When to: Long Life Coolant Change?

[grumpy in NH]

I have the 2005 RAV4, 4cyl, 5spd manual, with approx 50K miles and 2 years old. The Toyota Centre wants to renew the coolant due to its colour change(?). I thought this stuff was long life? Is there a test that can be performed objectively on the long-life antifreeze to indicate it's remaining life. I don't want to dump this toxic mess if it's not (really) required.

thanks, Guys and Gals ...

[kathyricks]

While it's good to change vehicle lubes and fluids more often than the scheduled maintenance guide requires, Toyota coolant is an exception. The factory original pink coolant truely lasts as long as it claims (prevents system corrosion and deterioration) for a full 5 years or 100,000 miles). So you don't need to change it until 2010. And at that time, simply drain and engine block and radiator and refill with approx 2 gallons of new pink Toyota ready to use coolant (don't let the dealer talk you into flushing or using additional sealers and inhibitors).

A visit to a big city Toyota auto wrecking yard will show you how dealers and service shops ruin countless thousands of Toyota engines by using aftermarket coolants, sealers or inhibitors which cause mineral deposits to form inside the radiator which inhibits coolant flow resulting in engine overheating. All this destruction can be avoided if the owner simply drains and refills the system with the factory fill coolant solution (pink Toyota ready to use coolant for 2004 on up models & 50% red Toyota coolant + 50$ distilled water for 2003 and earlier models).

[grumpy in NH]

KR-

Thanks for the insightful reply!