Another Coolant Loss Thread 1FZ

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85badger

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Another Coolant Loss Thread 1FZ/HG Replacement (pics)

I sort of hesitate to post this but after reading for hours and hours, finding many examples of my problem, I feel compelled to get more feed back on my issue.

1995 LC, 188K, 315's, just a DD, bought it from the original owner, (original HG) have been driving it for almost 4 yrs without any major problems until now. After driving home from work a month or so ago, I noticed a bubbling noise under the hood, the noise was coming from the radiator, I also noticed that the overflow tank was empty, so I filled it, started it and it sucked some into the radiator and drove on......a bit later I noticed the noise again and refilled the tank again, just thought that since its so hot here 100+, with the A/C on that maybe it was just low. Last night I get home and hear the same noise and refill.

I decided to check into things, no obvious leaks, some pink build up around some of the heater hoses in the back of motor, PHH changed at time of purchase and did a radiator flush with the red stuff. I read through Idahodoug's post (which scared the hell out of me), read through a post that talked about the "block test" or "HG test" with the blue liquid, went to Autozone and performed the test, no discolor, so according to that, no HG leak....I still have the kit so I'm going to do it again tonight just to make sure. I ordered a blackstone test kit. I'm going to get an app for my iphone that is similar to the scangauge II, so I can check the actual water temp to make sure its not boiling over during driving, but don't see any evidence of that.

There is a little (very little) smoke at start up but was hoping that was valve seal and didn't look like that typical white smoke that usually happens when burning antifreeze. I also read a post about an obscure leak on a hose but the water never hit the ground, I'm hoping this my situation, but I doubt it. I'm also going to try to look at the very back of the head, but I would have thought with this much coolant missing that it would more than likely make it to the ground. I'm at a loss....I'm sure a HG is in my future but not certain, having symptoms similar to Idahodoug's minus the boiling noise he had in the cat area, when he had a cracked head....:bang:

I'm not a stranger to blown HG's as I had a 90 4runner 3.0 v-6 that was a total nightmare, so I kinda know how they can act and what to expect.
Any other ideas?
 
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The block test will only confirm if you have a combustion to coolant HG failure. You are losing coolant. It could be burning off by the exhaust or any other high heat area. There are also coolant lines that run along the drivers side and above the transmission to cool the tranny. Check those and the head/block interface around the entire engine. Give an exact estimate as to how much cooling you are losing per mile driven and report back. Buy a new toyota radiator cap just for kicks and see if that alleviates the condition.
 
Have you looked at your spark plugs and their condition?

Fan clutch operation, resistance when hot (test with caution)?

Any strange gunk in the overflow tank, tube, radiator cap, and/or top of fins?

Condition of thermostat?

Condition of radiator cap, replace and test?

Rear heater lines, feel carpet under passenger seat (US)?

Coolant moving when at SOT, viewed from radiator filler neck to see that water pump is operating?

Leaks around water pump?

Just a few points for starters.........
 
Have you looked at your spark plugs and their condition?

Fan clutch operation, resistance when hot (test with caution)?

Any strange gunk in the overflow tank, tube, radiator cap, and/or top of fins?

Condition of thermostat?

Condition of radiator cap, replace and test?

Rear heater lines, feel carpet under passenger seat (US)?

Coolant moving when at SOT, viewed from radiator filler neck to see that water pump is operating?

Leaks around water pump?

Just a few points for starters.........

Haven't looked at spark plugs yet....

Will check Fan clutch after drive home tonight

Nothing strange in overflow tank or any other mentioned, other than being empty....

Thermostat....not sure when it was last changed

Radiator cap, I haven't changed it

Rear heater lines, will check tonight

Coolant, will check tonight, seems like I saw movement in there last night but will recheck and note.

Water Pump, no leaks...
 
I just hooked up the Go Link to the OBDII and ran about 6 miles of freeway and a couple miles of stop and go with the A/C on, current outside temp of 101 degrees. Go Link (similar to Scangauge) read 195 for most of the drive, then jumped to 201 for a second after I got off the freeway and was stopped at a light, then dropped to 199 for the next few blocks until I shut it off. Was going to try to stop the fan but decided to wait until I have some gloves on......seems like its cooling properly?
 
Radiator cap would be my first suspect.:idea: Also, check the seals on the upper and lower radiator tanks, they start seeping on old radiators and can loose a lot of coolant before any hits the ground.:hhmm:
 
I just hooked up the Go Link to the OBDII and ran about 6 miles of freeway and a couple miles of stop and go with the A/C on, current outside temp of 101 degrees. Go Link (similar to Scangauge) read 195 for most of the drive, then jumped to 201 for a second after I got off the freeway and was stopped at a light, then dropped to 199 for the next few blocks until I shut it off. Was going to try to stop the fan but decided to wait until I have some gloves on......seems like its cooling properly?

Your fan may be a little weak, otherwise, none of those numbers would concern me.:meh:
 
Still reading the FAQ's and learning about other peoples HG posts....I'm going to let truck cool off, refill radiator and run until thermostat opens then top off radiator and then fill overflow tank....who knows maybe it was just low or atleast now I'll have a baseline to go off of....
 
Your fan may be a little weak, otherwise, none of those numbers would concern me.:meh:

X2. I use a stout Christmas wrapping roll - otherwise a newspaper or magazine will do the trick; not a thick one like Cosmo though......:grinpimp:

Also - sounds like you're on the right troubleshooting track including burping the system. If you ever ran low in the overflow - you may have sucked air . Try to fill with the nose in the air.
 
Still reading the FAQ's and learning about other peoples HG posts....I'm going to let truck cool off, refill radiator and run until thermostat opens then top off radiator and then fill overflow tank....who knows maybe it was just low or atleast now I'll have a baseline to go off of....

Until you have reason to believe otherwise, I would assume it's not a HG. You are losing coolant, figure out where it's going, that will answer a lot of questions.:hhmm:
 
Thanks for all the advise but I'm pretty sure she blew the #6 gasket out when I got home, based on the large puddle of red anitfreeze on the ground! I can't see a damn thing but I know it's not the heater lines, funny thing is that it must be running down the bell housing then makes it's way down to the cross member and onto the ground (parked on an incline). This really sucks! Was going to CO on a couple of weeks...
Need to order that DVD!
 
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Could be external HG leak...
 
Thanks for all the advise but I'm pretty sure she blew the #6 gasket out when I got home, can't see a damn thing but I know it's not the heater lines, funny thing is that it must be running down the bell housing then makes it's way down to the cross member and onto the ground (parked on an incline). This really sucks! Was going to CO on a couple of weeks...
Need to order that DVD!

If that's on the driver's side, check the PHH. It's right under cylinder 6 and can look like an external HG leak.:meh: I know you mentioned replacing the PHH. Mine was replaced with a soft line when I did the head gasket. Still it pees a little coolant due to sentiment on the fitting. It gave me a few high blood pressure moments until I figured out that it's pretty harmless.
 
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I was occasionally hearing gurgling noises & would slowly lose coolant for a couple months. I finally figured out that someone had installed an incorrect radiator cap. I installed the correct one & all was well for a couple of weeks. Then the coolant loss started again. No obvious leaks, nothing on the ground. Finally while offroading one day, I smelled antifreeze & found a hairline crack on the top plastic tank along the adhesive line of the foam. I replaced the radiator & hoses and have had no problems for over a year.

It doesn't take much of a leak to cause your symptoms. Hope it's minor.

Paul
 
Others have mentioned the leak so I'll say something about your coolant. Get the pink stuff outta there. Your system isn't designed for extended life coolant. Use Toyota red or a basic green like Napa green but don't go back and forth.

Buck
 
I'm 99% sure it's an external leak out the back of the #6 cylinder, trying to figure out how to verify it though. I need to pick up a mirror on a stick and crawl up there to see. I would really like to see the leak before tearing into it, any pointers on this?

I put my eyes on the PHH, so I know that is not the culprit, wish it was though!:crybaby:

To clarify: I used the toyota red coolant when I did the flush, but watered down and seeping from the heater hoses makes it look pink....
 
If you haven't done so already, drain, flush and fill the cooling system with Toyota red. And change the cap. A properly functioning cap not only keeps the coolant in but raises its boiling point 275 degrees another 40+ points (315 F).:cool:
 
Had the same problem. New coolant and a radiator cap fixed it. Either the cap is not holding the pressure and/or the coolant is old and can't handle the heat.

On another note, look at all your hose ends for seepage. Coolant can seep from a hose and evaporate. If you do not know the age of your hoses, you may want to replace all of them when you replace the coolant so you can baseline the coolant system. A BIG peace of mind.
 
I'm 99% sure it's an external leak out the back of the #6 cylinder, trying to figure out how to verify it though. I need to pick up a mirror on a stick and crawl up there to see. I would really like to see the leak before tearing into it, any pointers on this?

I put my eyes on the PHH, so I know that is not the culprit, wish it was though!:crybaby:

To clarify: I used the toyota red coolant when I did the flush, but watered down and seeping from the heater hoses makes it look pink....

Get on a stepladder with a mirror and a flashlight and do your best contortionist impression. There's a lot of stuff around the back of the head, so it can be tough to see everything.
 
I decided to go get a flexible camera from harbor freight, so I could be positive that the leak was in fact coming from the head. Well it's time for a new HG!! With this tool I was able to see the coolant dripping out between the back of the head and the block.
 

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