This is for second generation RAV4-EV owners, like myself who have taken their RAV4-EVs to states other than California where Toyota does not provide service.
Routine service like tires, wiper blades, etc. are not a problem. One more routine thing that seems to be problematic is fluid levels. Apparent to the casual observer is the presence of a beer colored fluid,a pink fluid and a blue fluid. The beer colored fluid in a reservoir closest to the firewall is brake fluid. The pink fluid is part of the cabin heating system. Both of these are readily available anywhere in the country.
It is the blue fluid closest to the front of the car which is contained in two reservoirs, one on the drivers side for the traction battery and one on the passengers side for the motor thermal management systems.
I have attempted to order 00289-G48VC G-48 COOLANT $21.50 from Toyota Parts Factory in Arizona. Forty five minutes after successfully placing the order I received this response.
"Toyota Parts Factory - Order Cancelled - Order #8442
Hello, G48
Per our shipping policy we do not ship coolant. Your order has been cancelled and you will be issued a full refund. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Thank you,
Toyota Parts Factory"
This is an interesting response from a supplier in Arizona concerning a part only needed in California.
Blue G48 coolant is not readily available from part stores such as Auto Zone here in the US. Zerex G48 referred to in the RrAV4-EV Owners Manual is available in Europe. This product is designed for use in engines with aluminum heads and I imagine this is why Tesla has chosen this coolant for its aluminum traction battery frame. Blue G48 is often used by European car manufacturers.
This has led me to to my local BMW dealer's parts department as the source for this G48 coolant.
BMW PART NUMBER 82 14 2 209 769 meets ASTM D 3306 Standard which is compatible with G48. I found the Zerex spec sheet for their G48 product helpful.
http://www.whitfieldoil.com/downloads/ZerexAntifreezeLineupChart.pdf
At this point I am fairly confident that a 50/50 mix of the Blue BMW Coolant mixed with deionized water water can be safely mixed with the original coolant in the RAV4-EV.
I am interested in any input this group can provide regarding my conclusion.
I also have this question. Since the traction battery thermal management system is a closed system, where does the fluid go such that the reservoir level is low. Is it like a lead acid battery where the electrolyte level falls due to water evaporation. So that all that need be added is distilled water.
Can we in the case of the RAV4-EV G48 Motor or Traction Battery coolant simply continuously add deionized water to keep the level up?
Is it necessary to bring the level up with a 50/50 mix of G48 and deionized water? Does this have the affect increasing the concentration of coolant in the thermal management system?
In my view,either approach probably makes little difference where I live and use the car in Winter Haven, Florida, assuming the coolant used is appropriate.
Of course if there is any doubt about the coolant, the safer approach would be to add deionized water only. This leaves only the questions of diluting coolant concentration and does it matter?
Of course in the case of a leaking system the 50/50 mix would be appropriate after the leak is fixes. The 50/50 mix would also be required after draining the system.
Cheers,
Al Lococo
2012 RAV4-EV
2012 LEAF
Florida
Sent from my Android Eee Transformer Prime using maildroid
"Our ignorance is not so vast as our failure to use what we know."
M. King Hubbert
