92 FJ80 Cooling?

[Hltoppr]

Ok, just got back from a few days in and around the Silverton/Durango area in CO. On the way back across the vast expanse of Northern Arizona that is the Navajo Reservation, (90 degrees, 55mph with a/c going on low), I stopped in Chinle. After a couple of minutes I had coolant coming out of the reservoir overflow.

Figuring I had just overfilled the radiator, and the overflow being full, I headed back to Flagstaff. Upon arriving, once again, I get coolant coming out the overflow. Let the 'ol girl cool down and added about 2 quarts of distilled water. Both the overflow reservoir and the radiator itself are full.

Now, could this be from an overfilled condition or should I be looking at a new thermostat and fan clutch? (Radiator is about 1.5 years old, all hoses are new as of December.) The fan clutch seems fine, as there is friction when it is cold...

Any ideas ya'll?

-H-

 

[erics_bruisers]

was it overheating?

 

[Hltoppr]

That's the thing, the temp indicator never moved from the middle of the guage! Of course, we all know how accurate these temp indicators can be...

-H-

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Andy did your temp gauge show hot? Did your a/c quit working? If not it could be something besides your cooling system.

Phil

 

[PHAEDRUS]

replace your rad cap.
$5 says thats the problem. especially since thats all they cost. there is a test with a vacuum gauge in the fsm but as inexpensive as they are I would just call Dan.
Dave

 

[Hltoppr]

A/C always worked just fine, and the temp guage never moved from the middle. I'm lookin' at another Baja trip this fall, so I definitely want to make sure the cooling system is top notch.

I was debating on callin' Dan for a new thermostat, fan clutch, and radiator cap. That'd replace just about everything in the system, and I've got a new water pump in my spares kit...

-H-

 

[erics_bruisers]

the water pump is a bitch-job if you're gonna keep the rad in, isn't it??

e

 

[Hltoppr]

Not too fun, but not impossible either. I had to take the fan and fan shroud off to get at the 3FE "pesky radiator hose" last year. The water pump wouldn't have been much more work, and I wouldn't be afraid to swap it in the field if necessary.

-H-

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Maybe HG .......did you check bubbles.

I hope not

 

[Hltoppr]

No visible oil in the radiator, plus, there's no white smoke/steam in the exhaust. It would be a beyach if I had to order a 1HZ from G&S though....

-H-

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

No visible oil in the radiator, plus, there's no white smoke/steam in the exhaust. It would be a beyach if I had to order a 1HZ from G&S though....

-H-

I don’t know how the passages of 3FE run but from experience you can have a bad/leaking HG without white smoke or noticeable oil in the radiator on some motors. You might consider a compression test to be sure if you can’t find anything else.

Phil

 

[sjcruiser]

The radiator cap is likely the cause here (opening at lower pressure than specifications); especially if you did not change it along with the radiator last year.

 

[GXO]

I agree on the cap.

 

[Beowulf]

One more vote for the radiator cap with a second vote for the thermostat though you would expect to see a temp rise if the thermostat was the culprit.

-B-

 

[IdahoDoug]

cap

 

[Riley]

cap. mine failed on my 80 a month ago. cheap pm.

 

[Hltoppr]

Ordered a new cap and thermostat from Senor Dan...think that should solve the issue.

Thanks All!

-H-

 

[Hltoppr]

FYI it was the radiator cap! Thanks to CDan for the quick service and ya'll for the good diagnosis!



-H-