2019 Toyota Camry Coolant Flush — 2.5L A25A, Super Long Life Coolant

I did the first coolant service on my 2019 Camry at 100,000 miles. Toyota specifies the first change at 100k, then every 50,000 miles after that. The job is straightforward — no special tools, no pressure bleeding on this engine, and Toyota's pink Super Long Life Coolant is worth using. Here's exactly how I do it.

Engine and Cooling System Overview

The 2019 Toyota Camry uses two engine options:

• 2.5L A25A-FKS — standard in LE, SE, XLE, XSE (2.5 Dynamic Force)
• 3.5L 2GR-FKS — V6 in XSE V6 and XLE V6
• 2.5L A25A-FXS — Camry Hybrid (with hybrid-specific cooling circuit)

This guide covers the 2.5L A25A-FKS — the most common configuration. The V6 procedure is similar but has higher coolant capacity.

Coolant Specs

Item	Spec
Coolant type	Toyota Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC) — pink
OEM part number	Toyota 00272-SLLC2 (50/50 premix) or 00272-SLLC (concentrate)
Mixing ratio	50/50 antifreeze/distilled water (pre-mixed preferred)
System capacity	~7.2 qt (6.8L) total — 2.5L A25A
First change interval	100,000 miles / 10 years
Subsequent interval	Every 50,000 miles / 5 years
Drain bolt size	10mm hex
Drain bolt torque	13 ft-lb (18 Nm)
Reservoir min/max	Cold: MIN to MAX lines on the translucent reservoir

Critical spec: Toyota SLLC is a pink OAT (Organic Acid Technology) coolant. Do NOT use green conventional coolant, Dex-Cool (orange), or generic "universal" coolant without verifying compatibility with Toyota SLLC. Mixing types causes silica deposits and gel formation in the cooling passages.

Distilled water only. Tap water contains minerals that cause deposits in the A25A's aluminum cooling passages. Use distilled water if you're mixing concentrate.

Tools & Parts Needed

• Toyota SLLC premix 00272-SLLC2 (4 quarts minimum; buy a gallon jug if available)
• Drain pan (2+ gallon)
• 10mm hex socket or large flat screwdriver (depends on drain cock style)
• Torque wrench
• Funnel
• Pliers (for hose clamp if needed)
• Coolant tester (hydrometer or refractometer) — optional but recommended

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Let the Engine Cool Completely

Never open a hot cooling system. Park the car, wait 2+ hours or overnight. The A25A-FKS runs hot — even after 30 minutes there's residual pressure. Burn risk is real.

2. Protect Your Work Surface

Put down cardboard or old rags under the car. Coolant kills grass and is attractive to animals — dispose of it properly (most auto parts stores accept used coolant). Do not let it run into the storm drain.

3. Remove the Radiator Cap

With engine completely cold, remove the radiator cap. The cap is on top of the radiator, driver's side. Press down, rotate counterclockwise, and lift. This releases pressure and allows the coolant to drain by gravity.

4. Locate and Open the Drain Valve

The radiator drain cock (petcock) is at the bottom driver's side corner of the radiator. On most 2019 Camry models, it's a plastic wing nut style or a 10mm hex drain plug.

• Wing nut type: Rotate counterclockwise by hand until coolant flows. Place your drain pan positioned before you open it.
• Drain plug type: Use your 10mm socket and loosen until coolant flows.

Let it drain completely — typically 5–8 minutes for a full drain. You'll get approximately 3–4 quarts out with a simple gravity drain.

5. Flush with Distilled Water (Optional but Recommended)

For a fresh-fluid service (not a contaminated flush):

• Close the drain valve hand-tight
• Add 1.5 quarts of distilled water to the radiator fill opening
• Replace the cap
• Start engine, run to operating temperature (watch temp gauge)
• Let cool completely
• Drain again
• This flushes the diluted remaining coolant out of the system

6. Close the Drain Valve

• Wing nut: Tighten hand-tight until snug. Don't overtighten — plastic petcocks crack.
• Drain plug: Torque to 13 ft-lb (18 Nm). New aluminum crush washer recommended.

7. Fill with Toyota SLLC

Pour Toyota SLLC premix (50/50) slowly into the radiator opening. Fill to the top of the filler neck. Also check the coolant overflow reservoir and fill to the MAX cold line with fresh SLLC.

8. Bleed the Air

The 2019 Camry 2.5L does not have a dedicated bleed screw. Air purges naturally:

1. Fill radiator to top of neck
2. Leave radiator cap OFF
3. Start engine
4. Set heater to maximum heat, fan speed 4
5. Idle until thermostat opens (temp gauge reaches normal operating position)
6. Watch coolant level in the radiator — it will drop as air purges. Add coolant to keep it near full.
7. Once the upper radiator hose gets hot (thermostat open), the level stabilizes.
8. Replace radiator cap. Check overflow reservoir level and top up to MAX.

9. Test Drive and Check

Drive 10–15 minutes normally. Let cool. Re-check reservoir level — add coolant if it dropped below MIN.

Common Mistakes

1. Using the wrong coolant color. The 2019 Camry uses pink Toyota SLLC. If someone previously added green conventional coolant or orange Dex-Cool, you have mixed coolant — it needs a full flush before adding fresh SLLC. Mixing OAT (pink) with conventional (green) or HOAT (orange) causes silicate gel that plugs the heater core and blocks cooling passages.

2. Skipping the coolant overflow reservoir. Many people drain and refill the radiator and forget the overflow bottle. The reservoir holds 0.5–0.8 quarts of coolant. If you leave old coolant in there and the system pulls it in during cool-down, you're partially refilling with degraded fluid.

3. Opening the system hot. Even with the engine off, a hot cooling system has 15–18 PSI of pressure. Opening the cap fast releases a blast of steam and boiling coolant. Always wait until the engine is cold — not warm, not "mostly cool." Cold.

4. Overfilling the radiator. Fill to the bottom of the filler neck, not brimming to the top. Overfilling leaves no room for expansion and coolant will spit out of the overflow.

Cost Comparison

	DIY	Toyota Dealer
Toyota SLLC premix (1 gallon)	~$30	—
Labor	$0	$100–$160
Total	~$30	$130–$190

You're keeping $100–$160 in your pocket for a 45-minute job.

For more Toyota maintenance, see the 2019 Toyota RAV4 spark plug guide and the 2020 Toyota Highlander brake pad guide. Browse all 28+ step-by-step repair procedures at OwnerDrop.

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