Overheating Troubleshooting - I pushed it over the edge - Page 2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum

newton22 · 10-27-2020, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teamoatmealpie

you can buy a cheap kit to test for exhaust gasses getting into the coolant.

You gotta laugh at the Scotty videos !!!

These don't work. My fluid stayed blue even with a slow HG leak.

The G-Man · 10-29-2020, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newton22

These don't work. My fluid stayed blue even with a slow HG leak.

Yep. I had same experience.

Captsolo · 10-30-2020, 08:44 PM

YOU WROTE: On the way to work today (a short 3 mile trip) the coolant temperature suddenly goes to max. No lights came on or anything, but the motion of the needle caught my eye. I limp it back home and pop the hood to see that the coolant in the reservoir is bubbling/boiling. I haven't messed with it since then.

Thanks![/QUOTE]

Whatever you do, don't drive it with that "overheat"/boiling coolant - or you'll ruin the engine.

After reading all these HG leak posts I lift the hood on my 2005 4runner/150,000 miles (once a week) and check the overflow canister for and "loss" of coolant. For the last 6 months the level has maintained itself at the same height, so I can't have a HG issue.

JohnnyxRex · 11-02-2020, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newton22

These don't work. My fluid stayed blue even with a slow HG leak.

This is what makes me think I should get out from under it. I went and looked at a 2014 today.

I just need the thing to last another month before I change jobs and move. I am truly considering replacing the tires and bringing it to a mechanic to do the water pump/belt/pulleys, but a head gasket leak sounds expensive and not worth it. How long did yours last?

JohnnyxRex · 11-02-2020, 03:59 PM

On second thought, it is not clear to me that there is "for sure" any kind of head gasket leak. It may just be the water pump.

How did you guys eventually know that it was the head gasket? Did it just suddenly get worse?

The G-Man · 11-02-2020, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyxRex

On second thought, it is not clear to me that there is "for sure" any kind of head gasket leak. It may just be the water pump.

How did you guys eventually know that it was the head gasket? Did it just suddenly get worse?

The final straw for me was a stumbling motor on cold start and then a couple days later it finally got so bad that it triggered the CEL for misfire #6 cyl.

newton22 · 11-02-2020, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyxRex

This is what makes me think I should get out from under it. I went and looked at a 2014 today.

I just need the thing to last another month before I change jobs and move. I am truly considering replacing the tires and bringing it to a mechanic to do the water pump/belt/pulleys, but a head gasket leak sounds expensive and not worth it. How long did yours last?

I don't know. I suspect I bought the vehicle with a head gasket leak. It was unbeknown to me at the time and now I suspect the previous owner might have known.

It's not an end of the world job, just a lot of labor. Mine is currently not overheating and runs fine at 178k mi.

Brentcollins · 11-03-2020, 12:30 PM

You can check the water pump by pulling the serpentine belt off and spin the pulley on the water pump to see if it is rough and wiggle it back and forth to see if it has any play in it. My water pump on my 06 4runner went out at 184k.

Captsolo · 11-05-2020, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyxRex

On second thought, it is not clear to me that there is "for sure" any kind of head gasket leak. It may just be the water pump.

How did you guys eventually know that it was the head gasket? Did it just suddenly get worse?

I own a 2005 4runner with 150,000 and I have no head gasket issues. I am the original owner.

Only about 1% of 4runners run into this HG issues and I wonder how really relevant this discussion is.

interesting link: Figure Out Why Your Toyota is Overheating - Toyota Parts Blog | Toyota Parts Center