foam in radiator

[Webster]

So my I added some prestone to my overflow bottle the other day as it was low. Looking under the radiator cap noticed lots of sludge and planned to do a flush this weekend.

Today I noticed some nasty orange crud under my truck.

Looked in the overflow bottle and it is full of this ugly orange foam, kind of a mousse consistancy.

Tried to open the radiator cap (truck had been off for 4 hours) and my truck and I got coated in more of this crap.

Needless to say I am freaking out!

Do you suppose this is from mixing types of coolant or...........am I screwed with a HG blowout?

 

[Romer]

I would do a really good flush without driving it. Really good flush. Were you running red before you added? Take the simple and easy things and rule them out.

 

[Webster]

Not sure on the coolant.

Recently purchased and still getting around to baselining everything.

Will be flushing tomorrow.

Scary because the plugs seemed original after 120,000 miles. Practically burned completely up when I replaced them. Beautiful truck and runs great ( at least it did) but apparently the PO only kept if clean and didn't do the maintenance.

 

[Romer]

well, green-yellow Prestone and red do make an orange. Flush it before you drive it. I know I am repeating that, but for a reason.

 

[LX_TREME]

Right what Romer said you really need good flush.If I were you I'll drain from the block (12 or 14mm size) sorry forgot the size then also drain from the radiator plug.

Go inside the truck start the motor and turn on the heater to the Max.Let it run for couple mins until you see clear water, then shut off the motor wait til no more water.Close all the plugs.I'll fill it up with distilled water for 1 or 2 weeks then i'll drain it again and this time 50/50 distilled water with toyota red.

Pic 1 - Shamely taken from concretejungle truck

Good Luck

 

[IdahoDoug]

Next time you drive it, while it's still idling open the hood and rev it gently with the throttle cable. See any bubbling in the overflow bottle? If yes, very good chance you've got a HG going and were lucky to catch it. If yes, pull the sparkplugs and see if you've got one or two that are very different looking from the rest. Keep track of the cylinders they came from. If this is a yes, you've got a HG issue.

Check under your oil cap - see any light peanut buttery deposits on its bottom side? If so, HG issue. Repost your findings.

DougM

 

[Webster]

So....

I've replaced the headgasket on my FJ60 like 5 times. Can do in my sleep now.

How would the FJ80 headgasket compare. How much of my weekend should I dedicate to this labor of love?

 

[landtank]

So....

I've replaced the headgasket on my FJ60 like 5 times. Can do in my sleep now.

How would the FJ80 headgasket compare. How much of my weekend should I dedicate to this labor of love?

The 80 obviously has more wiring involved but is basically a HG job at heart. Big difference is that you don't torque the head down in a traditional manner. If you don't have a FSM buy that and with your current skill set you should be up to doing it in your sleep after only a few times.

 

[Webster]

Just a glance under the hood and it almost seems simpler with so much less of that emissions crud that had to be moved out of the way on the 60.

Bought the 80 because I didn't want to replace any more head gaskets!

 

[Romer]

Since you said FJ80 (91-92) instead of FZJ80, I will assume you have a 3FE, so it would be an easy job for you.

I haven't heard anything that says your head gasket went yet. Did you do the tests Doug suggested?

 

[Webster]

No sorry it is an FZJ80.

I haven't done the tests yet as I am sitting here posting from work.

Hard to do the bubble test as the overflow filled with foam on me.

I am getting it flushed this morning and will do some more diagnostics this evening.

The headgasket became a yearly maintenance thing for me so I guess I am jumping to the worst conclusion.


Probably not a HG right?

 

[Romer]

Headgaskets as yearly maintenance? Did you use non-oem gaskets. I have a 2F in my FJ40 and using OEM, they last a Long long time. I know those who have bought from other providers and have had to do multiple replacements.

Onn your FZJ80, post what year you have or add it to your signature line under user cp options at the top. That will better help us help you later on.

Don't know about the HG, one thing at a time.

 

[Webster]

Just poor PM on my part on most of the headgaskets, bad luck on the others

I'm a slow learner

 

[Webster]

Foaming is a sign of water (coolant) and oil mixing.

I have heard another way oil can get into the coolant on other vehicles is through the leaking of tranny fluid via the tranny cooler.

Anyone experienced this?

With the design of our landcruisers is this possible?

 

[RavenTai]

Foaming is a sign of water (coolant) and oil mixing.

I have heard another way oil can get into the coolant on other vehicles is through the leaking of tranny fluid via the tranny cooler.

Anyone experienced this?

With the design of our landcruisers is this possible?

there is a tranny cooler in the bottom of the radiator so I guess it is possible, but not an area that has been prone to failure in the past though,

 

[RavenTai]

It has the OEM aluminum plastic top Rad correct?

 

[Webster]

Yep,

Just dropped off at a radiator shop. Two old guys been around forever were stumped.

Just stood there and scratched themselves.

Someone I work with mentioned he had a bad foaming reaction after adding a "stop leak" product to his radiator.

 

[Webster]

Here is an interesting photo.

This is just a little bit of what shot out that cap.

Apparently it was all over the shop's walls, roof and the mechanic.

Under my hood is covered with the stuff.

The good new is he said "didn't taste like any oil"

 

[RavenTai]

eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww!

 

[Webster]

Do you think I should call in a priest?