Both '16 Camrys I-4, mid 50k miles. No cooling issues, but would like to keep it that way. What is a reasonable time/ mileage to change coolant? Can I test coolant with the 5 ball tester I used on my BMWS that I ran green coolant in? TIA
I do all "my" cars every 6 months (April and Oct) by only draining and filling the radiator and overflow tank.
Changing your coolant every 6 months is craziness considering the service interval is at least 5 years. I mean it won't hurt anything (besides your wallet), but it's not really helping anything either. While you're discussing bi-yearly coolant changes should we also think about monthly oil changes (j/k)?
Um, since the Toyota and other Japanese makes use organic acid technology, wouldn't the pH be acidic anyway?For kicks, get you a pH test strip. Coolant needs to be alkaline (above 7). I would definitely change before 7.
Below 7 and your coolant has become acidic. Not good.
I would change at 1/2 recommended time as time is more important than miles and I would just drain the radiator
and only use Toyota coolant. That would be replacing about 1/2 coolant at about 1/2 the life of the coolant.
I do all "my" cars every 6 months (April and Oct) by only draining and filling the radiator and overflow tank.
The 5 ball test is worth nothing if you have never diluted your coolant with straight water. pH is what you need.
NoUm, since the Toyota and other Japanese makes use organic acid technology, wouldn't the pH be acidic anyway?
You can’t really go by miles as much as you can by time. The chemical reaction is taking place all the time.Do it at 75k.
My mom had a Toyota Matrix. I think around 90-100k, the radiator started showing signs of leaking coolant, and by 133k, the radiator was toast with some severe corrosion on the left side. Had to get a new one, a Denso from advance Auto. The coolant color was certainly no longer pink.
Also, despite the aftermarket rad being a Denso, one of the holes didn't line up.
I bought the new radiator on November 2017, so it just hit 10 years.You can’t really go by miles as much as you can by time. The chemical reaction is taking place all the time.