HJ61 temp guage

[dieselDaryl]

The temp gauge on my 87 HJ61 has been running higher since I replaced my thermostat and it's got me a bit concerned.. It used to consistently run at the bottom line (about 1/3 of the way up) no matter how hard I was pushing the truck or outside temp,A/C on, etc. Now it regularly sits in the middle of the red mark on the pic and on moderate hills it climbs to the top of the red mark (2/3)

Is this consistent with other HJ61s out there? I don't know if my old thermostat was stuck open, or if I have a different problem. Both thermostats were 88*C.

I'm thinking perhaps it’s my fan clutch. With the engine warmed up, I can stop it by hand at idle (don't ask how or why I tried that!)

Daryl

 

[Stone]

Daryl:

When you changed your thermostat, did you thoroughly burp the system of air pockets by putting BOTH your dash heater AND back seat heater to maximum for a few minutes while the truck is running?

The only reason why I ask this even though it's an obvious basic procedure, is because I went through the same thing recently and it was because I burped my regular heater core under the dash but forgot about the one between the seats. I guess an air pocket moved through that second heater core and I was getting a higher than usual reading like you have described. I burped the system once again, added a little bit of coolant, and all is well again.

Were the old and new thermostats the same rating?

 

[dieselDaryl]

Daryl:

When you changed your thermostat, did you thoroughly burp the system of air pockets by putting BOTH your dash heater AND back seat heater to maximum for a few minutes while the truck is running?

Were the old and new thermostats the same rating?

Hmm, can't recall if I set the back heater to max or not.. I will try that and see if it fixes it. Thanks for the tip. I just replaced the rad cap, and the problem is still there..

And yes, both t/stats were 88*C

Daryl

 

[ostacruiser]

My hj runs directly between the lines you have indicated, driving through the mountains in the summer it reached the top line you have indicated a few times....I believed this to be normal

 

[fitchik]

Hey Daryl:

Yup - my temp gauge is sitting at the same spot as you have indicated. Because of the extreme heat, I have been watching it over the last couple of days and it hasn't moved much. Going wheeling in Merrit this weekend, and as you know the weather will be comparable to Kelowna, so will keep you posted with the temp readings..... especially up the "coke"..

Petra

 

[Tim-HJ61]

Daryl,

My HJ61 12HT sits in the middle of the range you have indicated in your photo, so I think your new thermo is working just right.

In Oz, running through temps of +45°C - probably 120°F - it might rise a little, but not much. I'd relax.


Tim

 

[Tim-HJ61]

Daryl, re your fan clutch.

It should come on from time to time on idle or when working hard. You will hear a new noise ('roar' is too strong a description) from under the bonnet when climbing a hill, or when you come back to idle after working the engine hard should find it coming on within a minute or so. You'll feel the air flow over the engine when the fan turns on if you've got the bonnet up. I wouldn't be putting my hand near it when it was on or off!!! Go on, tell us the story Daryl......

Maybe your radiator's in for a clean out too.

Tim

 

[dieselDaryl]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll relax a bit on the issue. I was kind of worried as the temp guage in every diesel cruiser I've had has hovered at the lower line.. I'm guessing that my previous t-stat wasn't able to fully close and thats why it sat lower before..

Tim.. I don't notice the clutch fan coming on. I know the sound as i heard it all the time in my 4runner. I was thinking of replacing the clutch fluid. I know there are different 'weights' you can get. Can anyone who has done it tell me what weight they used?

As far as stopping it by hand: After a long drive, i had a look at the fan with the engine running and it looked like it was spinnning slower than the pulleys. So with a glove I slowly put my hand in pointing the same direction as the blades and the fan stopped with surprisingly little effort. 4 blades probably passed before it stopped and i can hold the fan in a stopped position with very little effort. So I really think it might be time to do the clutch fluid..

Thanks everyone..

P.S. I was thinking of putting in an aftermarket gauge. What kind of temps should I consider normal? I've heard 190-220F

Daryl

 

[brownbear]

The old thermostats I have seen that have failed would not allow the truck to get to the mid point in heat. They would always sit on the bottom 2/3. If you burped it good, then I think your fine. You just got one working correctly now.

 

[dieselDaryl]

The old thermostats I have seen that have failed would not allow the truck to get to the mid point in heat. They would always sit on the bottom 2/3. If you burped it good, then I think your fine. You just got one working correctly now.

Yeah.. the thermostat that was in my BJ60 when I bought it was stuck open so the truck would never really warm up.. a new once made a huge difference...

I think I'll wash the outside of the rad as best i can and use one of those flush kits as well..

 

[Tapage]

And yes, both t/stats were 88*C

Daryl

I use 82ºC in my 2H also I'm not a believer on OEM gauges .. theire have many flat spots ..

 

[Gold Boy]

On the subject of thermostats...

In the factory LC diesel manual, section CO-11, it shows an 88 and 82 thermostat.

So is there an 82 thermostat for the 3b-13bt or a HJ61?

Cheers
GB

 

[bigbrowndog]

I use 82ºC in my 2H also I'm not a believer on OEM gauges .. theire have many flat spots ..

Only way to go Dude

 

[bigbrowndog]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll relax a bit on the issue. I was kind of worried as the temp guage in every diesel cruiser I've had has hovered at the lower line.. I'm guessing that my previous t-stat wasn't able to fully close and thats why it sat lower before..

Tim.. I don't notice the clutch fan coming on. I know the sound as i heard it all the time in my 4runner. I was thinking of replacing the clutch fluid. I know there are different 'weights' you can get. Can anyone who has done it tell me what weight they used?

As far as stopping it by hand: After a long drive, i had a look at the fan with the engine running and it looked like it was spinnning slower than the pulleys. So with a glove I slowly put my hand in pointing the same direction as the blades and the fan stopped with surprisingly little effort. 4 blades probably passed before it stopped and i can hold the fan in a stopped position with very little effort. So I really think it might be time to do the clutch fluid..

Thanks everyone..

P.S. I was thinking of putting in an aftermarket gauge. What kind of temps should I consider normal? I've heard 190-220F

Daryl

The silicone oil part number is 08816-10001 for 10,000cSt oil. The oil does not need to be changed but may need topping up. If its leaking you will need to change your hub. Usually it will have a black sticky goo around it but it may just need a top up.When you pull the fan and hub off look at the spring carefully to make sure it is not disconnected , cracked or broken. You can then hold a heat gun or hair dryer near it to see if the spring opens and closes ok[ not directly on it].W hen I did my fan rebuild some time back adding one tube of oil made a big difference to the feel of the fan turning it by hand. Also if you look in the 80 series section the boys there are kicking that around now.

 

[dieselDaryl]

I use 82ºC in my 2H also I'm not a believer on OEM gauges .. theire have many flat spots ..

Where did you get it from? My EPC only shows an 88* Thermostat..

 

[dieselDaryl]

The silicone oil part number is 08816-10001 for 10,000cSt oil. The oil does not need to be changed but may need topping up. If its leaking you will need to change your hub. Usually it will have a black sticky goo around it but it may just need a top up.When you pull the fan and hub off look at the spring carefully to make sure it is not disconnected , cracked or broken. You can then hold a heat gun or hair dryer near it to see if the spring opens and closes ok[ not directly on it].W hen I did my fan rebuild some time back adding one tube of oil made a big difference to the feel of the fan turning it by hand. Also if you look in the 80 series section the boys there are kicking that around now.

Yeah, I meant "replacing" the air with clutch fluid I will take it off on the weekend and have a look at it.. I'll probably buy one or two tubes of the silicone before hand..

 

[Tapage]

Where did you get it from? My EPC only shows an 88* Thermostat..

I don't have the part number .. but when I changed it ( few years ago ) in my local parts dealer .. bought it without problems ..

Maybe someone here can help us with the number ..

 

[dieselDaryl]

I don't have the part number .. but when I changed it ( few years ago ) in my local parts dealer .. bought it without problems ..

Maybe someone here can help us with the number ..

Hopefully. The Toyota Dealer here said all they have is 88 degree...

Daryl

 

[rckhound]

I recently service my cooling system and added a new fan and fan clutch along with the 88 thermostat. The one I pulled out was an 82 and my temp gauge would hang out in the 1st quarter of the gauge and climb to half way on long hills. Now with the 88 mine sits in the red zone you posted. I am thinking is the difference in thermostats making the difference. Its also making me consider putting an 82 back in.

 

[Silveredition]

In my hj61 I always run the Genuine Toyota 82 degree thermostat. My gauge is always consistent with my Redarc gauge (probe in top of the thermostat housing. Around town and in cooler weather the engine runs at 82 - 84 degrees. When driving in very hot weather (and towing in hot weather) the coolant temp gets up to about 102degrees. Here are a couple of screen shots towing my boat - sitting on about 95 - 100km/hr in high 40 degree temps (at one place we stopped, the road temp was 60 degrees celcius). The red screen on the Redarc was due to having the warning set to 94. I have since changed that to come on at 105…