FJ60 With LQ9 Purging Fluid After Radiator Change (1 Viewer)

[Niferous]

I just put a new Mishimoto aluminum radiator in my LQ9 V8 swapped FJ60 and put three gallons of coolant in. Every time it warms up, it’s purging fluid out of the overflow like you see in the photo. I assume it’s doing this because it’s full, but I only put three gallons in it. Does anyone have anything I should check? I used red (Asian) coolant by Valvoline since it’s an aluminum radiator and that’s what I’ve read is best for this engine/radiator combo.

 

[OSS]

The overflow tank doesn’t look full when it’s peeing fluid out. I’d check that overflow tank cap.
Also, more importantly, it seems as if the radiator cap is malfunctioning.

 

[Niferous]

It’s got the cap that Mishimoto sent with it. They actually sent two. I used the one that more closely resembled the FJ60 radiator cap.

When I stop and check it, the overflow reservoir is not full. I’d say it’s about half way usually. At $19 a gallon, I need to find out what’s going on.

The only other thing I can think of is maybe the thermostat is bad? It’s a brand new engine and thermostat. But, it did overheat though…. Not sure if that can make one fail.

 

[jax62lq]

I saw your earlier post talking about the overheating. I'm no expert wrench by any stretch but FWIW unless the oem radiator was just toast it should've handled the lq9 just fine. Mine does with electric fans in 110 plus temps. The only way I've been able to get temps to rise much so far is slogging through deep, soft sand on a 113 degree day. So, maybe this and the overheating point to more a deeper problem with the engine, like water pump, thermostat, etc.?

 

[Niferous]

I’m thinking this is the issue. I had a line coming off the top of the radiator. There is nowhere to hook it up to on this radiator. I called Mishimoto and they said it was a return line and that I needed to just tee it into the return line. I just texted a buddy and he said that was a steam line coming off my heads.

 

[dbleon]

Search LS steam vent .. I think that should be tied into the system not the overflow

 

[Niferous]

Search LS steam vent .. I think that should be tied into the system not the overflow

I think you’re right. I’ll search that now.

 

[Niferous]

So, from what I’m reading, I have two options. I can either by an adapter that goes in the upper radiator hose, or I can drill and tap my water pump.

I’m going out to look at my upper hose and water pump now.

 

[dbbowen]

yeah your steam port is pressurized and will literally shoot coolant out of it. The easiest route would be the adapter into the upper radiator hose.

 

[Niferous]

I just ordered the radiator hose adapter with an 1/8” port. It turns out I already have an adapter on my radiator hose, so I don’t even have to cut it. I also ordered the barb fitting and have lots of hose clamps on hand. I think the only downside now is that I probably wasted about $80 worth of coolant.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

In addition to steam port reroute to upper rad hose, check that you have the overflow hose to cap in the right port. Flip them if if still spews after reroute. This happened to me on my 80 series where i accidentally routed the overflow to the wrong port on cap. Had same spew occur.

 

[Niferous]

In addition to steam port reroute to upper rad hose, check that you have the overflow hose to cap in the right port. Flip them if if still spews after reroute. This happened to me on my 80 series where i accidentally routed the overflow to the wrong port on cap. Had same spew occur.

I think I should be ok there as I never changed that. But thanks and I’ll check.