100k, then again at 50k on our 2013 Toyota. I don’t really trust our local dealership to really do any more than that anyway.