Help: Radiator Leak, advice (2 Viewers)

[hatchethead]

This morning, I was driving down the freeway in slow traffic and I saw some steam flow up out from under my hood. My temp gauge was in the red. I limped off the freeway (trying to manage the temp, which decreased if I slowed down) and got a tow home.

At home, I took this vide of the leak as it erupts as my engine warms up. Is this from a leak in the radiator? Is it a hidden hose that's leaking?

LC radiator leak

I'll bring it to my mechanic on Monday, but I was wondering if there's anything I can do about this myself?

Any and all thoughts and advice is welcome.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

What's the coolant level in the overflow and in the rad itself? Usual leak place is the seams at the top and bottom, easy to inspect those.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Unfortunately there is no going around this but a new radiator.

 

[jLB]

Replace the radiator, then there’s nothing for the mechanic to do?

 

[hatchethead]

What's the coolant level in the overflow and in the rad itself? Usual leak place is the seams at the top and bottom, easy to inspect those.

Can't see any coolant in the overflow. Can see any coolant when I take off the radiator cap and look into the radiator.

I can't see any seam at the top of the radiator. The steam (in the video) could be coming out of the top of the radiator, but I can't track it back to its source.

Unfortunately there is no going around this but a new radiator.

Got it. Question. It looks like there's one or two mini-radiators in front of the main radiator. They don't appear in the copy of the FSM I have; are they add-ons for a towing package? Are they condensers for something else?

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Got it. Question. It looks like there's one or two mini-radiators in front of the main radiator. They don't appear in the copy of the FSM I have; are they add-ons for a towing package? Are they condensers for something else?

Yes

 

[rexington14]

In the picture above ^^ it looks like there's coolant residues all along the top of the radiator.

 

[hatchethead]

In the picture above ^^ it looks like there's coolant residues all along the top of the radiator.

I see that, too. Is that a sign that the radiator failed on the top seam, that I can't see?

Thanks, everyone, who shared their impressions on what's happening with my rig and its radiator.

Either I'm taking it to my mechanic to let him get his hands dirty, or I'm going to tackle this myself and learn something. I'm leaning toward the latter. NAPA can get me a replacement radiator by Monday afternoon for just shy of $375. If I start the job and can't hack it, I can have my rig towed the 1.5 miles to my mechanics.

Is the replacement of the radiator a doable job? Is flushing the radiator easy? I'd likely be doing this in the street, though I could (probably should_ pull the truck up in to my driveway.

Thoughts? Advice?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Get an OEM radiator and I'm sure there's either Youtubes or tutorials here on replacement. No need to flush if you're replacing. Rent the tool the pulls vacuum on the coolant system when you fill or else you'll be posting about thinking you're overheating and air pockets after you finish.

 

[rexington14]

It sounds like your cooling system ran pretty low on coolant. Hopefully there's no engine damage. The 2UZ is as stout as they come, but a very severe overheat can blow the head gasket. Order an OEM radiator from Toyota or you may end up doing the job again sooner than you think.

 

[hatchethead]

Get an OEM radiator and I'm sure there's either Youtubes or tutorials here on replacement. No need to flush if you're replacing. Rent the tool the pulls vacuum on the coolant system when you fill or else you'll be posting about thinking you're overheating and air pockets after you finish.

Can you say more about this tool? The DIY video on replacing the radiator (see ) doesn't say anything about messing with anything that's under vacuum.

He does recommend getting a coolant filling system from Harbor Freight that helps manage that process. But I don't think that's what you're talking about.

 

[RapidRob]

The whole time I was watching that video I was yelling, TURN IT OFF, TURN IT OFF!