2002 B&M cooler + Champion Radiator

[LittleCaesar]

If your rad cap is operating properly there should not be any burping necessary.

Fill up your cooling system and put the cap on it. Start engine with heat selector on max heat and the vent valve in the cap takes care of the rest.

Around 3 heat cycles you are done topping off the overflow tank.


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In theory this works but for some reason this cooling system is a royal PITA to get all the air bubbles out. After my TB change it was 500 miles and three burping instances before the coolant temps got to 188 to 193F. That is why I am thinking something else is in play here.

If the fan clutch is original, consider replacing it. It may just not be able to move enough air.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

In theory this works but for some reason this cooling system is a royal PITA to get all the air bubbles out. After my TB change it was 500 miles and three burping instances before the coolant temps got to 188 to 193F. That is why I am thinking something else is in play here.



If the fan clutch is original, consider replacing it. It may just not be able to move enough air.

The 97 Limited Puppy Hauler has a new Denso clutch fan. But I just put a new spectra rad in two days ago. Filled it to the top. Took 2 gallons on the nose. Put the cap on and started it. The expansion tank level went up 3/4" just running it to check for leaks. Which is what's suppose to happen if the vent valve is working. 185 was driving around temp, But I only drove it around 5 miles.


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[LittleCaesar]

The 97 Limited Puppy Hauler has a new Denso clutch fan. But I just put a new spectra rad in two days ago. Filled it to the top. Took 2 gallons on the nose. Put the cap on and started it. The expansion tank level went up 3/4" just running it to check for leaks. Which is what's suppose to happen if the vent valve is working. 185 was driving around temp, But I only drove it around 5 miles.


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I wish I could have gotten this lucky. But mine was a PITA to expunge all the air. No other car or truck I have ever wrenched on has given me such a hard time.:lasercannon:

Otherwise, the first time expunging of the air in the system has always worked for me.

 

[mendozer]

So a few days after my fillup, i did notice the reservoir tank went down (to me that means it sucked more fluid in) so I topped that off, but radiator level itself was fine. I should also mention that it hasn't happened since, 190F max daily.

I'll reburp it, but should I be squeezing lower hose? I thought it was upper hose.

 

[mendozer]

Then try and reburp the cooling system first. It may be where there were many pockets of air in the system.

How old is the fan clutch by the way?

IDK, so maybe original?

 

[LittleCaesar]

It sounds like you may be good to go now. If you want to try again, drive for at least another hundred miles, then park on an incline and let it idle for ten to fifteen with the awesome funnel attached. Then button everything up, park on a level surface, and then check the reservoir in the morning, topping off as needed.

Air pockets can be quite the PITA to expunge the first time.

 

[AntleredRuin]

I'll reburp it, but should I be squeezing lower hose? I thought it was upper hose.

Well it doesn't hurt to squeeze both.
Air is lighter than coolant, so I figure squeezing the bottom hose with the cap off might push any air bubbles trapped in the radiator itself straight up out the open cap.
It also might help push any air bubbles trapped in the engine the rest of the way through to come back out when they reach the top of the rad again.

In my (admittedly spotty opinion) that would be more efficient than squeezing the top hose, because all the pressure you create would then be released within a couple inches at the open radiator cap.

 

[mendozer]

how much of an incline is necessary? I use my driveway, which isn't necessarily steep, but steep enough to not jack my vehicle up on it since it makes me nervous, which is why I use the street. I won't be able to take the cap off after driving it hot if that's how specific you meant for that, but I'll re-burp this weekend. So far my work commutes aren't doing it. So the air pockets don't just 'work themselves out'?

 

[LittleCaesar]

how much of an incline is necessary? I use my driveway, which isn't necessarily steep, but steep enough to not jack my vehicle up on it since it makes me nervous, which is why I use the street. I won't be able to take the cap off after driving it hot if that's how specific you meant for that, but I'll re-burp this weekend. So far my work commutes aren't doing it. So the air pockets don't just 'work themselves out'?

In every other vehicle these air pockets have done just that but in my 4runner it took about 400 miles and two burpings to bring the temps to the ones aformentioned.

If it were me and you are only seeing 190f max now, I would leave it alone until you have to work on your 4runner again, then find even a slight incline, and reburp. Make sure you put some miles on it first.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Just driving should push any air into the rad where the vent valve will push the air into the expansion tank.

Cold you should be able to squeeze the upper hose and hear coolant going into the overflow tank.


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[AntleredRuin]

I'd say a slight incline is good enough, too. I've burped mine while sitting with the rear tires on a sewage drain grate in my work parking lot. The drain is 'downhill' to promote proper drainage, which points the nose of the 4runner up slightly.
You can safely remove the rad cap after about 10 minutes of downtime (still use a rag, just in case). And you can start the 4runner with the rad cold, and get it up to temp with the cap off. Won't hurt anything. Make sure the heater is blasting, too.
Also, you can just see the rad cap area under the lifted hood from the driver's seat so kick back and relax for a few minutes. :dancin:

 

[mendozer]

ok awesome, thanks. Maybe the air pockets made their way out that time it ran hot, but I'll recheck levels this weekend and maybe do those fan clutch tests.

 

[VernySanders]

ok awesome, thanks. Maybe the air pockets made their way out that time it ran hot, but I'll recheck levels this weekend and maybe do those fan clutch tests.

How's the radiator working? I just ordered one today and I'm going with the larger B&M like you did. Cant go overkill on keeping things cool!

 

[mendozer]

I never did to the fan clutch test. Rad doing great though! I will sometimes see temps climb above 210 when I'm sitting in the city on a hot day, but as soon as I hit the road again at speed temps drops really fast, same for the B&M for the tranny temps. Makes me really nervous knowing that all this time, those temps climb way too high without these better coolers.

 

[FILTHEE]

I never did to the fan clutch test. Rad doing great though! I will sometimes see temps climb above 210 when I'm sitting in the city on a hot day, but as soon as I hit the road again at speed temps drops really fast, same for the B&M for the tranny temps. Makes me really nervous knowing that all this time, those temps climb way too high without these better coolers.

210+ seems high. 192.2 is my normal temp and will go to 194.4 at idle with the A/C on. That is with ambient temps of 90+ degrees (Yesterday it was 112). Out of curiosity, what are you seeing for trans temps?

 

[mendozer]

Well in all fairness I only saw this once and that was after disassembling my intake and hoses for a fuel injector swap. So I introduced air bubbles into the coolant for sure. But before this it didn't climb over 193. Trans averages under 150 unless I'm going up my hill I live on then maybe up to 179 or slow hilly climbs in the sun where I don't get enough wind to cool off the coolers, then maybe up to 190

 

[FILTHEE]

Well in all fairness I only saw this once and that was after disassembling my intake and hoses for a fuel injector swap. So I introduced air bubbles into the coolant for sure. But before this it didn't climb over 193. Trans averages under 150 unless I'm going up my hill I live on then maybe up to 179 or slow hilly climbs in the sun where I don't get enough wind to cool off the coolers, then maybe up to 190

Thank you for the reply. I was curious on your trans temps because I'm running a Hayden cooler that's on the smaller side (24,000 GVRW) and was thinking about going to a bigger one.

 

[FILTHEE]

Well in all fairness I only saw this once and that was after disassembling my intake and hoses for a fuel injector swap. So I introduced air bubbles into the coolant for sure. But before this it didn't climb over 193. Trans averages under 150 unless I'm going up my hill I live on then maybe up to 179 or slow hilly climbs in the sun where I don't get enough wind to cool off the coolers, then maybe up to 190

Thank you for the reply. I was curious on your trans temps because I'm running a Hayden cooler that's on the smaller side (24,000 GVRW) and was thinking about going to a bigger one.

 

[mendozer]

Driving around this weekend crept temps up to 190 again, slow city traffic an hour into the drive. But once you hit speed it drops to freeway temps usually 150. Maybe my fan is dying which is why I really need the speed to cool it off?

 

[RyanNapoleon]

I have been running the exact same setup for a couple years here in Arizona, in-line, just like you. It's been great.