Bad News for my 4Runner!

[A1CSTRANGE]

So I'm driving down the Alaska highway, and about 70 miles into my trip my engine starts to overheat. I pull over for like 5 minutes, and let it cool. I drive down the road for like maybe a mile, and it does it again. One thing that did go good for me was that I pulled next to a towing place! THANK GOD! 275 dollars later I'm sitting at American Tire in Fairbanks, AK with my truck. Happy 4th! I thinking, and hoping it's just a blown head gasket, and not a cracked HEAD!
If anyone has any info for me, or help that would be great! Enjoy your WEEKEND!

 

[King L0bster]

radiator

My truck did that for a while, i tried just a radiator cap and it helped a little, but 2 weeks later the radiator itself was leaking like a freakin sive. I'd check and replace that along with all hoses before i went dicking around with head gaskets or looking for cracks in the block etc. you may be looking for a long time. :bonk:

 

[tomhaney1]

Could even just be the thermostat...

 

[A1CSTRANGE]

It's hard to believe it could be the thermostat. I went 70 miles on it. I think it would overheat before 70 miles if the thermostat was it, but maybe. Well, I'm not doing the work myself. I have it at a shop.

 

[alaskaman]

geesh...sounds tough....by the way I may be driving to Fairbanks leaving my SE there for 3 months while I work in Barrow... any thoughts on where to shelter it for that time???

thanks. goood luck gettin back on the road.

 

[tomhaney1]

I thermostat can go out at anytime, just like a water pump- at 5 or 500 miles. I hope for your sake you don't have to replace the head. That is expensive!

 

[A1CSTRANGE]

I'm hoping it's not a cracked head too! I HOPE I stopped in time so the head didn't crack! If all I have to do is to replace the radiator, and all the hose, and thermostat I would be happy! How much would it be to replace the head gasket?

 

[locknload]

It could be any of the above. Did you notice any water loss? I doubt you cracked the head. Worse case is you warped it and a machine shop can usually resurface it enough to seal. I'd go get a new rad cap and thermostat and change them in the parking lot, let it idle, and hope for the best.

 

[tomhaney1]

I'm hoping it's not a cracked head too! I HOPE I stopped in time so the head didn't crack! If all I have to do is to replace the radiator, and all the hose, and thermostat I would be happy! How much would it be to replace the head gasket?

That can range from 200 to 1,000 dollars depending on what condition the head is in and who does the work. If you turned off the engine promptly when it overheated I agree with locknload that there is probably nothing wrong with it. It is important to note the water loss. Water (or fluid) loss is actually a better sign than overheating with no fluid loss.

 

[A1CSTRANGE]

Yeah, it was just overflowing at the resvoir. When I noticed it overheating I pullled over, luck it was right by a tow place! When we checked the radiator after it was cooled down. We looked in the radiator, and there was no coolant in there. I kinda hope it's a cracked radiator, and not something to do with the head. After he was unloading the truck there was coolant all around the tow truck.

 

[tomhaney1]

Yeah, it was just overflowing at the resvoir. When I noticed it overheating I pullled over, luck it was right by a tow place! When we checked the radiator after it was cooled down. We looked in the radiator, and there was no coolant in there. I kinda hope it's a cracked radiator, and not something to do with the head. After he was unloading the truck there was coolant all around the tow truck.

If it was a craked radiator you would know. It almost sounds like the thermostat to me. What does everyone else think??

 

[locknload]

Yeah, I think thermostat. They can go bad and close up at any time.

 

[A1CSTRANGE]

The guy that tow me into town said he thought it was a blown head gasket. The guy was a master tech so it's hard not to believe him. Can this engine go 70 miles with out the thermostat opening?

 

[locknload]

It could of closed at mile 65 or 68.

 

[A1CSTRANGE]

I was talking with King L0bster, and he was saying replace the thermostat. I'll have them replace the thermostat, and check out the radiator, and all the hoses. Thanks everyone for all the help! I keep you guys updated on the status!

 

[A1CSTRANGE]

Feel alot better about it now!

 

[alaskaman]

Enjoy the summer....!

 

[A1CSTRANGE]

I'll try!

 

[ovrrdrive]

The first thing I always do on minor bubbling out the overflow is change the pressure cap...

Hope you didn't do too much damage.

 

[skinnadoor]

I was talking with King L0bster, and he was saying replace the thermostat. I'll have them replace the thermostat, and check out the radiator, and all the hoses. Thanks everyone for all the help! I keep you guys updated on the status!

Good luck with your coolant issue, keep us posted with the results of the thermostat so the rest of us know what to do when it happens... !!!!!

I agree with the others though, change the easier things first.