Engine heating up when idling still

[GrampsT4R]

So this morning I went to pick up a buddy and when I was waiting in front of his house, the temp gauge started to climb. It got up just below the red, then I shut it off. Went and bought coolant, filled it to the full line. Drove home 25 miles, stayed normal the whole time. Pulling into the garage, it's started to climb again. The fan runs when it's idling.

No idea what it could be.

Help please.

1999 supercharged highlander edition. No real mods to speak of.

 

[MStudt]

So this morning I went to pick up a buddy and when I was waiting in front of his house, the temp gauge started to climb. It got up just below the red, then I shut it off. Went and bought coolant, filled it to the full line. Drove home 25 miles, stayed normal the whole time. Pulling into the garage, it's started to climb again. The fan runs when it's idling.

No idea what it could be.

Help please.

1999 supercharged highlander edition. No real mods to speak of.

Could be a couple things, and I'd start with your thermostat. Could also be the fact that you have a lot of rust and buildup in your radiator. It could also be freeze plugs. Are you losing coolant, or is it just running hot?

 

[shootmymime]

So this morning I went to pick up a buddy and when I was waiting in front of his house, the temp gauge started to climb. It got up just below the red, then I shut it off. Went and bought coolant, filled it to the full line. Drove home 25 miles, stayed normal the whole time. Pulling into the garage, it's started to climb again. The fan runs when it's idling.

No idea what it could be.

Help please.

1999 supercharged highlander edition. No real mods to speak of.

if you cant turn the car off crank the heat up on both (front and rear) heaters and turn the blower fans on full. this acts as a radiator to help cool the coolant.

that should dramatically help the truck form over heating while in heavy traffic. just so you know..

 

[BrianSD_42]

Based on your post I would say take it to a mechanic.

If you want to troubleshoot yourself then:

How much coolant have you added. Has it lost any coolant recently?

Where are you adding the coolant? The reservoir doesn't cycle or pump coolant it is just a pressure expansion tank. So you could have the plastic overflow tank full to the top and the actual radiator empty of coolant entirely.

 

[JEL]

Just because the fan is turning, doesn't mean it's pulling enough air. Look up the "newspaper fan clutch test" and try that out. I had this exact same thing happen on my Mercedes, and it was indeed the clutch. It was spinning but "slipping" and not pulling nearly enough air through to cool it down.

 

[GrampsT4R]

I was adding coolant at the overflow. It hasn't dropped any coolant but it has consistently been losing it.

I took it in to a shop because I have to have a car and don't have time this week to futz with it. Thanks for all your replies, I'll report back what they find

 

[mxer]

My vote is on weak fan clutch first, sticky t stat second.

 

[MStudt]

It hasn't dropped any coolant but it has consistently been losing it.

It's going somewhere! If it's not dripping out onto the ground then it's going somewhere inside. Pay close attention and make sure it's not leaking out. how many miles on it, and is it the OEM radiator?

My vote is on weak fan clutch first, sticky t stat second.

Seems like a bigger issue than that.

 

[JEL]

It's going somewhere! If it's not dripping out onto the ground then it's going somewhere inside. Pay close attention and make sure it's not leaking out. how many miles on it, and is it the OEM radiator?



Seems like a bigger issue than that.

Yeah if it's losing coolant but not anywhere that can be seen dripping/spraying, it could be a larger issue than the clutch. of course it doesn't hurt to test it, but OP keep an eye for mixing of oil/coolant on the radiator and crankcase.

 

[slides]

have you visually searched all over for coolant leaks, have you been able to smell any coolant also? My BMW had a tiny coolant leak along the edge of the radiator that took a month to find

 

[BrianSD_42]

So when you added coolant you added it to the radiator?

I wouldn't think fan clutch if you are loosing coolant.

 

[KimIsAGuy]

Have you tried pressure checking it? If its leaking, is there any visual sign in the reservoir or radiator that you're losing fluids?

 

[4RunnerChaos]

have you visually searched all over for coolant leaks, have you been able to smell any coolant also? My BMW had a tiny coolant leak along the edge of the radiator that took a month to find

I'm losing coolant along the lines that go to the heater in the back seat, don't know if you have that or if it was even an option, but I'd check there. On my truck it's two parallel metal lines that run under the passenger side from the engine compartment down the body, takes the same route as the exhaust. It causes me to refill my coolant once every couple weeks.

 

[Ol'Blue]

So this morning I went to pick up a buddy and when I was waiting in front of his house, the temp gauge started to climb. It got up just below the red, then I shut it off. Went and bought coolant, filled it to the full line. Drove home 25 miles, stayed normal the whole time. Pulling into the garage, it's started to climb again. The fan runs when it's idling.

No idea what it could be.

Help please.

1999 supercharged highlander edition. No real mods to speak of.

As said before it could be a few things. I'm going to give you the best advise you are going to get knowing were you live.

Do not take it to any other shop in the area other that to Eric at Yotamasters in Corona. It will get fixed right the first time, period.

Blue

 

[mxer]

It's going somewhere! If it's not dripping out onto the ground then it's going somewhere inside. Pay close attention and make sure it's not leaking out. how many miles on it, and is it the OEM radiator?



Seems like a bigger issue than that.

Then why is it fine when the truck is moving?

My third and better guess is leaky radiator cap and the coolant is boiling off.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Do not take it to any other shop in the area other that to Eric at Yotamasters in Corona. It will get fixed right the first time, period.

Blue

I've never been but I've heard lots of good things.

 

[MStudt]

Then why is it fine when the truck is moving?

My third and better guess is leaky radiator cap and the coolant is boiling off.

If you have a cracked head or head gasket the coolant will seep into the head when the truck is off. When you start it up it'll run rough until the coolant is burned off, and will continue to burn off until you turn the truck back off. Pull your plugs and see if they're wet. If they are then you know the problem.

You'd see evidence of it boiling off do to a leaky cap. You'll have a residue either running down the radiator or squirting out in your engine compartment. Even if your cap is leaking you'll be able to see coolant in the engine compartment and most likely some of it will make it to the ground. If your engine carpet has no coolant splattered around it, then it's going somewhere else. You should also note the cool of the coolant too. If it's looking a little pink or brown it could be mixing with your transmission fluid. However I doubt that is case since you'd notice your transmission slipping.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

A weak or not engaging clutch fan will also do the same as he's describing.

 

[GrampsT4R]

I changed the plugs about two months ago and they were perfectly clean. The wrong kind, but in good shape.

It hasn't been losing much coolant. Maybe 1/4 of it between oil changes which are about every 5k because I drive a lot. This last time they changed the oil I don't think they topped it off though.

The mechanic called and said they can't get it to overheat now that the coolant is topped up. So it may be fine. Except where is the coolant going.....its a Halloween mystery......

Thanks for all your input. Once I have it back, I'll start hunting for a coolant leak in all the places you've suggested.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I changed the plugs about two months ago and they were perfectly clean. The wrong kind, but in good shape.

It hasn't been losing much coolant. Maybe 1/4 of it between oil changes which are about every 5k because I drive a lot. This last time they changed the oil I don't think they topped it off though.

The mechanic called and said they can't get it to overheat now that the coolant is topped up. So it may be fine. Except where is the coolant going.....its a Halloween mystery......

Thanks for all your input. Once I have it back, I'll start hunting for a coolant leak in all the places you've suggested.

If you haven't yet put a new rad cap on it.