Almost Done with Timing Belt Job- Any Experts to Steer On Related Service Items?

[5horizonsrr]

Hi everyone,

I'm almost done with my TB and WP job on my (new to me) 2001 with auto tranny, thanks to an aircabin man kit and @mbtim 's amazing videos. The truck is effectively back together, but I have a few questions and thoughts I can use your inputs on before filling things up and opening fire. Can anyone let me know thoughts on the following?

1- Preferred coolant? (semi-related: I'm doing a new radiator and hoses while I'm at it)

2- I'm doing a transmission service (well, drain and fill). I drained the ATF completely from the pan as well as the 2 lines that go to the bottom of the radiator. Any other way to get more out? And what is the preferred ATF to put in/run?

3- Valve cover gaskets: I think mine are leaking, and while I'm doing seemingly everything else I am debating replacing them, but a search of threads lead me to believe this is a second pretty big job on its own. Is there any advantage to doing it now, or can I wait for a later date/next oil change/after monitoring more now that I've cleaned the area up?

4- My biggest concern: I drained the oil to change that while I'm at it since the truck is new to me. I had a look before refilling, it looks a little scary in there. (pic attached) any magical cleaners I can run? I did not fill it with oil yet in case there are good ideas...

Thanks in advance! Assuming the motor doesn't grenade, or leak from the water pump when I start it, this weekend project has been a blast.

 

[MaineRunna]

Use Toyota coolant or any universal extended life coolant.
Use Toyota ATF or any Dexron/Mercon multipurpose ATF
There is almost no time saved by doing the valve covers while replacing the T-belt.
DO NOT run a flush in the engine. It is very normal to see that build up on the baffle in the valve cover. When you replace the valve cover gaskets if the whole inside of the head looks like that the that's a different story.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I’ve used BG109 and have had good results for an engine flush.


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[T4topher]

Hi everyone,

I'm almost done with my TB and WP job on my (new to me) 2001 with auto tranny, thanks to an aircabin man kit and @mbtim 's amazing videos. The truck is effectively back together, but I have a few questions and thoughts I can use your inputs on before filling things up and opening fire. Can anyone let me know thoughts on the following?

1- Preferred coolant? (semi-related: I'm doing a new radiator and hoses while I'm at it)

2- I'm doing a transmission service (well, drain and fill). I drained the ATF completely from the pan as well as the 2 lines that go to the bottom of the radiator. Any other way to get more out? And what is the preferred ATF to put in/run?

3- Valve cover gaskets: I think mine are leaking, and while I'm doing seemingly everything else I am debating replacing them, but a search of threads lead me to believe this is a second pretty big job on its own. Is there any advantage to doing it now, or can I wait for a later date/next oil change/after monitoring more now that I've cleaned the area up?

4- My biggest concern: I drained the oil to change that while I'm at it since the truck is new to me. I had a look before refilling, it looks a little scary in there. (pic attached) any magical cleaners I can run? I did not fill it with oil yet in case there are good ideas...

Thanks in advance! Assuming the motor doesn't grenade of leak from the water pump when I start it, this weekend project has been a blast.

1. Use Toyota or Toyota specific coolant (they sell the red/pink Toyota specific stuff at orielly/autozone etc)

2. There is a way to do it, I can’t remember specifically. If it were me I’d just replace how much you drained out and then maybe in another 5-15k miles do another drain/refill. Any dex 3 or above should work, I generally use Toyota fluids from eBay as it’s the cheapest I’ve found. You can kind of tell when the fluid is happy/unhappy from the dipstick.

3. Valve cover gaskets are way easier than a timing belt job in my opinion. But yea as stated above pretty much no time saved for doing it at the same time as timing belt.

4. I’m currently doing some seafoam treatment, project farm has some good videos showing it working. They have one you spray in the intake and the other you can pour into the crankcase/fuel tank. I just did the crankcase and the oil came out super dark like it removed some of the varnish. I did it right before my oil change.

one other thing I’ll mention to take a look at if you haven’t already is the power steering pump. I usually find this is one of the most neglected things on these trucks and the fluid is super dark. Should be red just like the trans fluid (you use trans fluid in the power steering)

 

[5horizonsrr]

Thanks guys! I'm relieved to hear that about the spot under the oil cap, I nearly had a heart attack when I looked in there...

I'm headed to Toyota shortly to grab ATF, PS fluid and a crush washer for the transmission bolt. I'll do the PS fluid while I'm at it and the rest can wait for some other weekend!

Thanks again for all the support!

 

[T4topher]

Thanks guys! I'm relieved to hear that about the spot under the oil cap, I nearly had a heart attack when I looked in there...

I'm headed to Toyota shortly to grab ATF, PS fluid and a crush washer for the transmission bolt. I'll do the PS fluid while I'm at it and the rest can wait for some other weekend!

Thanks again for all the support!

Don’t use power steering fluid in the PS system. Only use the dexron 3 or higher transmission fluid, hopefully if you went to Toyota they made sure you got the right stuff..

 

[JoeT4R]

I concur with the above mentioned things. Very good advice in this thread and I'd encourage OP to take the advice.

I definitely hope the underside of the valve covers don't look as crisp as the engine oil fill hole... lol.

 

[5horizonsrr]

Thanks guys- indeed ATF for the PS system. I did buy OEM fluid.

For fun, I ended up buying OEM fluid and coolant on Amazon, why?

At the local dealer:

Toyota ATF: $23 + tax
Crush washer for Oil pan bolt: $6.77 + tax

I was so offended I turned around and walked out quietly...

Getting it all back together later this week!

 

[brillo_76]

I don't use Toyota transmission fluid nor oil. Just their antifreeze...

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