Engine Temperatures

PatchTrash said:
Justin you go to a Toy dealership to do your work? I am thinking I will take my rad to them and get them to do the same and replace the thermostat and do the coolant. Any idea what they charge? I get better wifi out here then i do phone service btw! lol my phone is posted up on the top of one of our computer servers close to the window just to get one bar haha


I just read this on YT, answered my own question about burping and how to,

Anyone swapping radiators should pick up a "burping" kit from your local auto parts store. Basically a funnel with mutliple adapters for multiple radiators and it allows you to fill it up with extra coolant and run the motor and as the air "burps" out it lets more coolant run it. After all the air is out you push the stopper in and pick up the funnel and save the extra coolant. Makes life easy and inexpensive.
Click to expand...

No I defiantly don't take it to the dealer lol. I have a buddy here who works for a Toyota speciality shop who does my work. On my old 4runner I had a guy who is a Lexus master tech who used to do the work. I am going to have to find his number again but I would really like to start doing my own work
 
PhdNPrerunners said:
Ok guys I have been noticing that on the freeway my temps are in 200-202 range in 70 degree weather but when I am driving around town the engine temp is around 190-195. I am getting ready to drive the 4runner from California to Texas so the temps will be around 100 degrees during the day. Do you guys think I will be ok with the engine temps?
Click to expand...

200 is just about optimum temp. i wouldnt worry about it.
 
LittleCaesar said:
Shine a flashlight through the condenser and radiator to see if you can see light coming through the other side.

If good to go, then try burping the cooling system with the radiator cap off and the heat on max. How old is the coolant?

Was that water pump OEM?
Click to expand...

I shined a flash light through the radiator and I could see light going through onto the engine. Is that good?
 
PhdNPrerunners said:
You aren't worried when it gets over 200?
Click to expand...

Nope.
I even talked to a service manager and he said that it is perfect. It'll run 205*-207* even when it's cool out. This is what the thermostat does.

Even when its 100*+ out, the lower radiator is cool.
 
Really? I am on a 4th gen, and this is the first vehicle I have ever had a digital, full time read out, but I have almost 0 movement.

I live in TN, where it is hot and very hilly. I have all types of conditions, up and down, stop and go... freeway and city and I have almost 0 variation. My experience when a cooling system, at least an efficient cooling system is this: The temp that your thermostat is sets the temp. You heat up the coolant until it opens, the moment it opens... that is the temp, more or less, you stay at.

When on older vehicles I experienced changes in the gauge while driving, it was almost always due to some issue. A clogged radiator, weak pump, or low coolant.

I have a 4th gen and it stays at 190.0 almost on the dot. If it varies, it is usually within a 1 or 2 degrees. I have not seen the swings you guys are seeing.

Then again.... each generation operates different. So...
 
Update guys I had my coolant and thermostat replaced and now the cooling system is working a lot better. The highest temp I saw while driving around today was 184, before I had the stuff replaced it would normally be around 204-205 so I'm happy! :D
 
PhdNPrerunners said:
Update guys I had my coolant and thermostat replaced and now the cooling system is working a lot better. The highest temp I saw while driving around today was 184, before I had the stuff replaced it would normally be around 204-205 so I'm happy! :D
Click to expand...

Sweet! Glad to hear you got it all sorted out
 
Funny story:

My wife has an Audi A6 with the biturbo 2.7. She was 2 miles from the house and she calls me to tell me that the Red warning light was blinking. The A6 has a center dash display that shows the driver what doors are open and if everything is good, then it shows the song playing on the radio. When things are bad, it tells the driver if they are low on windshield washer fluid, low oil, no gas, if the engine is running too hot or whatever else it might display.

So anyway, her car was overheating. I thought it was low on coolant but it was at the correct level.

I drove the car and power was good, no white smoke out the exhuast, but within 2 miles, the over heat warning was flashing and the engine H2O temp gauge was in the red.

Her car has an oil temp gauge but it was reading normal.

I took it back home and the Audi was hot. I came to the conclusion that the water pump went out or the thermostat hit the bucket.

I broke her car down today and it was a pain in the arse. Audi put the thermostat under the timing belt so the whole front of the car had to broke down to get to it.

Point of the story is that the thermostat was bad. I dug it out, threw it in a pot of boiling water and it never opened up. This was the first "bad thermostat" that I have ever seen in my life.

Look at the this vdo. This was the crap that i had to do today.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oZ9E4Vua32k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Last edited:
Bumping this up to see if anyone else keeps track of their actual temp numbers?

Mine runs 200-212 regardless of temperature or driving condition. I was surprised that it ran 210 in cold and rain just like it does in heat and sun.

Reading this thread, it appears I'm 20-30 degrees too hot.
 
I have a 97 5speed and replaced everything with OEM water pump and Toyota coolant. Scangauge reads 183 and will only change one or two degrees. When I towed a trailer from Utah to WA the hottest it ever got was 210 for a short period of time and and it avg about 10 degrees warmer during towing.
 
Coolant Temps

I know I may get jumped on about this but just for reference to show the reliability and efficiency of the 3.4 motor.

I have 145k on my stock limited 02' 2wd runner. Only oil changes have been done with dino toyota 5-30 every 3k miles w/ oem oil filter. Spark plugs, air filter, and fuel filter only changed once through vehicle life. I live in Houston where temps can get up to 105~106F easy in the summer. I drive it hard in the city, beach, and sugar hill offroad park.

The truck is almost 12 years old and still has original drive belts, timing belt, h2o pump, thermostat, and radiator. It purrs with no valvetrain noise or any other funky noises.

Heres the crazy part, according to the ultragauge - I average 21mpg with instant 27-30mpg on the highway (never exceeding 65mph). Coolant wise, it has never passed 186F, EVER. With A/C on blast, whether it be low end torque racing fools on the street or offroad on the beach or sugar hill.

Just my two cents to the forums. Toyota 3.4 FTW! :guitar3:
 
According to Ultraguage mine usually runs between 188-194.
Don't ever remember seeing it over 196 even in super hot and humid and stop and go.
That is running about 50/50 distilled water and Toyota Red coolant.
The more "water" you run the cooler it should run a bit cooler, however it will also boil at a lower temp and has less anti corrosive properties.

I change my coolant every 2 years
 
I run the 170 thermostat, temp stays around 185-190, doesn't really change no matter how i drive, altho when i wheel temp changes quiet a lot from 179-199
 
190-195 here.

I had never watched Singtoe's attached video before. What a PITA. I hope Ripcord enjoys changing the timing belt on his new Audi. Just one more reason never to buy a German auto for me.
 
Cmayer said:
Bumping this up to see if anyone else keeps track of their actual temp numbers?

Mine runs 200-212 regardless of temperature or driving condition. I was surprised that it ran 210 in cold and rain just like it does in heat and sun.

Reading this thread, it appears I'm 20-30 degrees too hot.
Click to expand...

Had my timing belt, pulleys, thermostat, and hoses replaced and I now run 190-195 consistently. My tranny temp is down too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 350 (members: 6, guests: 344)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,304
Messages
3,554,041
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top