radiator failure??? (1 Viewer)

[ponytl]

It blew as soon as I turned it around. I just honestly can't remember if I turned off the car or if shut itself down. It caught me by surprise. Either way, it was off right away.

chances are you are ok... with a hose running into the radiator start your engine and find out exactly where your system is breached... you should have been scanning your gauges every 3-5 seconds... I hope you weren't on your phone... if you see no leaks... make sure your system is full and replace your cap allowing your system to pressurize keep looking for leaks... you will be outside the truck so you are excused from scanning your gauges every 3 seconds... once you find the leak... check your oil make sure it's not milky if it is you are screwed... if not you might be good

 

[Spike555]

It blew as soon as I turned it around. I just honestly can't remember if I turned off the car or if shut itself down. It caught me by surprise. Either way, it was off right away.

You're going to be fine.
If you want to make sure you can do like I already said and fill the radiator with the garden hose, leaving the hose running start the engine, run to temp listening for unusual noises, but I think you're fine.

 

[Rolocado]

Put a new OEM in before a trip to Durango this weekend. Cost $370, could have gotten it cheaper but couldn’t wait to have it shipped

 

[Cman]

Installed an OEM today after this thread scared me! (240k on a 2000). I'm planning a 3k road trip next month. Notes:

• OEM is nice. I could have saved, but I feel a lot safer with the OEM and I plan to keep it for another 250k miles.
• Did a full fluid flush. I had mixed some green stuff in when I did the timing belt. I flushed it three times with distilled water and added Toyota Red coolant. I used a burp bucket to get the bubbles out. I now feel 100% confident in it's ability.
• I replaced heater tees and radiator hoses in the last year.

 

[Trailguy]

One thing to note: My Denso replacement didn't come with the top or side air gap filler foam stick on strips. I simply removed the side radiator mounting brackets from my old radiator (with the foam insulating gap filler strip tape) and installed them on the new radiator. The top foam strip was not in great shape so I purchased new bulk foam insulation tape from Lowes. Looks like factory now.

 

[Rolocado]

OEM has all the foam packing FWIW. And comes with new top cap

 

[97 AZ LC]

Put a new OEM in before a trip to Durango this weekend. Cost $370, could have gotten it cheaper but couldn’t wait to have it shipped

That looks to be an OE part rather than OEM.

 

[blatant]

Replaced mine at 240k from Camelback Toyota with oem. Was extra brown and developed a crack at filler neck. Borrowed time.

 

[Rolocado]

That looks to be an OE part rather than OEM.

.... what is the difference? It came from the dealer

 

[Trailguy]

I think he means your radiator was an original equipment replacement (OE). As opposed to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), were the radiator was made by the same manufacturer but could be badged/labeled differently. I hope that helps.

 

[Leandro]

I read thru all 4 pages, now I'll go check my radiator every 15 minutes and start looking for replacements

As I said multiple times, this forum made me hypochondriac

 

[97 AZ LC]

Indeed, OEM in a parts context generally refers to a part made by original manufacturer of the factory part but sold in a box with part manufacturer's name on it, rather than the auto manufacturer's name (Toyota), and sold through non-dealer channels, usually at lower price. OEM parts are generally considered to be good quality, and often equivalent quality, but in the case of radiators it looks like OE has greater attention to detail. Buying OE parts provides the peace of mind that the auto manufacturer has endorsed the quality of the part, for which they extract a price.

 

[Trailguy]

Very well put, and in this case accurate regarding my OEM radiator. Looked identical, but was missing the foam tape...an easy fix but not as plug and play as OE Toyota procured radiator.

 

[97 AZ LC]

Very well put, and in this case accurate regarding my OEM radiator. Looked identical, but was missing the foam tape...an easy fix but not as plug and play as OE Toyota procured radiator.

Same experience here - called the dealer to buy the foam kit and they said "no such thing, it comes on the radiator". I must say that the Lowes foam solution worked pretty well but it's an extra step.

 

[Rolocado]

I read thru all 4 pages, now I'll go check my radiator every 15 minutes and start looking for replacements

As I said multiple times, this forum made me hypochondriac

Pahah this stupid thread made me nervous enough to replace mine.

 

[dustbowl]

have to admit our cruisers are getting some age on them. i have seen several threads on here since i started this one where people have overheated and ruined their engines because of blown T's or radiator problems. like you i have decided to replace the radiators in all four of my 2UZ FE vehicles. two LX 470's a GX 470 and a Tundra. ihave ordered and received an all aluminum radiator for the LX and am in the process of evaluating it now.

 

[Leandro]

so....
I checked my radiator and certainly doesn't look like it's 20 years old, could have been replaced in the past.
How can I know, is there a label or engraving on the original radiator that won't be on the replacement?

 

[Trailguy]

Look at the thread above with the OE radiator labeling. If yours is different than this it may have been replaced. You could also have your local dealer pull up the service history...this would only account for work done by a Toyota dealer. It would not account for a shade tree mechanic replacement. When in doubt, swap it out! Simply not worth the risk and its an easy job. #onebanana

 

[Leandro]

Service history on my truck only goes thru first owner (about 60K miles) after that, who knows.
Mine doesn't have the Toyota label on it, but it does have the engraved letters on the right.

 

[hoser]

so....
I checked my radiator and certainly doesn't look like it's 20 years old, could have been replaced in the past.
How can I know, is there a label or engraving on the original radiator that won't be on the replacement?

This is an OE radiator. Look for the T.RAD symbol. But if 20 years old, yours will be barely legible.