Where To Buy Toyota Coolant That Doesn't Involve Re-Mortgaging.

Martin Hughes · April 20, 2013

Hello.

I went to my local Toyota dealer today for some super long life coolant for my LS400.

11 litres was going to cost me £80. Is this right? Or is there somewhere cheaper?

ChrisIS200SportTTE · April 20, 2013

Well I know others will shoot me down for saying this but I had the same issue.

I flushed my system but then was amazed by the price so I went to Halfords and bought their ready mixed pink coolant for £25 for 10 litres. (same colour as the Toyota so you can detect leaks)

When I had my big service at Lexus I asked them to flush the system again and fill it with the proper Toyota stuff as I had done a DIY and used Halfords coolant. The Lexus tech and service manager both said there's absolutely no point as the Halfords stuff was just as good as theirs!

IHgs300 · April 20, 2013

I use the super concentrated red coolant from tesco.

Martin Hughes · April 20, 2013

I had a Mazda before the LS400 and it went for ages on Halford's pink coolant with not a sign of discolouration or corrosion. But, I've read in the forums that it contains silicates that may be harmful to an LS400 engine.

And Tesco coolant? I'm shocked! (but I'm going to look it up anyway). Thanks for your replies.

Bluesman · April 20, 2013

I had a Mazda before the LS400 and it went for ages on Halford's pink coolant with not a sign of discolouration or corrosion. But, I've read in the forums that it contains silicates that may be harmful to an LS400 engine.

And Tesco coolant? I'm shocked! (but I'm going to look it up anyway). Thanks for your replies.

Hopefully there is no horse in there? Mike

IHgs300 · April 20, 2013

I had a Mazda before the LS400 and it went for ages on Halford's pink coolant with not a sign of discolouration or corrosion. But, I've read in the forums that it contains silicates that may be harmful to an LS400 engine.

And Tesco coolant? I'm shocked! (but I'm going to look it up anyway). Thanks for your replies.

Hopefully there is no horse in there? Mike

Neigh, there's not a trace .

ambermarine · April 21, 2013

There are fundamental reasons why you should stick to the reccomended coolant,as someone as already posted there are ingredients in the cheaper alternatives that could have a negative affect on the engine casting and the inter-transmission cooling ,there have been cases were corrosion as cost a gearbox when the pipe from the gearbox carrying the transmission fluid through the radiator as corroded and allowed coolant into the gearbox.If you own a Lexus and respect it, use the reccomended fluids, after all if you are buying a Rolls Royce you are not expected to ask ,how much does it cost to run?

ChrisIS200SportTTE · April 21, 2013

Lol @ comparing an old Lexus with a Rolls Royce. Not really the same is it. He didn't buy a Roller so didn't expect Rolls Royce running costs!

If a Lexus dealer and Lexus Technician say the pink Halfords stuff is as good as theirs then that's good enough for me. Over a year with the Halfords stuff in my car, 12,000 miles clocked, no problems and I haven't lost a drop :)

ambermarine · April 21, 2013

Chris

Its probably because your on the wrong forum and have a a wee is200 that you don't know the Lexus Ls400 is reffered to in the world as the Japanese Rolls Royce.

And just because it worked for you and some techy says its all right to use a non reccomended product does not make it Pukka.

bookend · April 21, 2013

The Landcruiser to prone to mixing of the coolant and gearbox fluids resulting in a dead box but this is usually down to never changing the coolant rather than anything else.

But personally I would use the coolant from a main dealer rather than Halfords but I would say the Halfords stuff is better than not changing it at all.

Rupert Dubreaux · April 21, 2013

Martin , you can buy genuine Toyota concentrated red coolant from fleabay, £26 for 5litre's added to 5litre's of suitable water you should be able to do the job for about £30 .

I have done two of mine with fluid from these people and it is free postage .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360617438111?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Martin Hughes · April 21, 2013

Thank you very much, Rupert. I did see this coolant on eBay but I wasn't sure it was the real deal because it's not in the same packaging as the one I was after (unless it's been updated).

Thanks also to everyone who contributed.

ChrisIS200SportTTE · April 21, 2013

Chris

Its probably because your on the wrong forum and have a a wee is200 that you don't know the Lexus Ls400 is reffered to in the world as the Japanese Rolls Royce.

And just because it worked for you and some techy says its all right to use a non reccomended product does not make it Pukka.

Apologies for commenting on your LS400 forum, nice to know we're all welcome. Won't make the same mistake again. I wasn't trying to offend you or belittle your comment. Was just having a laugh over the Rolls Royce comment, was meant to be light hearted, sorry. I'll take myself and my "wee" IS back to the IS forum and leave you to your obviously more superior Japanese Rollers that require £80 coolant.

I was just relaying information I'd been given from a Lexus dealer that's all and trying to save the OP a few quid.

Bluesman · April 21, 2013

Chris

Its probably because your on the wrong forum and have a a wee is200 that you don't know the Lexus Ls400 is reffered to in the world as the Japanese Rolls Royce.

And just because it worked for you and some techy says its all right to use a non reccomended product does not make it Pukka.

Apologies for commenting on your LS400 forum, nice to know we're all welcome. Won't make the same mistake again. I wasn't trying to offend you or belittle your comment. Was just having a laugh over the Rolls Royce comment, was meant to be light hearted, sorry. I'll take myself and my "wee" IS back to the IS forum and leave you to your obviously more superior Japanese Rollers that require £80 coolant.

I was just relaying information I'd been given from a Lexus dealer that's all and trying to save the OP a few quid.

Everyone welcome here. Dont vanish forever. Mike

ManicMark · April 22, 2013

Chris

Its probably because your on the wrong forum and have a a wee is200 that you don't know the Lexus Ls400 is reffered to in the world as the Japanese Rolls Royce.

And just because it worked for you and some techy says its all right to use a non reccomended product does not make it Pukka.

Apologies for commenting on your LS400 forum, nice to know we're all welcome. Won't make the same mistake again. I wasn't trying to offend you or belittle your comment. Was just having a laugh over the Rolls Royce comment, was meant to be light hearted, sorry. I'll take myself and my "wee" IS back to the IS forum and leave you to your obviously more superior Japanese Rollers that require £80 coolant.

I was just relaying information I'd been given from a Lexus dealer that's all and trying to save the OP a few quid.

Yeah don't go I would probably have an IS if I wasn't a fat old man.

Bluesman · April 22, 2013

Chris

Its probably because your on the wrong forum and have a a wee is200 that you don't know the Lexus Ls400 is reffered to in the world as the Japanese Rolls Royce.

And just because it worked for you and some techy says its all right to use a non reccomended product does not make it Pukka.

Apologies for commenting on your LS400 forum, nice to know we're all welcome. Won't make the same mistake again. I wasn't trying to offend you or belittle your comment. Was just having a laugh over the Rolls Royce comment, was meant to be light hearted, sorry. I'll take myself and my "wee" IS back to the IS forum and leave you to your obviously more superior Japanese Rollers that require £80 coolant.

I was just relaying information I'd been given from a Lexus dealer that's all and trying to save the OP a few quid.

Yeah don't go I would probably have an IS if I wasn't a fat old man.

Family sized if you dont mind. Mike

ManicMark · April 26, 2013

Just got the concentrated 5 litre coolant off eBay £26 came from Toyota Sheffield . Thought better stick to the original. Got Tesco wiper blades though ( as a stop gap but are fine).

ambermarine · April 26, 2013

Hi Mark

You know it makes sense.

Martin Hughes · April 26, 2013

Just got the concentrated 5 litre coolant off Ebay £26 came from Toyota Sheffield . Thought better stick to the original. Got Tesco wiper blades though ( as a stop gap but are fine).

I rang my local Toyota dealer regarding coolant and the parts guy said the red stuff goes into your engine as is, like the pink stuff. So I don't know where Toyota concentrated coolant fits into all this...