Home Menu

Site Navigation


User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 03-04-2018, 02:17 PM #1
PLDXSR5 PLDXSR5 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: PA
Posts: 46
PLDXSR5 is on a distinguished road
PLDXSR5 PLDXSR5 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: PA
Posts: 46
PLDXSR5 is on a distinguished road
Loss of Coolant

I noticed a fresh leak while checking the oil level at a gas station. Since then, I've been monitoring the temperature gauge and the coolant reservoir. I've attached two pictures that highlight the apparent areas of the recent leak(s).

Before this becomes a major issue, are there any tests I can run to pinpoint the problem? Are there additional areas I should check for leaks?

Some relevant info about truck:
Recent coolant flush and refill with Toyota Coolant; performed by Toyota dealership (~ 6 months ago)
Mileage ~ 140,000
There are times when a sweet scent comes through the vents
Coolant reservoir is low
No signs or indications of overheating (yet)

https://postimg.org/image/usl87crwb/

https://postimg.org/image/jt00vrwcb/
PLDXSR5 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-04-2018, 07:56 PM #2
thegipper's Avatar
thegipper thegipper is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Bend, WI
Posts: 2,339
Real Name: Mike
thegipper is a jewel in the rough thegipper is a jewel in the rough thegipper is a jewel in the rough
thegipper thegipper is offline
Senior Member
thegipper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Bend, WI
Posts: 2,339
Real Name: Mike
thegipper is a jewel in the rough thegipper is a jewel in the rough thegipper is a jewel in the rough
Your first image seems like your water pump may be leaking. The WP is above the crank pulley (and slightly to the left).

Your second picture looks like maybe the top radiator hose might be leaking.

I would pull the top plastic timing belt cover and see what's going on. Once that is removed, you should be able to see where the leak is coming from.

PS. The stock temp gauge is essentially worthless. The needle won't move at all until the temp has risen quite a bit. I would suggest buying an Ultragauge/Scangauge or at the very minimum, an OBD2 reader that you can use with your phone to monitor actual coolant temp values.

I have an ultragauge and have the coolant temp as one of the displays that is always on. I also have an alarm set at 215 deg so if the temps ever get that high, it will set an audible alarm.

These engines do not fare well to being overheated.

Keep us posted.
__________________
1997 SR5 4x4 Auto, 99' tall coils up front, OME 906's, Truetrac LSD, Airaid MIT
1999 SR5 4x4 Auto for parts
2011 Camry SE V6
2011 Highlander Limited
thegipper is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-04-2018, 11:04 PM #3
Wedgy's Avatar
Wedgy Wedgy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Southern California
Posts: 472
Wedgy has a spectacular aura about Wedgy has a spectacular aura about
Wedgy Wedgy is offline
Member
Wedgy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Southern California
Posts: 472
Wedgy has a spectacular aura about Wedgy has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by thegipper View Post
at the very minimum, an OBD2 reader that you can use with your phone to monitor actual coolant temp values. .
Is there a particular OBD2 reader you can recommend ?

Thanks
Wedgy is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-04-2018, 11:45 PM #4
diverscale's Avatar
diverscale diverscale is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: canada
Posts: 912
diverscale will become famous soon enough
diverscale diverscale is offline
Member
diverscale's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: canada
Posts: 912
diverscale will become famous soon enough
I don' t think prestone would leak where your first picture points out. Looks like oil

Second picture, remove puddle of coolant under the hose, and check back after a day or two if it's back again. Then you found your leak.

Do not forget to top your coolant reservoir and radiator.
__________________
1998 4runner SR5
diverscale is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 12:48 AM #5
gamefreakgc's Avatar
gamefreakgc gamefreakgc is offline
Elite Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Citrus Heights, California
Age: 36
Posts: 7,337
Real Name: Jerod
gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future
gamefreakgc gamefreakgc is offline
Elite Member
gamefreakgc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Citrus Heights, California
Age: 36
Posts: 7,337
Real Name: Jerod
gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future gamefreakgc has a brilliant future
Coolant doesn't leak "up". I also think the bottom leak is not coolant, it doesn't look white and chalky when dry.

Clean up the radiator hose and if it comes back the hose needs to be replaced.
__________________
'98 4Runner SR5 - 4x4 JDM 5VZ-FE Supercharged - 249K miles.
326WHP 347TQ

AEM F/IC 6, 11 PSI, 3" Intake and 3" Exhaust
Jerod's Supercharged T[u]RD Build
gamefreakgc is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 08:27 AM #6
JRZEE2000TR4LTD's Avatar
JRZEE2000TR4LTD JRZEE2000TR4LTD is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: New Jersey
Age: 56
Posts: 1,963
Real Name: John
JRZEE2000TR4LTD will become famous soon enough JRZEE2000TR4LTD will become famous soon enough
JRZEE2000TR4LTD JRZEE2000TR4LTD is offline
Senior Member
JRZEE2000TR4LTD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: New Jersey
Age: 56
Posts: 1,963
Real Name: John
JRZEE2000TR4LTD will become famous soon enough JRZEE2000TR4LTD will become famous soon enough
Looks like it's leaking between the upper radiator hose and the coolant outlet neck. Puddling up underneath on the outside of the TB cover and running down the inside of the cover and revealing itself in the 007 picture. May want to take the cover off and check the condition of the TB belt it coolant has been splashing on it. As far as your upper hose leak, make sure the neck isn't pitted and causing a leak. If it is, you can replace the part ($30) or fill in the "pits" with some sealant. Hopefully, if you fix this leak the sweet smell goes away because if it doesn't you've got a major job (heater core) to deal with. But fix the easy stuff first and go from there.
__________________
SILVER 2000 4runner Limited TOTALED
WHITE/SILVER 1999 4runner Limited l Rear Locker l Tundra/890 coils | 5100 Bilsteins all around | Sonoran Steel Bumpstops l 199 mm Tundra brake upgrade | SCS Matte Gray Ray10 Rims | 275 70 17 BFG KO2 tires | LR UCAs | EIMKEITH panhard brackets | LED interior upgrade l Rear LED tailights l Pioneer AVH-X5700BHS Alpine Type "R" speakers NVX JAD800.4 Class D Amp Kenwood Under seat Subwoofer l Front window tint 20% l Weathertech window visors and floormats l OutGear Solutions Full Length roofrack l Morimoto 40" LED lightbar

Last edited by JRZEE2000TR4LTD; 03-05-2018 at 08:30 AM.
JRZEE2000TR4LTD is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 10:26 AM #7
mtbtim's Avatar
mtbtim mtbtim is offline
Elite Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Jose, California
Age: 58
Posts: 5,277
Real Name: Tim
mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute
mtbtim mtbtim is offline
Elite Member
mtbtim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Jose, California
Age: 58
Posts: 5,277
Real Name: Tim
mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute mtbtim has a reputation beyond repute
Like John mentioned above, it's clear as day you have a leak where the upper radiator hose meets the filler neck. Those necks can become pitted and get some built up deposits on them. I'd drain some of your coolant out the bottom of the radiator into a clean container so you can reuse the coolant. Remove the upper radiator hose off the filler neck and clean up the filler neck with some fine sand paper. Emery cloth like plumbers use to clean up the ends of copper pipe works well for this. Once you get all the deposits cleaned off the neck and the surface is smooth, you might find you will be leak free afterward even if you do have some pitting on the neck. I've done this exact thing with success on somebody's rig I was working on. Good luck!
__________________
"My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it!"
mtbtim is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 08:12 PM #8
muellernautique muellernautique is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: ktx
Posts: 149
Real Name: garrett
muellernautique is on a distinguished road
muellernautique muellernautique is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: ktx
Posts: 149
Real Name: garrett
muellernautique is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRZEE2000TR4LTD View Post
or fill in the "pits" with some sealant.
jb weld works great for this. paint it on there, let it cure, and then sand everything down until it's level. i used it on my water pump gasket surface because it was corroded and pitted.

op, the easiest way to replace that neck is the unscrew all of those studs, slide the neck off underneath the fuel rail, and then buy 3 new studs, the gasket, and neck at toyota ($50 or so). takes an hour and you're done.
muellernautique is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-09-2018, 01:46 PM #9
PLDXSR5 PLDXSR5 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: PA
Posts: 46
PLDXSR5 is on a distinguished road
PLDXSR5 PLDXSR5 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: PA
Posts: 46
PLDXSR5 is on a distinguished road
@thegipper - Thanks for the suggestions. Where I currently live, we got hit pretty heard with storm Quinn. Once the weather gets warmer I plan on removing the timing belt cover to see if other components were affected by the coolant leak...

@diverscale - I use Toyota red coolant, not prestone. And I agree with your assessment regarding the first picture...

@JRZEE2000TR4LTD - I would most likely purchase a new neck if it were pitted. And yes, I hope the sweet-like smell coming from the vents vanishes afterwards...

@mtbtim - Thanks dude!

@muellernautique - Good to know! Thanks!

Somewhat Not related: I was disappointed to see the leak. I really enjoy driving this truck; very versatile with a timeless look. However, the truck does have a good amount of rust on the frame/differential/suspension components. I'm hesitant to dump money into it. I may have to post pictures of the rust,in the future, to get some opinions on the condition.
PLDXSR5 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-09-2018, 04:24 PM #10
thegipper's Avatar
thegipper thegipper is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Bend, WI
Posts: 2,339
Real Name: Mike
thegipper is a jewel in the rough thegipper is a jewel in the rough thegipper is a jewel in the rough
thegipper thegipper is offline
Senior Member
thegipper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Bend, WI
Posts: 2,339
Real Name: Mike
thegipper is a jewel in the rough thegipper is a jewel in the rough thegipper is a jewel in the rough
Get your coolant leak fixed first then worry about the rust.

Definitely post some pictures so we can get an idea of how bad it is. Rust is relative term. Guys in AZ would see my frame and faint but anyone in the rust belt would see it and say...Meh

What is important is the degree of rust and has it compromised the structural integrity of the components in question. If it hasn't, the rust can be removed and steps can be taken to prevent/reduce it from coming back.

That is what I had to do to my frame and it is rock solid. I'm using LPS 3 to prevent any new rust and so far it is working excellent.
__________________
1997 SR5 4x4 Auto, 99' tall coils up front, OME 906's, Truetrac LSD, Airaid MIT
1999 SR5 4x4 Auto for parts
2011 Camry SE V6
2011 Highlander Limited
thegipper is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Coolant loss NegroTundra 3rd gen T4Rs 12 11-08-2016 09:00 PM
Slow coolant loss - any others out there? Shamish 5th gen T4Rs 4 04-03-2016 08:41 PM
coolant loss smaybe1 Problems & Warranty Issues 1 02-04-2011 02:23 PM
mysterious coolant loss DaveKerwin 3rd gen T4Rs 9 07-09-2009 07:59 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:41 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
***This site is an unofficial Toyota site, and is not officially endorsed, supported, authorized by or affiliated with Toyota. All company, product, or service names references in this web site are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Toyota name, marks, designs and logos, as well as Toyota model names, are registered trademarks of Toyota Motor Corporation***Ad Management plugin by RedTyger
 
Copyright © 2020