1KZ-TE cooling issues (3 Viewers)

[Birdseyedavis]

Should I put the temp sensor on the upper or lower radiator hose? Or does it matter?

 

[OM617YOTA]

I’m going to do all that when I redo the head gasket. I’m just trying to get the cooling sorted to limp it a long for a month until I have the cash and access to another car.

Oh man, definitely hear that, been there plenty myself.

Mine's a '96 as well, and if(when....) I have the head off, that's another one I wouldn't put the original head back on even if it looks fine when pulled. These earlier 1kz's have 100% incidence of cracking the head. Later heads have this issue solved, and I would definitely save up and put one of those newer revised heads on, even if the head isn't the problem at the time.

(Ironically, on of the reasons I bought my Prado was because I was sick of dealing with Subaru head gaskets......)

You might mentally prepare yourself for the idea that it's your head that's cracked and not just a head gasket.

 

[OM617YOTA]

Should I put the temp sensor on the upper or lower radiator hose? Or does it matter?

View attachment 3982400

If I'm remembering right, coolant flows out of the top hose to the radiator, bottom hose is return to the engine. That's where I'd put it, top hose.

Make sure you purge air from the thermostat area when refilling. Refill from the heater hoses or make sure you have a thermostat with a vent(drill a hole if not) and have the vent pointed up to purge air. Air locked thermostat= thermostat doesn't get up to temp = no coolant flow when needed = kaboom.

 

[Birdseyedavis]

Gotcha, I got the Toyota oem 76 deg C thermo. It has the little vent in it. I put that at the top. I put the temp sensor on the bottom hose mainly because that was where I was having issues (bottom hose never got hot). I filled everything back up but I still have the same problem. Top of radiator is hot, bottom is cold. My in dash temp gauge got to normal operating temperature but the new sensor moved 1 degree from 72 to 73.

 

[OM617YOTA]

Bottom radiator hose is after the coolant goes through the radiator and gets cooled down, it may not get warm just sitting there at idle. Is your heater blowing warm air? Heater hoses getting warm? If so, coolant flow is fine.

 

[Birdseyedavis]

Bottom radiator hose is after the coolant goes through the radiator and gets cooled down, it may not get warm just sitting there at idle. Is your heater blowing warm air? Heater hoses getting warm? If so, coolant flow is fine.

I’ll check the heater hoses tomorrow. Thanks again for all the help!