Grinding noise while truck is off with battery disconnected. (1 Viewer)

[math]

Hi, all - started the truck in extreme cold, about 0F. Noticed that the truck's water temp was increasing way, way faster than normal, as it usually takes several minutes. Truck drove normally, drove back, same problem. Sat and let it idle, brought revs up to about 3k and it did manage to hit 218F, yet the heater never blew warm air.

I turned it off so as not to toast my new head gasket/engine/etc - new water pump and thermostat, too, and heard a loud grinding noise (or, possibly a distorted gurgling sound) coming from near the radiator, seemingly from the top skinny hose area? Disconnected the battery, and it kept going! I bet it's going right now. Coolant overflow tank isn't empty, and also not full, coolant is clean, too. Is it possible that the thermostat never opened, somehow? What could possibly cause a grinding noise AFTER the engine is shut off? I don't suppose it could be something as simple as a failed radiator cap sucking air?

No fluids on the ground, no oil leaks, no coolant leaks, etc. The truck seemed fine yesterday. It's been fine in weather like this.

Any ideas on this one? I do worry about overheating it.

 

[Desert Dino]

Your coolant is freezing

 

[math]

I see. Could I have damaged anything by running it frozen? I thought Toyota Red froze at -36F, and it's only 0F here...

 

[Desert Dino]

look i am from Israel not much of a cold weather here I will let the expert answer you

 

[ppc]

Grinding noise after shut off for how long? Grinding is totally different than gurgling. Grinding, if it doesn't stop it could be the starter continuing to run because of worn starter contacts. I don't think that would be related to overheating so I would agree with Desert Dino with a frozen coolant if you never put enough antifreeze in and live in a colder climate.

Edit: The thermostat may have not been installed properly or is defective. Was it a Toyota OEM part?

 

[math]

Grinding noise after shut off for how long? Grinding is totally different than gurgling. Grinding, if it doesn't stop it could be the starter continuing to run because of worn starter contacts. I don't think that would be related to overheating so I would agree with Desert Dino with a frozen coolant if you never put enough antifreeze in and live in a colder climate.

Edit: The thermostat may have not been installed properly or is defective. Was it a Toyota OEM part?

It ground/gurgled for maybe four or five minutes before I went inside. I don't think it was the starter because it persisted when I disconnected the negative battery terminal. The thermostat is Toyota OEM, and was installed by 80 series specialist when we put a new engine in. He provided receipts, actually. Not that it's going to stop me from checking once it's daylight again.

I am going to go back out in a bit and see if I can tell if my antifreeze done froze. Maybe I got a bad batch of Toyota Red?

 

[Rusty Marlin]

Or maybe they have the ratio of coolant to water incorrect. It happens, I need to get my coolant squared away before heading North for Christmas this year.

 

[rolliges]

You'll have to feel if the return hose to the radiator gets warm/hot. If not, the flow is blocked.

 

[Tools R Us]

What is the coolant level in the radiator?

 

[ppc]

Thinking about this some more, was the thermostat installed with the jiggle valve installed at the very top? I don't know if it is even possible can the thermostat be installed backwards?

 

[Rusty Marlin]

No the T-stat is too long and the fitting would hit.

Was the coolant frozen in the overflow jug?