2008-2018 Radiator Failure and Public Service Announcement (10 Viewers)

[bloc]

I doubt the factory packaging was designed for UPS/Fedex. I’d think a toyota distribution system to be a lot more gentle and really that’s all I’d expect them to have in mind when designing it.

I seem to remember txmeatball picking theirs up in person so I don’t have an explanation for that.. the worst part is all the time to install it before realizing it’s damaged.

 

[au1994]

Does the JB Weld Radiator repair work to shore this up?

 

[TLCLVR]

There are a few that did this preemptively a few thousand miles ago. Long term reports still pending but I can't see how it would hurt.

 

[au1994]

Kinda what I was thinking. It’s $12 for the kit so I’ll probably do it. Looks like water pump, serpentine belt and radiator were done on mine (08 135k) but Toyota records do not indicate a new radiator. Looking at it, it is definitely the old design and looks as aged as the other plastic components under the hood.

 

[bloc]

Kinda what I was thinking. It’s $12 for the kit so I’ll probably do it. Looks like water pump, serpentine belt and radiator were done on mine (08 135k) but Toyota records do not indicate a new radiator. Looking at it, it is definitely the old design and looks as aged as the other plastic components under the hood.

One potential issue is if the crack propagates under the patch you won’t have anyway to track that. It could just let go one day.. whereas without the help you usually see the crack developing and have some warning.

 

[cruiser0588]

So my wife's 2010 TLC just experienced this issue at, wait for it, 120,000 miles. Thanks for all fo the research and info to all on this post!

 

[shtbrwn86]

Might be off-topic but I've always wondered why the 100-200 series don't use an all-metal radiator. I assume cost? But these things are supposed to be built to a higher standard and the price tag certainly reflects that.

 

[bloc]

Might be off-topic but I've always wondered why the 100-200 series don't use an all-metal radiator. I assume cost? But these things are supposed to be built to a higher standard and the price tag certainly reflects that.

Electrolytic concerns, hose connection corrosion, vibration damping, aluminum radiators being more efficient but much more difficult to build as one piece of metal.. and yes, cost.

The 80 used plastic as well, for the record. I think you need to go back to the 60-series to find all-metal.

Plastic end tanks work very, very well when they are designed correctly. This one clearly wasn't, with the very thin molding where people see the crack. The redesign circa 2018 should address the issue and people with those and an otherwise maintained system will likely get typical radiator life of well over 200k.

 

[PDoyle]

Here's some pics of the Denso rad I bought and had shipped from Rockauto.com in March. I opened the box after reading about the problems with cracking during shipping. It Looks OEM old style, which I don't believe is a big deal.,IMO. The current oem radiator has 130k total miles so far with one antifreeze flush on record and no signs of problems in the filler area. Hoping the one I have now holds up through winter but if it doesn't I'm ready to replace it. Along with the rest of the cooling system.
How does this rad stack up?

 

[scott johnson]

Looks like I’m about to join the club 2008 with 123k miles.wondering what kind of results people had with the Denso radiators. I don’t want to spend $460 on a Toyota if I don’t really need to. Also how big of a PITA is swapping he radiator? Couple hours?

 

[TLC2013]

Looks like I’m about to join the club 2008 with 123k miles.wondering what kind of results people had with the Denso radiators. I don’t want to spend $460 on a Toyota if I don’t really need to. Also how big of a PITA is swapping he radiator? Couple hours?
View attachment 2457966

i picked up my OEM updated design radiator for around $300. Check the usual online OEM Toyota parts Websites. I used Camelback Toyota out of AZ. they shipped quick to CA. There are a bunch of other good Toyota parts websites whose warehouses ship from different parts of the country.

install is straight forward, not really any different then any other radiator install. A Shop shouldn’t charge more then 3 hours labor.

 

[beanlard]

Looks like I’m about to join the club 2008 with 123k miles.wondering what kind of results people had with the Denso radiators. I don’t want to spend $460 on a Toyota if I don’t really need to. Also how big of a PITA is swapping he radiator? Couple hours?

Scott,
I think the amount of work will depend on whether you are only replacing the radiator and the coolant that came out when you drained it or if you're also going to drain coolant from the block, change the water pump, fan mount bracket, hoses, etc.

I've done both levels of swap recently because my first effort was to replace the radiator (which was cracked but not leaking yet), the fan bracket, upper and lower hoses, thermostat, water pump and draining the engine block of coolant. That took me at least 8 hours at a patient pace, including all of the setup to work on it, removing and reinstalling the underbody armor, etc., refilling, etc. Getting to the engine block drain cocks was a bit of a pain in the ass and I had to remove the wheel in order to access it without contorting myself into a wad.

The problem was that the original radiator they sent me had a bunch of bent fins so they sent me a new one and I then did the "quick" version of the swap where I did not remove the fan and fan shroud. I think that took me an honest three hours of prep, fixin', refilling, and clean up. If you leave the fan shroud and fan in place, it can be a bit tricky to slide in the new one without damaging fins but a second set of hands and eyes helps.

-beanlard

 

[04UZJ100]

How much transmission fluid is lost during this job seeing as the radiator has an integrated loop for the trans.

 

[TXMeatball]

How much transmission fluid is lost during this job seeing as the radiator has an integrated loop for the trans.

13oz-ish? I filled the trans cooler back up on my replacement for the new defective unit.

 

[04UZJ100]

13oz-ish? I filled the trans cooler back up on my replacement for the new defective unit.

Interesting - you’re able to fill it after install before hose hookup? Did you verify transmission level with the temperature check procedure?

 

[TXMeatball]

Interesting - you’re able to fill it after install before hose hookup? Did you verify transmission level with the temperature check procedure?

I filled it up with a mityvac extractor before putting it in (new OEM radiators have clear plastic caps on the trans lines for some reason, put those back on to not make a mess). I'd already lost fluid from replacing my original cracked radiator with the leaking defective unit- wasn't about to lose more.

 

[nwfl4runner]

One things folks may want to consider is replacing the fan shroud/overflow tank at the same time. I replaced my radiator but my overflow tank was constantly at or below L, but radiator was full and no coolant issues. After multiple fills/burps, I replaced the shroud and no more level drop. Not sure if age or heat cycles but regardless it’s an easy enough swap while you’re in there.

 

[scott johnson]

Just ordered my new radiator. Found it for $288 plus $50 for shipping from a dealership online. My local dealer didn’t have it in stock and would have been almost $500 to get one in. I asked if Toyota would do anything on price since it’s a defect and they said no and then went on to say if it failed after after 100K miles it wasn’t defective. I have a layer of JB weld on it to hold until the new one comes in and I can get time to get it installed.

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[bloc]

Looks like I’m up for round two eventually. Original had an obvious crack but no leaking when I got the truck at 105k, replaced it at 107, at the time the new part hadn’t been released. Now at ~157k and there is a hint of the crack forming again. I rarely tow, though it is quite hot where I live, but many of my miles are on the freeway back and forth to Colorado. I’ll replace this with the new design as it progresses.

 

[TLC2013]

Looks like I’m up for round two eventually. Original had an obvious crack but no leaking when I got the truck at 105k, replaced it at 107, at the time the new part hadn’t been released. Now at ~157k and there is a hint of the crack forming again. I rarely tow, though it is quite hot where I live, but many of my miles are on the freeway back and forth to Colorado. I’ll replace this with the new design as it progresses.

View attachment 2465143

Sorry to hear, that’s pitiful for an OEM Toyota radiator to only last 50,000 miles. Third times the charm. Fortunately after my original radiator cracked the newer design was out. Still keeping an eye on the area, force of habit.