ENGINE COOLANT QUESTION

Your engine is probaly not running hot just because you need to change the coolant. It may be low.

Anyway, there is no way to just drain the antifreeze. All the coolant is mixed. Just a thought . If you have been adding antifreze and no water , you may have the mix way off and that can cause overheating.

All the coolant should be mixed half water and half antifreze. You can buy the premixed coolant that is already mixed to the correct portions, but it usually costs more. You pay a lot for the water. Also buy the correct kind for you car. There are now several types on the market.

I am not sure about the tube you mention. Normally you will drain all the coolant out by opening the valve at the bottom of the radiator. Close the valve and add in to the top of the radiator a mix of 50/50 (antifreeze and water) to the radiator is full. Then check the plastic container that is next to the radiator where you normally add the coolant and see if it is up to the normal area. If not, add some coolant mix to it. Start the engine and let it run for a while. When it is up to the operating temperature, cut it off. After it cools off, check the plastic container and see if it needs any more coolant . This is sort of an overflow container. When the engine heats up and cools off, the coolant is forced into it and then sucked back intothe radiator system. If it is low when the engine is cool, you need to add some coolant mixture.

Just be careful that you do not get the coolant tank and the windshield washer fluid containers under the hood mixed up.

How many miles are on that corolla? Engine coolants are recommended to be changed every 30,000 miles, but I just change it when the color seems to go a little bad. I would check the coolant reservoir to see if it is low or not. If low, add more antifreeze, but make sure it is

50/50 coolant. If you do not know how to mix water with anitfreeze (or not enough) or do not want to do it, just buy one that is pre-mixed, but it will cost more. Then check the color of the coolant. It should be a good reddish color (or pink not sure). If it seems like it is kinda yellowish reddish or not good solid red, then it is getting bad. The best way is to smell the coolant. If it smells like clay, then it is going bad.

There should be a drain plug under or below the radiator. If you don't know what that is it is the one that has a hose and connects to the coolant reservoir, and it has a cap that says don't open when engine is hot. Use pliers to loosen the plug and then remove it. If you have bad coolant or coolant smells, you want to flush it with water (garden hose and with engine running). Replace the plug, add coolant until it is to the top, replace the radiator cap, and add coolant to the coolant reservoir. Run the engine for 5-10 minutes, then shut it off and add more coolant to the reservoir because the reservoir will be almost to all empty. Then drive the car a few miles and then check the reservoir again. Add more if needed. Plain and simple.

You do not run hotter on old coolant, 07, how many miles, it is unlikely you need it changed going by miles. Is expansion tank at proper level, what is running a little hot. Replacing all coolant is alot more involved then draining on most cars as air can get trapped so you have to know what your car needs. Have you added antifreeze to it, it must be mixed with distilled water. Do fans run, is radiator clean, and you know the coolant level and percentage of antifreeze correct-its original. How full is expansion tank and is it at marked level, do you have a radiator cap and you saw radiator is full. Old coolant will Not make you run hotter, old coolant just gets acidic and looses some aditives.

In a 2007? I dont think you should be having "running hot " problems

How do you know ? its running hot? Has the needle on the gauge changed postion? Is it in stop and go traffic or highway driving>

If its in stop and go traffic I would suspect a cooling fan may ? not be coming on when required.

It could ? be a stuck thermostat as well,but that is remotely unlikely on such a new vehicle.

If on the highway I would suspect a plugged rad but that is improbable on a 2007

It could also be a faulty water pump ?Which on a car as new as yours is unlikely but remotely possible.

It could be ? a faulty rad cap but then again its only a two year old car so I doubt it.

You dont say how many miles on this vehicle .?

Old rad fluid has nothing to do with running hot .

Is the overflow container up to level ?

The question remains how do you know its running hot?

Ed

It probably cooks his "Manifold Stew" faster, thats steak, potatoes, carrots, onions, tightly wrapped in aluminum on the engine for a trip to the local beach.

You can go to Toyota's website, call their customer service, and they will send you a replacement manual for free. I had to do this for my '02 Sienna I bought last year.

Most car maintenance procedures are detailed in the Haynes manual, which you can buy at any local car shop for around $20.

Michael

First of all, are you sure it is overheating? Second, if is it overheating, is it worse when standing still, or is it worse when at highway speed? Have you taken a look at the radiator exterior? This time of year it is not unusual to pick up grass clippings, trash, paper, etc on the front of the radiator and/or air conditioning condensor...and that will make you run hotter at all speeds. Sometimes just an external radiator wash will solve a lot of problems.

There are lots of possibilities involved here, but be sure you dont let it go too far. If you ever really overheat these engines, you can do a lot of serious damage.