What Coolant does my Toyota need?

When it comes to coolant, what types does your Toyota require? Using the wrong coolant — or not having enough of it — can cause major issues for your vehicle. Our Orlando Toyota service center is here to explain which coolant your Toyota needs, how often to check it, and how to know when you're due to replace it. Read on!

What is Toyota coolant?

First, let's talk about what Toyota coolant does. Coolant's job is to keep things cool under the hood and prevent your car from overheating. Without it, you run the risk of seriously — or permanently — damaging your car's engine. Toyota coolant is a liquid mixture of half water and half ethylene glycol, and it comes in multiple colors including yellow, green, blue, and even Toyota red coolant. There are also multiple types of car coolant out there — you'll find options like:

• Inorganic Additive Technology
• Organic Acid Technology
• Hybrid Organic Acid Technology

Plus, Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Cooling Systems to consider.

So which Toyota coolant is right for your car?

How do you know which type of Toyota coolant to put under the hood? You can't tell by the color — spoiler alert. The bottom line is that you need to check your owner's manual or ask one of the techs at Toyota of Orlando's service center what's recommended for your particular make and model, as well as vehicle age and mileage (you may need Toyota long life coolant, etc. and our techs can point you in the right direction). Our techs (and your owner's manual) can also fill you in on how much Toyota coolant your car needs.

How often should you change your Toyota coolant?

Again, it's best to check your car's owner's manual to figure out how often to change your Toyota coolant. However, a rule of thumb is around every 30,000 miles or 2 years (whichever comes first).

Also, keep in mind that replacing your Toyota coolant is not the same as a coolant flush. You should do a coolant flush every 100,000 — 150,000 miles to remove dirt, rust, and sludge from your cooling system and ensure peak performance.

How do you know if you're having coolant issues?

If your car is having coolant issues, you'll see some telltale signs. Here are the most common ones our Orlando Toyota service reps recommend looking out for:

• The coolant looks low inside the coolant reservoir under the hood
• Your car is overheating
• Steam comes from the radiator or under the hood
• Sediment or rust visible in the coolant
• Your check engine light turns on
• You smell a burning or sickly sweet smell coming from under the hood

Have questions? Need help choosing the right Toyota coolant? Call us! Toyota of Orlando is here seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road. You can call us at Service 407-298-0001.