3.0l v6 overheating

[arlingallagher]

Had head resurfaced, valves shimmed, new timing belt, new head gasket. Triple checked timing. Now it overheats at idle, any ideas woud be apreciated. Thanks.

Water pump didnt need to be changed.

 

[KLF]

Did you backfill the engine with coolant when putting it back together?

 

[KliersLC]

Fan Clutch.


I'd put a dollar on it.


Dan

 

[arlingallagher]

I don't think it was backfilled.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Try parking it facing up a hill and run it for a few minutes, could be an air bubble in the system.

 

[KliersLC]

If it only overheats at idle, I don't think that it would be a backfilling problem, but hey, Its worth a try. Checking your fan clutch is easy. Just run it up to temp and open the hood to see if she's pulling air....
Dan

 

[arlingallagher]

fan works fine. It overheats while driving too...

 

[KLF]

I'll try to post this again, maybe 3rd time's a charm...

Swapped a 3VZ once a few years ago, new water pump, t-stat, radiator. After we got it all buttoned up, started it right up, it idled fine then got really hot. Pulled the top hose off the radiator, steam came out, but the radiator was still stone cold. Hmmm...

Poured almost a gallon of coolant into the top hose so it backfilled the engine. Hooked the hose back up, started and ran fine after that.

My theory was that with the water pump and t-stat being so low, no coolant could flow up into the engine from the radiator when we filled it. Even when the t-stat opened, the water pump wouldn't prime, so it got hot. Now I always backfill engines when they are empty, even my 22RE.

Then about 15 minutes later, the engine sucked a bolt into one of the cylinders. Game over. :-(

 

[Jukelemon]

That should be in the tips and Faq section IMOP!!!

 

[arlingallagher]

just tried that a few times, no dice.

 

[KliersLC]

T-stat might be in backward....

Did you replace it?

 

[Jukelemon]

Can you verify that the water pump is working? You could also try taking the T stat out and test it. I did not see where you said it was replaced. Very likely could be the issue or as as Kliers said, just in backwards. Overheating is only caused by a few things.

 

[arlingallagher]

turns out the head gaskets were put in wrong side... problem solved. thanks for input.

 

[KliersLC]

As in wrong side L to R, or upside down??

Not too familiar w/ the 3.0 if thats a dumb question....

 

[Jukelemon]

Well, that would do it ( :

I have always thought that gasket mftrs. should make there gaskets-especially head, sided i.e. in Big Letters............THIS SIDE UP.

 

[arlingallagher]

L R, It should specify with arrows instead of L R..

 

[KliersLC]

Ahh, the mechanic's Left and right as opposed to the truck's left and right. We have that problem in the 80s section with OME springs. Aus. drivers side, left right etc....