Cooling system issue

acr_ted

acr_ted

New member
While changing out yet another bad Costco/Interstate battery today I noticed some leakage on the radiator top hose around the inlet to the rad. The clamp was rather loose so I tightened it up easily enough.

Problem is though, I had noticed the same spot leaking a couple of months ago and at that time I tightened the clamp firmly. I've only driven a couple of hundred miles since then and here that clamp has loosened again!

The clamp is the usual stainless steel band with slots in it and tightened with the jack screw. The other three clamps on the two hoses are just fine.

So why is the clamp on the top hose loosening up where it connects to the rad? I put some lock-tite on it to see if that will help. Hoses and clamps (OEM) were new 2 years/5000 miles ago. Rad is the original.

I also checked on new rad prices at Camelback Toyota and Olathe Toyota and each company lists a different part number and price...has there been a change and one company still selling old stock? Also there was a comment about some kind of special service program for the rads..but no deals could be found. Any ideas on what that is all about?

Thanks!

Ted
 
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Is the tank gray or brownish? Does it have a date stamp on tank? Why not at least replace the loosening clamp?

Most on here go with denso (OEM), I got mine from amazon, about $95 delivered in sturdy box. Worth it to get new strawberry protection. Luck. :cowboy:
 
acr_ted said:
While changing out yet another bad Costco/Interstate battery today I noticed some leakage on the radiator top hose around the inlet to the rad. The clamp was rather loose so I tightened it up easily enough.

Problem is though, I had noticed the same spot leaking a couple of months ago and at that time I tightened the clamp firmly. I've only driven a couple of hundred miles since then and here that clamp has loosened again!

The clamp is the usual stainless steel band with slots in it and tightened with the jack screw. The other three clamps on the two hoses are just fine.

So why is the clamp on the top hose loosening up where it connects to the rad? I put some lock-tite on it to see if that will help. Hoses and clamps (OEM) were new 2 years/5000 miles ago. Rad is the original.

I also checked on new rad prices at Camelback Toyota and Olathe Toyota and each company lists a different part number and price...has there been a change and one company still selling old stock? Also there was a comment about some kind of special service program for the rads..but no deals could be found. Any ideas on what that is all about?

Thanks!

Ted
Click to expand...

Dump the crappy screw-clamp and get a properly fitting constant tension clamp. There is a reason why Toyota uses those instead of the screw clamps because the constant tension clamp will maintain a constant tension on the hose while the hose expands and contracts with heat/cold. Screw clamps don't.

​
 
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Could be the radiator hose starting to soften up, allowing the hose clamp to lose tension. I don't think a worm-drive hose clamp can actually "back off" through vibration.

Agreed a spring type clamp is a better choice.

Also, if a joint like that is proving difficult to seal due to out-of-roundness or scratches, I have had good success putting a thin coat of Permatex #2 gasket maker on before installing the hose.
 
I believe these are the oem part numbers for the spring clamps. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

upper clamps: 96136-43901
lower clamps: 90467-43002
 
turbo8 said:
I believe these are the oem part numbers for the spring clamps. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

upper clamps: 96136-43901
lower clamps: 90467-43002
Click to expand...

Those are apparently not the ones for the 97 T4R...when I searched those part numbers toyotapartsdeal.com said they do not fit my 4Runner. I then checked the parts listing at olathetoyota and those cooling system diagrams don't even show the clamps!

Ted
 
StreetCreeper said:
Dump the crappy screw-clamp and get a properly fitting constant tension clamp. There is a reason why Toyota uses those instead of the screw clamps because the constant tension clamp will maintain a constant tension on the hose while the hose expands and contracts with heat/cold. Screw clamps don't.

​
Click to expand...

Thanks Woody...now to find the right ones for my T4R.

Love your odometer picture :).

Ted
 
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jgue467 said:
Is the tank gray or brownish? Does it have a date stamp on tank? Why not at least replace the loosening clamp?

Most on here go with denso (OEM), I got mine from amazon, about $95 delivered in sturdy box. Worth it to get new strawberry protection. Luck. :cowboy:
Click to expand...

The tank is black and I don't see any date code. It is the original rad. Some time ago I did install a B&M trans oil cooler and bypassed the rad completely so no chance of a pink milkshake :).

Thanks for the info on getting one from Amazon...problem is, they are very poor at packing and I've had items from them arrive here damaged. And this is from their warehouses just 40 some miles away. Stuff just loose in a box with little or no packing.

Ted
 
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acr_ted said:
Thanks Woody...now to find the right ones for my T4R.

Love your odometer picture :).

Ted
Click to expand...

You should go out and measure the diameter of your radiator hose and then just Google search or search Amazon for a constant tension clamp that has an inner diameter (ID) that is the same (or very close) to the outer diameter (OD) of the hose. You may want to consider getting one for your lower hose too if it doesn't already have one. Actually, maybe find one a little smaller so that it has good tension and has to expand a good bit to fit over the hose.


Also, if you aren't dead set on replacing your radiator with OEM, then maybe consider a Spectra brand radiator from Pep Boy or wherever. I replaced mine about 20-30k ago and have no issues at all so far. I figured if there was any issues with fit/quality etc...I could just drive back to the store and have it replaced or refund my money — which beats messing around with screwed up radiators that need to be shipped back to Amazon.
 
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StreetCreeper said:
You should go out and measure the diameter of your radiator hose and then just Google search or search Amazon for a constant tension clamp that has an inner diameter (ID) that is the same (or very close) to the outer diameter (OD) of the hose. You may want to consider getting one for your lower hose too if it doesn't already have one. Actually, maybe find one a little smaller so that it has good tension and has to expand a good bit to fit over the hose.


Also, if you aren't dead set on replacing your radiator with OEM, then maybe consider a Spectra brand radiator from Pep Boy or wherever. I replaced mine about 20-30k ago and have no issues at all so far. I figured if there was any issues with fit/quality etc...I could just drive back to the store and have it replaced or refund my money — which beats messing around with screwed up radiators that need to be shipped back to Amazon.
Click to expand...

Thanks again Woody for the info....I had just **assumed** that those clamps were something unique to Toyota.

I think I'll stick with an OEM rad....here in the Phoenix AZ area I'd like to have as much cooling capacity and quality as possible. I will likely get it from Camelback...I can do a will-call and not have to worry about shipping, and if something is wrong with it I can return/exchange it without too much hassle. I'd just to have a friend give me a ride there and back though :)

Ted
 
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