Coolant Leak - 1997 4runner, V6, 4WD
- Thread starter toytinker
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StreetCreeper
New member
This sounds like your a/c condensate drain. It’s supposed to drip moisture to the ground. Anytime you have your a/c or defroster on, it may start dripping.
Your coolant loss is somewhere else.
toytinker
New member
Here are additional pictures that might help:
The one picture shows some leakage between block and head on the driver’s side of the engine.
Then there is a picture of the radiator top that shows some grayish residue...
The one picture shows some leakage between block and head on the driver’s side of the engine.
Then there is a picture of the radiator top that shows some grayish residue...
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It's not looking good for your head gasket given the picture of the sludge between your head and block. There also seems to be some gunk around the inside of the radiator cap area.
Is it blowing white smoke from the tail pipe? Can you see bubbles in the coolant overflow tank with the engine running? How does the under side of the radiator cap look?
Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk
Is it blowing white smoke from the tail pipe? Can you see bubbles in the coolant overflow tank with the engine running? How does the under side of the radiator cap look?
Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk
thegipper
New member
The obvious answer is you are loosing coolant from your head gasket. If you have an additional leak, I would check the rear heat lines (if you have them) and the heater hoses/valve near the firewall.
A half gallon of coolant every week is a lot to lose. It should be pretty easy to find. Any check engine lights? Running rough on cold start ups? White smoke show in the morning? Bubbles in the reservoir when it's running? How does the oil look? All things you should be looking for.
Unfortunately, it looks like at a minimum, you have a HG repair in your future.
A half gallon of coolant every week is a lot to lose. It should be pretty easy to find. Any check engine lights? Running rough on cold start ups? White smoke show in the morning? Bubbles in the reservoir when it's running? How does the oil look? All things you should be looking for.
Unfortunately, it looks like at a minimum, you have a HG repair in your future.
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All that sludgy stuff at the radiator cap is probably radiator stop leak stuff. They were probably trying to slow the leak down a little. Apparently, it didn't work very well.
I'd double check what's coming out of your A/C drain - it's probably condensate - water. But it's faintly possible that the heater core could be leaking and (not sure how the HVAC is arranged inside) it could end up draining there. So if it's coolant - heater core.
You might also try cleaning the area around that leak on the head really well, and then driving it briefly, and looking again. Sometimes coolant can trickle along edges and crevices for a distance from the source, and make it look like something is leaking that isn't.
HG failures can have all sorts of different symptoms, depending on where it's leaking. There's compression, oil, crankcase interior, and coolant all right next to each other. What gets mixed with what it shouldn't get mixed with is random.
I'd double check what's coming out of your A/C drain - it's probably condensate - water. But it's faintly possible that the heater core could be leaking and (not sure how the HVAC is arranged inside) it could end up draining there. So if it's coolant - heater core.
You might also try cleaning the area around that leak on the head really well, and then driving it briefly, and looking again. Sometimes coolant can trickle along edges and crevices for a distance from the source, and make it look like something is leaking that isn't.
HG failures can have all sorts of different symptoms, depending on where it's leaking. There's compression, oil, crankcase interior, and coolant all right next to each other. What gets mixed with what it shouldn't get mixed with is random.
mtbtim
Elite Member
It sure looks like the previous owner's work didn't hold up. I wonder what the "top end rebuild" entailed that this guy did. I also wonder what prompted this rebuild.
Based off your symptoms, the back story and the pictures you provided you're looking at a lot of work whether it's pulling the heads and trying to fix his botched job or pulling the engine and replacing it with a used engine.
toytinker
New member
Isssue: Defective Waterpump!
It was a defective waterpump!
The previous owner did a top end rebuild but NEVER replaced the waterpump or thermostat
He did replace the timing belt though, and NOT the other belts :/
In short, it took me awhile to replace, but I could not have done so without the help of so many of you in this forum and YouTube - A big thank you!
The hardest part was taking that damn AC bracket off just to access the bolts on the hydrolic tensioner (pictured) - wow!
Oh yeah, no bubbles with the radiator cap off - whew!
Thanks again everyone!
I love my 4R!
It was a defective waterpump!
The previous owner did a top end rebuild but NEVER replaced the waterpump or thermostat
He did replace the timing belt though, and NOT the other belts :/
In short, it took me awhile to replace, but I could not have done so without the help of so many of you in this forum and YouTube - A big thank you!
The hardest part was taking that damn AC bracket off just to access the bolts on the hydrolic tensioner (pictured) - wow!
Oh yeah, no bubbles with the radiator cap off - whew!
Thanks again everyone!
I love my 4R!
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