Do you still have the original radiator on your 4runner

[kgnagey]

I was looking at this radiator for a preventative maintenance @ 280K miles :

But when I called my local dealership to get this one installed, they said the direct replacement for my VIN was around $425. He said he did not have a "value" line for my truck.

Does that sound right? $425 vs the one in the link?..that's a huge disparity in pricing.

Amazon has Genuine Toyota OEM radiator for $142.

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyo...3405248&sr=8-6&keywords=2002+4runner+radiator

 

[2000se]

Amazon has Genuine Toyota OEM radiator for $142.

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyo...3405248&sr=8-6&keywords=2002+4runner+radiator

Thanks ! So what then would be the difference? I was quoted literally $750 to replace OEM radiator today from the dealership.

I thought that was outrageous.

 

[Mr. Goodkat]

I'm replacing mine tomorrow. I've had my B&M cooler and filter sitting around for a couple of weeks now. I'm also replacing the hoses, thermostat and figured it was also a great time to change the belts. Seems like a good time to do everything at once and everything is Toyota OEM from Camelback Toyota. I might just do a dump and fill for the tranny with Castrol IMV fluid also. Picking up some Toyota coolant locally today. It will give me a warm fuzzy feeling when it's done and next summer the 4R is getting a new grill to clean things up :nod:

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Thanks ! So what then would be the difference? I was quoted literally $750 to replace OEM radiator today from the dealership.

I thought that was outrageous.

Dealers will typically charge you full list price on the parts they install plus a high labor rate (lots of overhead to cover), along with the "book" labor hours.

 

[rickmum]

Still got the original radiator in my 98, but my tranny is cooled by an external cooler completely bypassing the rad.

I'll get around to replacing the rad soon but with winter fast approaching it's less of a priority.

My temp light has come on twice while climbing up mountains in the summer but it's been fine (I think) for everything else I do.

 

[phattyduck]

Still got the original radiator in my 98, but my tranny is cooled by an external cooler completely bypassing the rad.

I'll get around to replacing the rad soon but with winter fast approaching it's less of a priority.

My temp light has come on twice while climbing up mountains in the summer but it's been fine (I think) for everything else I do.

The trans temp light comes on at 150*C/302*F, which is WAYYYY too hot for trans fluid. Get a gauge on there to know what is really going on.

-Charlie

 

[Boognish_Forever]

Thanks ! So what then would be the difference? I was quoted literally $750 to replace OEM radiator today from the dealership.



I thought that was outrageous.

That’s a Denso, check the reviews on that amazon link. There’s a few people on there that the radiator leaked after a few months to 3 years.


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[Boognish_Forever]

Still got the original radiator in my 98, but my tranny is cooled by an external cooler completely bypassing the rad.



I'll get around to replacing the rad soon but with winter fast approaching it's less of a priority.



My temp light has come on twice while climbing up mountains in the summer but it's been fine (I think) for everything else I do.

Sounds like the external cooler isn’t doing a good job, unless your pulling some really heavy load up the mountain pass.


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[Sportznut]

still on the original , but i bypassed the transmission cooler inside and added a separate transmission cooler. If the original starts seeping I will change it as milkshake is not possible with my setup.

Exactly what I did to my 2000 V6 SR5 too. Cheap insurance. Had my local shop do it for under $300.

Had it done at about 90,000 miles and no problems ..sold it at 225,000 miles.

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[Tomffmedic]

I did until last week. 289,600 miles on it.

 

[squaregrouper2]

250K on a 1998 and it's still in there. Just a matter of time though I guess.

 

[2000se]

I haven't called my local toyota parts dealer yet for a quote on a OEM radiator, but the link that you just provided is a Denso radiator by just looking up that part number on google. The reviews on amazon aren't that great and not sure what manufacture I'm going to do at this point on purchasing a radiator. https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyota-16410-YZZAJ-Radiator-4Runner/dp/B008CLJ66I

Another thing is, if you bring your vehicle into any mechanic they will not warranty there work if you provide the parts/radiator.

I'm thinking that I will eat the $750 and have the dealer do it. Should have had it done when I did the timing belt/water pump..etc. Oh well.

I don't know..I mean if the radiator goes out and milkshakes my trans. how much is a new trans. or one from a part out. Crap. $750 will make a good dent in that price. So it is either pay $750 now and avoid the pink shake, or wait (take a chance) and put that $750 towards a new trans IF it happens. Idk,, just thinking out loud..

 

[Sportznut]

I'm thinking that I will eat the $750 and have the dealer do it. Should have had it done when I did the timing belt/water pump..etc. Oh well.

I don't know..I mean if the radiator goes out and milkshakes my trans. how much is a new trans. or one from a part out. Crap. $750 will make a good dent in that price. So it is either pay $750 now and avoid the pink shake, or wait (take a chance) and put that $750 towards a new trans IF it happens. Idk,, just thinking out loud..

Suggest you seriously consider having a reputable transmission shop do what is suggested in post 12, 45 & 49. Bypass the radiator altogether by adding an external trans cooler. Simple.

This removes any chance of a pink milkshake with any future replacement radiator as well.

My cost was under $300 with parts& labor but that was about 9 years ago.

Good luck.



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[Collkid]

I watch craigslist like a hawk, in the past year I have counted 15 pink milkshake trucks in the Minneapolis area. IMO it's an issue of both age and people thinking they just don't ever need to change coolant. heating up and cooling down thousands of times just takes it's tole on things.

once your radiator gets 15 years old replace it. no questions asked just do it. it's a $150 job with new coolant and you should be good for another 15 years.

not doing it can destroy your transmission and cause major engine damage.

This is where I landed.

I would think about the pink milkshake thing pretty regularly on our long trips to the mountains in my 4runner. It didn't show any signs of being worn down or old, but I figured it was worth the $150 to be able to sleep better at night.

Super simple. Totally worth it.

Just like the LBJ's.

 

[2000se]

Suggest you seriously consider having a reputable transmission shop do what is suggested in post 12, 45 & 49. Bypass the radiator altogether by adding an external trans cooler. Simple.

This removes any chance of a pink milkshake with any future replacement radiator as well.

My cost was under $300 with parts& labor but that was about 9 years ago.

Good luck.



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thanks and agree ..on it...

 

[Mr. Goodkat]

I replaced all three drive belts, radiator hoses, thermostat, and the original radiator. The new Taiwan OEM radiator fit great and the only difference I saw was the styling of the drain valve. All parts were OEM from Camelback Toyota.

I couple weeks ago my coolant temp on the Torque app was reading about 199-210 degrees. The dingle on the thermostat was at the 12 position. I installed the new one with the dingle at the 6 and afterwards my temp ranged from 188.6-190.2 degrees cruising down the road so the dingle position must make a difference.

I chose not to bypass my radiator internal transmission cooler even though I had originally planned too. I have B&M cooler to go in but it makes sense that the coolant can help heat the trans fluid which is probably important to me since I live in Upper Michigan, short trip and don't do much hauling yet. I'll install the cooler this summer when I get a new grill. Trans fluid temp ranged from 125-140 while cruising the highway. It got up in the 150-160 range while cruising around the neighborhood with more shifting and accelerating. It settled back down after steady cruising.

There were no leaks of any kind, no signs of the strawberry milkshake, no belts squealing, I topped off the trans fluid with just shy of two quarts of Castrol IMV, and all temps seem normal. Feels good to have a good job done. :cheers:

 

[Boognish_Forever]

I replaced all three drive belts, radiator hoses, thermostat, and the original radiator. The new Taiwan OEM radiator fit great and the only difference I saw was the styling of the drain valve. All parts were OEM from Camelback Toyota.



I couple weeks ago my coolant temp on the Torque app was reading about 199-210 degrees. The dingle on the thermostat was at the 12 position. I installed the new one with the dingle at the 6 and afterwards my temp ranged from 188.6-190.2 degrees cruising down the road so the dingle position must make a difference.



I chose not to bypass my radiator internal transmission cooler even though I had originally planned too. I have B&M cooler to go in but it makes sense that the coolant can help heat the trans fluid which is probably important to me since I live in Upper Michigan, short trip and don't do much hauling yet. I'll install the cooler this summer when I get a new grill. Trans fluid temp ranged from 125-140 while cruising the highway. It got up in the 150-160 range while cruising around the neighborhood with more shifting and accelerating. It settled back down after steady cruising.



There were no leaks of any kind, no signs of the strawberry milkshake, no belts squealing, I topped off the trans fluid with just shy of two quarts of Castrol IMV, and all temps seem normal. Feels good to have a good job done. :cheers:

Good to hear that radiator from camelback went in well. How was taking off your transmission fluid lines and other bolts being that you live in a salt belt?

I’ll probably hold off on changing the radiator till spring. But I’m tempted to just bring it to this shop in Portland that specializes in Toyota’s and have them service my transmission fluid meaning not flushing, just pulling all the fluid through the cooler lines as they agreed that flushing is bad for older transmission. Gotta have a machine to pull that tranny fluid out of the torque converter and just have them change the radiator at the same time.


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[Boognish_Forever]

I'm thinking that I will eat the $750 and have the dealer do it. Should have had it done when I did the timing belt/water pump..etc. Oh well.



I don't know..I mean if the radiator goes out and milkshakes my trans. how much is a new trans. or one from a part out. Crap. $750 will make a good dent in that price. So it is either pay $750 now and avoid the pink shake, or wait (take a chance) and put that $750 towards a new trans IF it happens. Idk,, just thinking out loud..

Sportznut does have a good point on the external, but do you live in a hot climate or pull heavy loads?

I’m steering away from the idea of have an external transmission cooler just because I don’t pull anything more then 800lbs and I don’t live in a hot climate and want my transmission to warm up to a safe operating temperature. I’ll probably wait till spring on replacing my radiator, but you should google in your area if there’s any mechanics that specializes in Toyota’s and possibly get a cheaper quote then $750.

FYI a used transmission plus labor would cost you over $2000 and that’s why we need to change are radiators.


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[Mr. Goodkat]

Good to hear that radiator from camelback went in well. How was taking off your transmission fluid lines and other bolts being that you live in a salt belt?

I’ll probably hold off on changing the radiator till spring. But I’m tempted to just bring it to this shop in Portland that specializes in Toyota’s and have them service my transmission fluid meaning not flushing, just pulling all the fluid through the cooler lines as they agreed that flushing is bad for older transmission. Gotta have a machine to pull that tranny fluid out of the torque converter and just have them change the radiator at the same time.


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I bought mine in Appleton Wisconsin but it spent most of its life in Colorado so its basically rust free. I have it coated with Fluid Film and WD40 now. I only had to remove the trans lines from the radiator and they came off with a slight twist.

I've been reading up on flushing too and I basically have the same conclusion you do on the matter. My fluid was bright red though and the previous owners were on top of proper maintenance. I'll probably just do a dump and fill in the summer when I add the external cooler and filter. Like I said, my original idea was to bypass but given how there are mornings well below zero, we don't have a camper yet to tow and don't have mountains I figured it wasn't critical. My original went 204,xxx miles without a problem and I check my fluids monthly or when I fill up so I think I'll be ok. The radiator is Taiwanese but I think a lot of manufacturing is done there despite it being a small island. I will take a Taiwanese radiator over a Chinese radiator.

 

[wlfmachine]

I have 190K on my 2001, and I haven't replaced the radiator, but I did add the B&M transmission cooler so of course now the transmission is disconnected from the original radiator.