Overheating from...

[bulger22]

So last week this happened once and it happened again today. I go out in the morning to heat up the 4runner to take the kids to school, let it warm up for around 10 mins then head off, well about 3/4 of the way there the temp gauge creeps up to the red zone and I have to pull over (same spot) and let it sit for about 10 minutes, and restart to find out everything is fine. I hear gurgling noises coming from the dash though?

Could this be the thermostat sticking? I have more water than anti-freeze in it too could this be a problem on the really cold days? I'm confused as to what it could be and Im tired of my kids being late. Any ideas?

 

[bulger22]

I had the heater core replaced last year (both of them) and the radiator is about 4 years old after replacing it. Could that sound I hear be something in the Firewall blocking it up? It sounded like rustling at one point.

 

[UnifEyed]

I had the overheating problem happen to me a month ago. I replaced the fan clutch...~$40 bucks and super easy repair. The fan probably wasn't spinning as fast as it should because the fan clutch was slipping, which means the turning force the engine is creating to spin the fan really fast is not getting transferred.

I replaced it and the temp gauge stays normal. Even if the fan is still spinning when you turn on the truck, that doesn't mean the fan clutch is good. The truck should do the obligatory roar at start up as the fan should be in full swing, and still be allowed to spin after the engine speed slows a bit. That's just my estimated guess but I'm sure someone else will chime in. You can check if you need a new fan clutch by seeing if it's hard to spin the fan with the engine off. It should show resistance similar to pushing a car when its in gear.


As for the gurgling, if the fan clutch is not the reason for overheating, then I am not sure and someone more qualified will probably help you here.

 

[giovannie23]

I had a Camry make that same gurgling whooshing behind the dash and all I needed was to top off the radiator with toyota red..I would advice you do a radiator flush with some fresh toyota red but beforr you fill it up tje final time I would fill amd drain at least 2 times with distilled water to make sure you get everything out I bet that would fix your problem just my 2 cents

 

[pluton]

X2 on the fan clutch and coolant change; you can also replace the thermostat while it's drained. If you don't know how old the hoses are, throw those in as well. Use OEM parts if possible.
Overheating at slow speed is classic bad fan clutch; overheating at highway speed is classic clogged radiator.

 

[awthorn]

@OP, Gurgling sounds more like the system has not been properly burped which could show low with fluids. Did the problem only start when it started getting cold and you started to use your heater after having the cores replaced? I would try burping your cooling system.

If you are in an area where temps do get to freezing I do recommend having the correct fluids for your truck in it. Also if you do replace or add any fluids make sure they are compatible, some radiator fluids like Toyota red don't like the green junk and can gunk up your system, and only use distilled water.

Also, I know it is cold out but stick your finger, or white paper towel, in the fluid to see what it looks like (not when hot!!). I had an overheating issue that ended up being my Radiator. Also, side note. Check out the "pink milkshake" radiator issues.

You could have an issue of a sticky thermostat but I do believe the thermostat on these "defaults" to open.

Hope this helps some. Good luck and keep those kiddos warm!

 

[Ol'Blue]

^^^^^^^ 100% agree with above. If you are hearing that is it because there is an air pocket. We deal with it allot in our Radiator shop with cars.

Get this out and see how she runs.

Blue

 

[bulger22]

I'll try flushing it out to burp it but another side note 2 weeks ago I had the coils and plugs changed and I brought up the sound ive been hearing that I thought was the fan or near it and he listened with the stethescope and said the bearings are going out on the A/C clutch/pulley? It sounds horrible too would this affect the fan as well on the power it pulls, etc?

 

[giovannie23]

Sounds like your over thinking it a tad bit :/
You should ne fine with that flush and burping let us know how it goes also if you can't get to a dealer for the red you can use the Asian zerex compatible with toy red you can find at Napa hope that helps

 

[bulger22]

So I havent had a chance to flush it yet but it did it again, when I stopped and checked under the hood it was hissing up near the engine, and maybe a cup of fluid spilled out somewhere too this time.

Could this be a cracked head or gasket problem before I waste $ on the flushing?

 

[jgue467]

cracked head = white smoke (steam) out the taipipe. Does it do that?

If not, do the burp thing pronto before you damage something with overheating! :fear:

 

[KidVermicious]

"hissing up near the engine" - like the firewall, say?

I wouldn't bother with the flush right now. The gurgling is air in your heater lines, and it's a sign of a coolant leak somewhere. So is the hissing. Now it's a good bet you're significantly low on coolant at this point, so please wait until the motor is cold and then fill your radiator to the top with more of whatever color coolant is in there now. To burp it, take it around the block a couple times and have fun with the throttle, then bring it back and top it off again (after it's cooled!). That should get you and your kids to school in the morning, at least. Don't drive the truck again until you do this, because even if your head gasket is intact now, it's a good bet it won't survive too many more overheating cycles (while you have the rad cap off, look for oil floating on the coolant that's in there, and pull the oil cap and look for white goo - a tiny amount is nothing to worry about, more could be a sign of trouble).

Your next task is to track down that leak - I'm assuming you don't mind getting dirty and will be doing this yourself? It could be in the heater lines, it could be in the coolant lines, it could be in the heater core behind the dash, it could be a head gasket, it could be a lot of things. A good way to start is a physical check of every coolant line. Start with the big ones into and out of the radiator, check along their entire length, then go to the smaller heater hoses into and out of the firewall behind the motor. You're looking for crusty white or pink residue, and it won't necessarily be where the hoses are clamped, you could have a hole anywhere along their length. If you can't find any, I recommend a block test to determine if you have a blown head gasket, even if there are no other signs, just to rule it out. If you don't see a leak and the block test is negative, we can go from there, but lets cover the basics first.

 

[Doc2012]

So I havent had a chance to flush it yet but it did it again, when I stopped and checked under the hood it was hissing up near the engine, and maybe a cup of fluid spilled out somewhere too this time.

Could this be a cracked head or gasket problem before I waste $ on the flushing?

Stop Nukeing it.


If it gets hot, it will boil into the coolant reservoir, and possiblt pop the top on the coolant reservoir.

Let it get cool.

Jack the front end up as high as you can get it, while still being able to access the radiator and top hose.

Take the rad cap off, make sure it's still good, start the truck, and look at the fluid in the rad.

You should be able to see it flowing.

If you CAN'T see fluid, you're way to low, and you need to add more.

Go to the store and buy some distilled water. A gallon should only be like a buck or something.

Add it untill you can see it in the rad.

Grab the upper hose, squeeze, and add more water.


The upward angle of the motor will cause and air to come to the top and into the rad.

Distilled water doesn't hurt our systems.

The system will "burp", meaning it will force water out of the opening in the radiator aong with any air.

The longer you let it run in this set up, the more air you'll get out.



Drive it, see what happens.



As far as a HG, check for coolant in the oil, or oil in the coolant.


If it keeps over heating, its probably a fan clutch.

 

[bulger22]

Why would this only occur in the morning? Also I've been having to add to the resevoir for the past 2 weeks now, but everytime I check the rad after it runs out in the resevoir it's still full in the radiator.

Parked it on a hill in the back, it burped a bit especially with cap off and revved up to 3000 rpms. I noticed steam down above the bottom rad hose (thermostat) and noticed the bottom hose was not hot like the top rad hose. Water pump then? Haven't changed it since Ive had the vehicle.