2013 LX coolant disappears (8 Viewers)

[rexington14]

It is really tough to find a valley plate leak without removing the intake. A borescope only goes so far in tight spaces.

You could have your oil tested to eliminate HG as a culprit.

Oil analysis wouldn't eliminate the HG completely. A small HG coolant leak to the combustion chamber may not be detectable via oil analysis as any evidence of this occurring may be burned up and blown out the exhaust.

+1 on buying a borescope. Not only to check for the valley plate. But, also to pull the plugs and borescope each cylinder looking for a piston(s) that look steam cleaned and/or shinier compared to the others. It's possible you could have both problems.

Or just take it to any halfway decent mechanic and pay the hour of labor for them to diagnose. These ridiculous 1UR / 3UR valley plate leaks are so common any mechanic who sees a fair share of Toyota/Lexus will know exactly where to look.

 

[LC CT]

Oil analysis wouldn't eliminate the HG completely. A small HG coolant leak to the combustion chamber may not be detectable via oil analysis as any evidence of this occurring may be burned up and blown out the exhaust.

+1 on buying a borescope. Not only to check for the valley plate. But, also to pull the plugs and borescope each cylinder looking for a piston(s) that look steam cleaned and/or shinier compared to the others. It's possible you could have both problems.

Or just take it to any halfway decent mechanic and pay the hour of labor for them to diagnose. These ridiculous 1UR / 3UR valley plate leaks are so common any mechanic who sees a fair share of Toyota/Lexus will know exactly where to look.

Borescope ordered. That’s the problem is finding a halfway decent mechanic. My buddy I trusted moved out of state. I’ll be able to look around with the scope hopefully tomorrow.

 

[94SRUNNER]

Borescope ordered. That’s the problem is finding a halfway decent mechanic. My buddy I trusted moved out of state. I’ll be able to look around with the scope hopefully tomorrow.

Have you tried cross-posting for assistance in the Mud Clubhouse that is nearest to you?

North American Clubhouses - East Region

East of the Mississippi River

forum.ih8mud.com

Maybe try - FJ Northeasters – A Toyota Truck & SUV Community in the Northeast United States - https://fjnortheasters.org/ or NY- Gotham City Land Cruisers - https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/ny-gotham-city-land-cruisers.38/

 

[LC CT]

Have you tried cross-posting for assistance in the Mud Clubhouse that is nearest to you?

North American Clubhouses - East Region

East of the Mississippi River

forum.ih8mud.com

Maybe try - FJ Northeasters – A Toyota Truck & SUV Community in the Northeast United States - https://fjnortheasters.org/ or NY- Gotham City Land Cruisers - https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/ny-gotham-city-land-cruisers.38/

I have not but depending on how my scoping goes, I may need a mechanic. We shall see.

 

[LC CT]

Here’s an update. Borescope pics if anyone has insight, piston 7 and piston 5 are pictured. I believe piston 7 is where the HG leaks typically exist. And a bunch of shots from under the intake manifold, not sure what to make of that? I can’t tell if that’s coolant or if that’s an old mouse nest? Would love to hear thoughts

 

[LC CT]

Couple more from under the manifold

 

[AcmeSys]

That is a mouse house in the usual area under the intake

Pull a couple more plugs and scope the pistons to see if the carbon levels are about the same across the jugs.

 

[LC CT]

Will do. Pulling the plugs def sucks lol some tight ass areas to get extensions into

 

[bloc]

Oil analysis wouldn't eliminate the HG completely. A small HG coolant leak to the combustion chamber may not be detectable via oil analysis as any evidence of this occurring may be burned up and blown out the exhaust.

I agree it's not definitive proof there isn't a HG leak, but it's cheap and easy to perform and if results come back bad, OP most likely has one. Plus even small leaks can often be caught by this... working in PPM ranges very little coolant needs to make it to the crank case to be detectable.

Plus the cooling system staying pressurized for a period after engine shutdown increases the likelihood that coolant makes it into the CC when it won't be burned off immediately. There is a decent chance at least some amount makes it past the rings.

 

[LC CT]

Cylinder 3 and cyl 1, that’s the whole driver side bank

 

[rexington14]

Nothing super obvious from those photos IMO, though cyl 1 looks a lot dirtier and 7 the cleanest... You could also pull the passenger side plugs for more info (it can blow there too).

But it looks like you'll want to get the intake off no matter what to clear out the mouse nest to properly check for evidence of the valley leak.

 

[LC CT]

Seeing these pics would you continue driving this vehicle?

 

[LC CT]

Nothing super obvious from those photos IMO, though cyl 1 looks a lot dirtier and 7 the cleanest... You could also pull the passenger side plugs for more info (it can blow there too).

But it looks like you'll want to get the intake off no matter what to clear out the mouse nest to properly check for evidence of the valley leak.

Yea 7, 5 and 3 have some clean areas. One definitely the dirtiest. The pass side I have to remove the air box and whatnot to get to those plugs. I’ll try tomorrow and see how that goes. Would love to see pics of anyone else who scoped their pistons to see what they look like

 

[rexington14]

Seeing these pics would you continue driving this vehicle?

I wouldn't run any UR with a known, undiagnosed, mystery coolant leak. Hopefully it's just the valley leak but if it's (also?) a minor HG leak you want to find that out as soon as you can. You do not want to completely blow up a 3UR.

 

[LC CT]

I wouldn't run any UR with a known, undiagnosed, mystery coolant leak. Hopefully it's just the valley leak but if it's (also?) a minor HG leak you want to find that out as soon as you can. You do not want to completely blow up a 3UR.

Yup, that’s what I’m trying to avoid for sure. Any thoughts on how to 100% diagnose the HG? Pressure test from a mechanic? Probably have to bring it some where if I can’t figure this out.

 

[rexington14]

Very small HG leak can be tricky. Combustion gas block tests, pull plugs and borescope (as you're doing), pressure test, pressure test then borescope cylinders while pressurized, compression test, leakdown test, etc. But i wouldn't go crazy here just yet.

Confirm the valley plate first. This is a common problem. If it's leaking then get it fixed then keep driving and hopefully there's no more coolant loss. Send an oil sample to be analyzed for some peace of mind as previously mentioned.

 

[KLF]

Plan on a couple hours, order the intake gaskets and might as well get a new knock sensor harness. Pull the intake, put painters tape over the intake runners, then vacuum out all the mouse crap. Then you'll know for sure if you have the valley leak. Highly recommend you "armor" the new harness with extra loom and lots of high temp electrical tape before installing.

Leak down test is the most accurate at confirming a leaking head gasket.

 

[LC CT]

 

[LC CT]

That’s cylinder 2, 4 and 6

 

[LC CT]

Plan on a couple hours, order the intake gaskets and might as well get a new knock sensor harness. Pull the intake, put painters tape over the intake runners, then vacuum out all the mouse crap. Then you'll know for sure if you have the valley leak. Highly recommend you "armor" the new harness with extra loom and lots of high temp electrical tape before installing.

Leak down test is the most accurate at confirming a leaking head gasket.

Thank you, located gaskets locally, $70 for the pair, ouch, going to pull this thing hopefully and see what’s under there.