Foam in radiator

Cj80cruiser · 05-11-08, 02:38 PM

I've heard that if you see bubbles come out of your reservoir then this could mean a bad HG. Is this always the case or just a possible sign? I did a coolant drain refill today and when I was refilling I noticed a foam come up to the top during the beginning of the refill and engine running. Mind you I didn't see this coming out the pipe in the reservoir but the radiator cap hole. Should I start getting parts?

NLXTACY · 05-11-08, 02:47 PM

Sorry, that was my first clue when I needed to replace mine. I was expecting it to go cuz I was at 110k and still OE gasket.

e9999 · 05-11-08, 03:41 PM

if you have just refilled, there will be plenty of air in the system. It takes a while to come out. So, no panic yet!

Either way, there could be bubbles, but should not be foam IIANM. Did you use a coolant system cleaner with surfactants?

Cj80cruiser · 05-11-08, 07:16 PM

I started this thread after the first drain and refill. I came home in another car to get some things and let the truck cool off again. The foam returned after the second drain and refill. While it was coming to the top I kept pouring water in as to overflow the radiator and make the foam go out. I thought might as well since I have all this distilled water on hand. Whether it helped anything or not I don't know but the third drain and refill I didn't see any foam.

Cj80cruiser · 05-11-08, 09:27 PM

Should I still be concerned?

krookedpandas · 05-11-08, 09:47 PM

Did you see any coolant anywhere around the cap? Bad radiator cap will let air in and make your coolant foam.

Cj80cruiser · 05-12-08, 02:45 AM

Radiator cap was off cause I was draining the coolant.

sundaypunch · 05-12-08, 04:29 AM

I personally wouldn't worry until you have the system completely filled and all the air is out of it. You will need to drive it a few times and refill as needed. Once it is back to normal I would be concerned if you still have foam/bubbles.

medtro · 05-12-08, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e9999

if you have just refilled, there will be plenty of air in the system. It takes a while to come out. So, no panic yet!

Either way, there could be bubbles, but should not be foam IIANM. Did you use a coolant system cleaner with surfactants?

Can you please elaborate? What is "a while"? 1 hour, 10 hours, or 100 hours of engine running time?

84runner · 05-12-08, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medtro

Can you please elaborate? What is "a while"? 1 hour, 10 hours, or 100 hours of engine running time?

I'd put some hours on it. The last time I did my coolant, (6 months ago), I drove it around town about 3 times for 20 minutes each time or so and the refill bottle didn't go down. Then about 2 weeks later it needed a pint or so. I'll guess that was 40-50 miles or so. It's been full ever since...

sseaman · 05-12-08, 07:01 AM

i would say the period of time would be when you stop having to add to the res. then the air should be out of the system

Cj80cruiser · 05-12-08, 03:53 PM

It took 20 minutes or longer of idling for the engine to get hot where I could barely hold my hand on it. I kept feeling the engine cause the thermostat never seemed to open up with the rear heater and front heater blowing. After 20 minutes I just got in and drove down the road about 1/4 mile. That's when the heater got hot. I got out and put a little water in but not much. I could still open the radiator cap since it hadn't fully pressurized. Does this sound unusual?

PDoyle · 05-12-08, 04:12 PM

Any white smoke from the tail pipe?

sseaman · 05-12-08, 07:42 PM

i don think it sounds unusual

Cj80cruiser · 05-12-08, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDoyle

Any white smoke from the tail pipe?

Not that I've noticed. Now I'll keep a paranoid eye on it and of course see something that resembles white smoke.

PDoyle · 05-13-08, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cj80cruiser

Not that I've noticed. Now I'll keep a paranoid eye on it and of course see something that resembles white smoke.

Oh, you would notice.
When mine went the smoke was so bad the police pulled me over! No kidding!

concretejungle · 05-13-08, 09:52 AM

i don't think any of this sounds unusual.

I kn ow when my roommate flushed his coolant he had some trapped air in his system that he just could not get out. It eventually passed, but took a while (along the lines of weeks).

Cj80cruiser · 05-13-08, 02:37 PM

I had air bubbles too but this foam was more frothy than just regular air bubbles. It must have been something in the old coolant that made this happen since the third drain and refill I didn't see any.

05-11-08, 02:38 PM	#1
Cj80cruiser IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 687	Foam in radiator I've heard that if you see bubbles come out of your reservoir then this could mean a bad HG. Is this always the case or just a possible sign? I did a coolant drain refill today and when I was refilling I noticed a foam come up to the top during the beginning of the refill and engine running. Mind you I didn't see this coming out the pipe in the reservoir but the radiator cap hole. Should I start getting parts? __________________ 94 FZJ80/FJ80 mutt 315 Maxxis Bighorn Quote from Willy T. Payne "I'm f*cking this goat, you just hold the horns." (no goats were actually molested during the making of this comment)

05-11-08, 02:47 PM	#2
NLXTACY IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 542	Sorry, that was my first clue when I needed to replace mine. I was expecting it to go cuz I was at 110k and still OE gasket. __________________ 70 FJ40-sold, worst day of my life 79 TOY 4WD pup-stolen, 2nd worst day of my life 91 4Runner 4WD-burned to ground, 3rd worst day of my life 97 LX450, 216k, non-locked. Expedition vehicle in progress

05-11-08, 03:41 PM	#3
e9999 You want to do what...? Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: PRK Posts: 10,121	if you have just refilled, there will be plenty of air in the system. It takes a while to come out. So, no panic yet! Either way, there could be bubbles, but should not be foam IIANM. Did you use a coolant system cleaner with surfactants? __________________ '97: 86K, 3xlock, Custom HD roo bar for sale, 285 MT/Rs on steelies, Hanna sliders, 851+1.5"/863/N73/N74E/SD24, ARB bull with M12, Kaymar with duals, Kaymar rack, Slee TC skid, 2m/440, more stuff, loose nut behind the wheel!) '03: 97K, the better half's... DD

05-11-08, 07:16 PM	#4
Cj80cruiser IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 687	I started this thread after the first drain and refill. I came home in another car to get some things and let the truck cool off again. The foam returned after the second drain and refill. While it was coming to the top I kept pouring water in as to overflow the radiator and make the foam go out. I thought might as well since I have all this distilled water on hand. Whether it helped anything or not I don't know but the third drain and refill I didn't see any foam. __________________ 94 FZJ80/FJ80 mutt 315 Maxxis Bighorn Quote from Willy T. Payne "I'm f*cking this goat, you just hold the horns." (no goats were actually molested during the making of this comment)

05-11-08, 09:27 PM	#5
Cj80cruiser IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 687	Should I still be concerned? __________________ 94 FZJ80/FJ80 mutt 315 Maxxis Bighorn Quote from Willy T. Payne "I'm f*cking this goat, you just hold the horns." (no goats were actually molested during the making of this comment)

05-11-08, 09:47 PM	#6
krookedpandas IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Austin, Tx TLCA# 18509 Posts: 309	Did you see any coolant anywhere around the cap? Bad radiator cap will let air in and make your coolant foam. __________________ -Matt 1987 60 series-DD plus family project LSLC AUSTIN

05-12-08, 02:45 AM	#7
Cj80cruiser IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 687	Radiator cap was off cause I was draining the coolant. __________________ 94 FZJ80/FJ80 mutt 315 Maxxis Bighorn Quote from Willy T. Payne "I'm f*cking this goat, you just hold the horns." (no goats were actually molested during the making of this comment)

05-12-08, 04:29 AM	#8
sundaypunch IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: A pleasant peninsula Posts: 302	I personally wouldn't worry until you have the system completely filled and all the air is out of it. You will need to drive it a few times and refill as needed. Once it is back to normal I would be concerned if you still have foam/bubbles. __________________ '97 FZJ80 You're a bottle-cap away from pushing me too far

05-12-08, 07:01 AM	#11
sseaman IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,266	i would say the period of time would be when you stop having to add to the res. then the air should be out of the system __________________ 91 FJ80 318k, spare tire mod, custom roof rack----SOLD 98 4runner 136k 98 Avalon 138k

05-12-08, 03:53 PM	#12
Cj80cruiser IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 687	It took 20 minutes or longer of idling for the engine to get hot where I could barely hold my hand on it. I kept feeling the engine cause the thermostat never seemed to open up with the rear heater and front heater blowing. After 20 minutes I just got in and drove down the road about 1/4 mile. That's when the heater got hot. I got out and put a little water in but not much. I could still open the radiator cap since it hadn't fully pressurized. Does this sound unusual? __________________ 94 FZJ80/FJ80 mutt 315 Maxxis Bighorn Quote from Willy T. Payne "I'm f*cking this goat, you just hold the horns." (no goats were actually molested during the making of this comment)

05-12-08, 04:12 PM	#13
PDoyle IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Saratoga Lake NY Posts: 689	Any white smoke from the tail pipe? __________________ Pat Doyle 1994 White FZJ 80, CDL switch. rear winch hitch attachment .-SOLD 1996 White FZJ 80, seats 7,leathered up, CDL,Locked,LandTanks MAF.2" OME lift/Shocks.

05-12-08, 07:42 PM	#14
sseaman IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,266	i don think it sounds unusual __________________ 91 FJ80 318k, spare tire mod, custom roof rack----SOLD 98 4runner 136k 98 Avalon 138k

05-13-08, 09:52 AM	#17
concretejungle IH8MUD Tour Guide Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Cadillac TLCA# 14646 Posts: 5,737	i don't think any of this sounds unusual. I kn ow when my roommate flushed his coolant he had some trapped air in his system that he just could not get out. It eventually passed, but took a while (along the lines of weeks). __________________ 95' FZJ80 OME med./J lift, ARB rack, ARB Bull Bar w/tmax 12,500, 315 Nitto, stainless brake lines, Center Diff Lock, Sliders, IPOR Skid, IPOR rear bumper, upgraded slee sticker, custom dents, more to come. . . Remember it's a gateway drug, so it will actually lead to "crystal meh".

05-13-08, 02:37 PM	#18
Cj80cruiser IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 687	I had air bubbles too but this foam was more frothy than just regular air bubbles. It must have been something in the old coolant that made this happen since the third drain and refill I didn't see any. __________________ 94 FZJ80/FJ80 mutt 315 Maxxis Bighorn Quote from Willy T. Payne "I'm f*cking this goat, you just hold the horns." (no goats were actually molested during the making of this comment)

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