So my 02 4Runner started overheating last week. Long story short, I had to replace my fan clutch. Runs great! However, we now have a new issue. After driving in the South Carolina heat for roughly 20-30 min, there is no problems. Fan clutch works great and keeps it cool. If I then turn off the engine, to go into a store or whatever, and then turn it back over, before the fan clutch has time to cool down the engine, the temp starts to rise. This goes away after about 20seconds, once the fan starts to move some air. I honestly have no idea what would cause this. Outside of a new thermostat or a coolant flush, does anyone have any ideas?
02 4Runner overheating after start up only after driving
- Thread starter mikekndrk
- Start date
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
Try this when the car is cold
Take off the radiator cap and start the car, let it warm up to temp until the thermostat opens up. Look into the radiator, do you see coolant flowing inside the radiator?
NEVER OPEN YOUR RADIATOR CAP WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT
Take off the radiator cap and start the car, let it warm up to temp until the thermostat opens up. Look into the radiator, do you see coolant flowing inside the radiator?
NEVER OPEN YOUR RADIATOR CAP WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT
TheDurk
Elite Member
Well, how hot does it get? Put a scanner on it. To some degree that is normal, as it takes it those 20 seconds for the fan clutch to spin up and the thermostat to open, even on a nearly hot engine. If all is normal otherwise, I wouldn't worry unless the temp spikes over say 205°F--which I really doubt is happening.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Sometimes I worry that my temp gauge never gets over just below the middle... but I've measured various points of the cooling system with an infrared thermometer and its always around 195° - 200°
LittleCaesar
New member
I have seen mine as high as 206 in SC after pulling away from filling up.
If your temps don't fall ten to fifteen degrees after a minute or two after starting up you may have a problem then.
If your temps don't fall ten to fifteen degrees after a minute or two after starting up you may have a problem then.
thegipper
New member
Your engine temps will rise after it is shut off, that is normal. Now how much and how high is where the concern may be.
When I was driving my rig on our hunting trails a couple weekends ago, I had engine temps at 205+ while driving (it was 90 degrees and humid out). When I shut it off to mess around in our food plots, when I started it back up it was at 212 (temp via ultra gauge). Within a minute or two it would go back down to 198ish.
My radiator is only 2 years old, coolant is new (toyota red), not sure on the thermostat though.
When I'm just driving around town or whatever, even if it is hot out, it almost never goes above 200.
You'll need some kind of scan tool (scan gauge, torque/bluetooth adapter, ultra gauge etc) to know the exact temp.
If your needles itself is moving above the half way point, it is definitely getting too hot. Even when my engine temp was at 210 on the trails, that stupid needle was still right in the middle...
When I was driving my rig on our hunting trails a couple weekends ago, I had engine temps at 205+ while driving (it was 90 degrees and humid out). When I shut it off to mess around in our food plots, when I started it back up it was at 212 (temp via ultra gauge). Within a minute or two it would go back down to 198ish.
My radiator is only 2 years old, coolant is new (toyota red), not sure on the thermostat though.
When I'm just driving around town or whatever, even if it is hot out, it almost never goes above 200.
You'll need some kind of scan tool (scan gauge, torque/bluetooth adapter, ultra gauge etc) to know the exact temp.
If your needles itself is moving above the half way point, it is definitely getting too hot. Even when my engine temp was at 210 on the trails, that stupid needle was still right in the middle...
