12-15-2020, 09:04 PM
|
#17
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Ontario
Posts: 424
|
|
Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Ontario
Posts: 424
|
Block heaters are common place/manditory on some vehicles up here (any vehicle will accept the right sized block heater in the correct location on the block) that's why I suggested it, you can install one or a frost plug with skid plates off easy if you don't knock the frost plug inside the block by accident trying to remove it. I never installed one on the 99 just the 97 plow truck, 5w30 syn and see -35*, the 99 5vz-Fe starts every time, and I rarely plug in the 97. Those block heaters have a oring of unknown materials or lifespan so they can degrade and cause leaks and a blowout.
Glad you caught it before you got into the red, I lost a lower rad hose wheeling and developed a minor head gasket leak in one cylinder, replaced the motor..
__________________
99' Ltd E-locker grey wired, 4R Bilstein 5100, 99 tall coils, 906 OME & 1.5" spacers, 2015 4R Trail Edition 275/70R17, 1" RB BL
97' SR5 E-locker grey wired, Warn winch, 2" RB BL, Sonoran Steel 1.2 lift, dual battery, 1000W inverter, Hydraulic Arctic plow, 12" x 33" Baja Claw
92' Eclipse GSX AWD 6/4 bolt combo, 28 PSI boost, Meth injection, 750cc injectors, FMIC, 2.5" IC piping, full 3" exhaust, 350AWHP, lowered, Alum flywheel, 6 puck Clutch, Cams, JDM gear set,VC rear diff, EPROM ECU
Last edited by Malcolm99; 12-15-2020 at 10:36 PM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-16-2021, 03:54 AM
|
#18
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Santa Monica
Posts: 8
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Santa Monica
Posts: 8
|
Thanks for the post. Glad you didn't have to end up dealing with a freeze plug issue like I currently am.
Since we started on the topic I was hoping we can bring it back up - I cant seem to find any help with it anywhere online.
I noticed my engine began to run hot one day and pulled over to find no coolant in the radiator reservoir. After the engine cooled there was nothing in the radiator as well.
I refilled the coolant and began to check for slow leaks under the car over the next week. Found a few puddles here and there and decided to bring my car in for a pressure test.
Coolant started leaking right out of the block! on either side, out of the "freeze plugs" something I had never heard of before.
It seems like the freeze plugs are NOT part of regular maintenance because there are 16 of them and the engine needs to be taken out to get to the things.
I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on this, I'm heartbroken over this job and looking for clarity.
Is it okay to replace the easily accessible freeze plugs? or would that cause the others to leak more?
__________________
1998 SR5 131k miles
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-16-2021, 11:22 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Posts: 4,410
Real Name: Patrick
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Posts: 4,410
Real Name: Patrick
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by devbo
Thanks for the post. Glad you didn't have to end up dealing with a freeze plug issue like I currently am.
Since we started on the topic I was hoping we can bring it back up - I cant seem to find any help with it anywhere online.
I noticed my engine began to run hot one day and pulled over to find no coolant in the radiator reservoir. After the engine cooled there was nothing in the radiator as well.
I refilled the coolant and began to check for slow leaks under the car over the next week. Found a few puddles here and there and decided to bring my car in for a pressure test.
Coolant started leaking right out of the block! on either side, out of the "freeze plugs" something I had never heard of before.
It seems like the freeze plugs are NOT part of regular maintenance because there are 16 of them and the engine needs to be taken out to get to the things.
I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on this, I'm heartbroken over this job and looking for clarity.
Is it okay to replace the easily accessible freeze plugs? or would that cause the others to leak more?
|
If the freeze plugs have started leaking then you need to replace all of them. There is no way to tell what condition the non-leaking ones are in, and considering all the freeze plugs see similar conditions it's very likely that the other ones will start leaking soon. Since you have to remove the engine to replace the freeze plugs I would check your engine compression to verify you didn't cause any damage when it overheated. It would be a bummer to pull the engine to replace the freeze plugs only to discover that you cracked/warped a head or have a bad head gasket from overheating. If the compression checks out and you decide to pull the engine that would be a good time to reseal the engine and replace all the oil cooler seals/hoses as well.
__________________
2000 SR5 V6 Manual 4WD https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...biography.html
2000 Limited V6 Auto E-Locker Sold 3/2022
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-16-2021, 02:42 PM
|
#20
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,197
Real Name: Devan
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,197
Real Name: Devan
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by devbo
Thanks for the post. Glad you didn't have to end up dealing with a freeze plug issue like I currently am.
Since we started on the topic I was hoping we can bring it back up - I cant seem to find any help with it anywhere online.
I noticed my engine began to run hot one day and pulled over to find no coolant in the radiator reservoir. After the engine cooled there was nothing in the radiator as well.
I refilled the coolant and began to check for slow leaks under the car over the next week. Found a few puddles here and there and decided to bring my car in for a pressure test.
Coolant started leaking right out of the block! on either side, out of the "freeze plugs" something I had never heard of before.
It seems like the freeze plugs are NOT part of regular maintenance because there are 16 of them and the engine needs to be taken out to get to the things.
I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on this, I'm heartbroken over this job and looking for clarity.
Is it okay to replace the easily accessible freeze plugs? or would that cause the others to leak more?
|
Well they're not a regular maintenance item because they act as a sort of failsafe to keep your block from freezing and cracking. Did the vehicle sit for a while through freezing weather? As said, unfortunately they'd all have to be replaced and it's definitely not a quick job or easy one for most. In theory you could just replace the popped ones, though it would make little sense as you'd already have the others ones accessible by then and you'd run the chance of doing this again in the future
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-16-2021, 04:21 PM
|
#21
|
|
Elite Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Citrus Heights, California
Age: 36
Posts: 7,336
Real Name: Jerod
|
|
Elite Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Citrus Heights, California
Age: 36
Posts: 7,336
Real Name: Jerod
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devbot
Well they're not a regular maintenance item because they act as a sort of failsafe to keep your block from freezing and cracking. Did the vehicle sit for a while through freezing weather? As said, unfortunately they'd all have to be replaced and it's definitely not a quick job or easy one for most. In theory you could just replace the popped ones, though it would make little sense as you'd already have the others ones accessible by then and you'd run the chance of doing this again in the future
|
Yeah that was my thought too. If one freeze plug was leaking, ok it's a fluke just change it. But 2? Sounds like that 4Runner's coolant did actually freeze. Maybe too much water in it.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-16-2021, 04:42 PM
|
#22
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Alberta
Posts: 25
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Alberta
Posts: 25
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gamefreakgc
Yeah that was my thought too. If one freeze plug was leaking, ok it's a fluke just change it. But 2? Sounds like that 4Runner's coolant did actually freeze. Maybe too much water in it.
|
That, or possibly internal corrosion from coolant that was in service for too long. That should be easy to rule out once the plugs are out. Good luck, Devbo.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-16-2021, 04:50 PM
|
#23
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Santa Monica
Posts: 8
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Santa Monica
Posts: 8
|
Appreciate all the responses guys, thank you.
I'm definitely willing to put in the money and time to this car - cosmetically it's in such great condition - I'm just at a loss for how this happened as it seems fairly rare.
Truck's never been exposed to freezing conditions. My theory is that the engine ran hot and warped the plugs.
It passed the block test, no white smoke from exhaust, but I'll keep this thread updated after compression test.
__________________
1998 SR5 131k miles
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-16-2021, 04:59 PM
|
#24
|
|
Elite Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Citrus Heights, California
Age: 36
Posts: 7,336
Real Name: Jerod
|
|
Elite Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Citrus Heights, California
Age: 36
Posts: 7,336
Real Name: Jerod
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by devbo
Appreciate all the responses guys, thank you.
I'm definitely willing to put in the money and time to this car - cosmetically it's in such great condition - I'm just at a loss for how this happened as it seems fairly rare.
Truck's never been exposed to freezing conditions. My theory is that the engine ran hot and warped the plugs.
It passed the block test, no white smoke from exhaust, but I'll keep this thread updated after compression test.
|
I could see that happening if the coolant started to boil and if your radiator cap failed. Normally if it overheats and builds too much pressure the valve in the radiator cap opens and starts spewing coolant at the cap. Not supposed to pop a freeze plug.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-16-2021, 08:00 PM
|
#25
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,197
Real Name: Devan
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,197
Real Name: Devan
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by devbo
Truck's never been exposed to freezing conditions. My theory is that the engine ran hot and warped the plugs.
|
It would have to get ungodly hot for that to happen and you'd most likely have warped heads by then (if not a cracked block) but I suppose it IS possible, and if you're located in Santa Monica I guess the chances of you seeing freezing weather is all but zero. And then again, the car would've had to been parked in the cold without moving/starting for quite some time for them to pop - unless it was somewhere horrifically cold it wouldn't happen overnight. Engine's aren't THAT fragile, not by a long shot
Just out of curiosity, did you know the PO or how the vehicle was cared for previously, as in here they might have taken it or why they listed it for sale?
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-21-2021, 03:35 AM
|
#26
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Santa Monica
Posts: 8
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Santa Monica
Posts: 8
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devbot
did you know the PO or how the vehicle was cared for previously, as in here they might have taken it or why they listed it for sale?
|
There were a few PO'S before me, didn't know them all. All I do know is that it was regularly maintained and kept indoors for most of it's life - never left California. It looked cared for, but there's no way of knowing. I've had it for 15k miles and no problem.
My radiator cracked on me 3 months back mid-drive. I didn't notice the temp gauge until it was already just below red. When I pulled over the radiator had a massive crack along the top like it split right open. I'm guess ing this is where all the trouble began.
Here's a video of it: 4runner cracked radiator - YouTube
__________________
1998 SR5 131k miles
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-21-2021, 01:12 PM
|
#27
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2015
Location: north east of Fairbank out there in the frontiers Alaska
Posts: 3,167
Real Name: 3 Bears
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: north east of Fairbank out there in the frontiers Alaska
Posts: 3,167
Real Name: 3 Bears
|
never seen one crack that bad...
__________________
2000 SR-5 Highlander version 4:30's, factory locker , green, bought 6/21
2001 SR-5... bought 11/20..sold 6/21....
2000 SR-5 moded, lifted, e locker, other cool stuff, totaled 10/20
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
|