Radiator Blew

[cv4runner]

FYI:
Yesterday on my to work I notice the check engine and VRSB lit up on my dash. I just figured the gas cap wasn't on all the way until I noticed my temp gauge climbing quickly. I popped the hood and there was coolant leaking all over the place. I couldn't tell from where as I had my work clothes on. Thankfully I was at my destination and when the car was towed in I was told the radiator needed replacing.
I'm bummed my rock-solid Toyota blew a radiator with only 78,000 miles. Has anybody else experienced this? Seems like this shouldn't have happened.

 

[fdbyrne]

I have an 04 SR5 V6. My radiator isn't original. I couldn't tell you exactly when it failed or how catastrophically, however. It was replaced by the prior owner.

 

[wadle5]

Mine started leaking a bit around 100k on the driver side, so I just replaced it myself with an aftermarket one.

 

[przm]

Mine went out around 140k, replaced it with an $80 aftermarket one, been running great since!

 

[RunnerAK]

The one on our V6 failed at around 85K miles. Nothing catastrophic like yours, just a slow leak on the driver's side. I replaced mine with an aftermarket one too, my original thread is here.

 

[cv4runner]

Thanks. Goods heads up.

Thanks.
I truly am thankful that I didn't warp the heads.

What threw me was this:
Toyota Parts and Service

Coolant flush at 100,000.

My car is not abused at all.

I regularly maintain it according to factory specs.

Could this have been avoided?

 

[cv4runner]

The one on our V6 failed at around 85K miles. Nothing catastrophic like yours, just a slow leak on the driver's side. I replaced mine with an aftermarket one too, my original thread is here.

Totally agree since factory specs say the coolant is good til 100,000. Guess years is more important than miles in this case.

 

[fdbyrne]

Could it have been avoided? Probably not.

Honestly, I think it just falls into the category of 'shit happens.' With all of the complex systems in a vehicle and all of the complicated manufacturing techniques used to make them sometimes things just go wrong.

Maybe there was a minor flaw in the radiator from the very beginning that took this long to expose itself.

Maybe a rock was thrown up and took on of those JFK trajectories and damaged the radiator somehow.

Either way, it wasn't likely due to poor maintenance and probably doesn't exemplify a larger, more wide-spread problem.

 

[Sungod]

Thanks.


Could this have been avoided?

sure, You could have not driven it or put a force field in front of your radiator. You have to remember that your radiator sits in the front of your vehicle and takes a beating. It is remarkable that they last as long as they do. No part or car is perfect so there is no need to stress over it. You just replace it and move on.

 

[radlynx]

agree, just replace it and move on to the next thousand miles. parts will fail at some point and you just need to be ready for it.

 

[cv4runner]

Thanks for the info guys.
What really got me about this is that it easily could have led to significant damage. It doesn't take much to warp a head.
Anyways, just a shout out to those with original radiators that they definitely want to inspect closely, although in this case there was no warning.
eace: