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-   -   Low coolant question (https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/175143-low-coolant-question.html)

mgcorreia 08-07-2014 02:33 PM
Low coolant question
 
Hi, i have a '97 4runner with about 220k miles on it, 4 cyl, manual trans. I recently replaced the radiator and did a complete flush of the cooling system. After the job i am still noticing my coolant level is persistently always low in the coolant reservior. I have to keep filling it up. I don't have any leaks, i replaced all the hoses. I thinking maybe the coolant temp sensor is shot, and the engine is buring off too much coolant possibly? Anything else i should consider? thanks! Car runs real nice at least, no check engine lights. Knock on wood

shootmymime 08-07-2014 02:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgcorreia (Post 1766746)
Hi, i have a '97 4runner with about 220k miles on it, 4 cyl, manual trans. I recently replaced the radiator and did a complete flush of the cooling system. After the job i am still noticing my coolant level is persistently always low in the coolant reservoir. I have to keep filling it up. I don't have any leaks, i replaced all the hoses. I thinking maybe the coolant temp sensor is shot, and the engine is buring off too much coolant possibly? Anything else i should consider? thanks! Car runs real nice at least, no check engine lights. Knock on wood
my thoughts is that when you flushed it you did not originally get all the air pockets out. over time the air escapes out by heating and cooling of the motor and replacing the air in the system with the fluid in the reservoir.

i would say dont worry about it. keep driving it and it will come to a point (id say about a gal - 2 gal of fluid) where it get full once again.
Same thing happened to me last year. its alright.

mgcorreia 08-07-2014 02:52 PM
I've driven over 1,000 miles since i did the radiator and the flush and filled it up twice so far. Even before i did the radiator and the flush, the coolant level has always been persistently low.

TheDurk 08-07-2014 03:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgcorreia (Post 1766761)
I've driven over 1,000 miles since i did the radiator and the flush and filled it up twice so far. Even before i did the radiator and the flush, the coolant level has always been persistently low.
Then you have a leak. Invest in a pressure test or buy the kit at Harbor Freight for about $70 (about what the shop would charge to do it). Easy to do. I never need to add coolant to my '99 with 165k.

Unless you have white smoke and sweet smell out the exhaust. Then it's your head gasket. Hope that's not the answer.

mgcorreia 08-07-2014 04:25 PM
Thanks, i called oreilly, they'll rent me one. Looks easy enough to do, lots of good youtube videos.

shootmymime 08-07-2014 05:42 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgcorreia (Post 1766816)
Thanks, i called oreilly, they'll rent me one. Looks easy enough to do, lots of good youtube videos.
yeah its super easy, ive got one.

go from there and see if it looses pressure.

mgcorreia 08-18-2014 05:54 PM
Hi guys, i did the pressure test this weekend, looked all around all the tubes connected to the radiator, didnt see any leaks. I looked for a good 30 min and the radiator maintained pressure throughout. Any other sugestions? Maybe my intuition about the coolant temp sensor being shot was correct. Looks like a pain to access.

OleMissRunner 08-18-2014 06:41 PM
It isn't too awful, just a bit time consuming; I did it back in May. Replaced the thermostat while i was at it. Think the most time consuming thing about it really was refilling my radiator. If you do decide to do it, make sure you've got some crow's foot wrenches and that you get new crush washers for the fuel rail jumper.

nevada 08-18-2014 07:29 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgcorreia (Post 1766746)
Hi, i have a '97 4runner with about 220k miles on it, 4 cyl, manual trans. I recently replaced the radiator and did a complete flush of the cooling system. After the job i am still noticing my coolant level is persistently always low in the coolant reservior. I have to keep filling it up. I don't have any leaks, i replaced all the hoses. I thinking maybe the coolant temp sensor is shot, and the engine is buring off too much coolant possibly? Anything else i should consider? thanks! Car runs real nice at least, no check engine lights. Knock on wood
no, that's not how that works.

you have a leak somewhere, or it was never fully filled.


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