Radiator failure but what else

[Jasonredwood]

2006 4runner v8 230k on the vehicle.
Timing belt and water pump up to date.
Radiator is two years old. Denso.
Fresh oil change two weeks ago.

On a 100 mile trip the over flow started steaming.
Car engine temp was normal but allllll the lights on the dash came on.
Pulled off freeway to a gas station and popped hood.

Overflow bottle cap was off and gook all over bottle. Let it cool for a bit and opened radiator cap that had all but fell off.

Oil looks fine. Oil cap looks fine.

What says the audience?

 

[Jasonredwood]

Side note: black gook is odorless.
Maybe this radiator gave up the ghost and cooked the plastic?

 

[LOSTR4]

Radiator plug, thermostat?

 

[88Center]

Service Manual for the 4th gen 4Runner with V8,

2UZ-FE

• Cooling System: On-Vehicle Inspection, Inspection
• Cooling: Coolant: Replacement
• Cooling: Water Pump: Components, Removal, Installation, Inspection
• Cooling: Thermostat: Components, Removal, Inspection, Installation
• Cooling: Radiator: Components, On-Vehicle Inspection, On-Vehicle Cleaning
• Cooling: Radiator: Removal, Installation

 

[88Center]

I'd start with thermostat. Test that first.

If it broke or stuck in open or closed position, could cause overheating.

Also, are you using Toyota pink coolant or aftermarket?

“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite and non-borate coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology.

V8 needs 12.3 liters or 13 qts or 3.25 gallons. 2004 onward takes the pink premixed coolant; not the same as red. Pink is #00272-SLLC2 $22.48 at dealership. Zerex ZRX 675130 Asian Vehicle Anitfreeze is $15 at NAPA.

 

[Hungryhawk]

So if the actual radiator cap was not tightly put on when inspected last time (oil change multi-point inspection?) the radiator would rapidly lose coolant and when low enough the whole engine, radiator, overflow reservoir could get really hot!
Perhaps enough to affect tranny heat exchanger in radiator and even the engine head gaskets.
With luck you can refill radiator, add new cap, perhaps change thermostat, check hoses for overheated stiffness, inspect tranny fluid and fluid level. If it runs smooth makes no CE and OBD2 inspection is normal you can drive locally and continue to monitor everything.

 

[Jasonredwood]

I ran the equivalent to Toyota pink from oreillys. The Asian car pink coolant.

I had the 4runner towed to the shop that last did the timing belt/water pump 5 years ago.
I’m going to have them asses it and if it looks like it was the thermostat or radiator that failed then I’ll order parts for the cooling system and t-belt.

The car never showed temperature gain anymore than normal.

You can see though that the coolant was hot enough to start melting black plastic. Tried uploading a picture but it keeps failing

 

[FrontRange4]

So if the actual radiator cap was not tightly put on when inspected last time (oil change multi-point inspection?) the radiator would rapidly lose coolant and when low enough the whole engine, radiator, overflow reservoir could get really hot!
Perhaps enough to affect tranny heat exchanger in radiator and even the engine head gaskets.
With luck you can refill radiator, add new cap, perhaps change thermostat, check hoses for overheated stiffness, inspect tranny fluid and fluid level. If it runs smooth makes no CE and OBD2 inspection is normal you can drive locally and continue to monitor everything.

Hmm... Check hoses for stiffness. My v8 has 305k miles. My family has owned it forever and we have never had radiator issues. All of a sudden about 1 month ago, my top radiator hose blew off. I put the hose back on, filled up my coolant, and thought I was good. Then last week, the same thing happens, even with a new hose clamp installed.

Engine isn't running hot, maybe my old ass hoses are stiff? I pulled the trigger this week and bought the brand new HPS Silicone hoses and am getting a new radiator and thermostat installed, along with these hoses. My buddy works at a shop and they'll also coolant flush it for me too and put all new coolant in.

I think my issue is similar to this guys'. Are my hoses just old and stiff? I think I can't get the top hose to stay on anymore because the rubber almost feels like plastic.

 

[FrontRange4]

Here are pics for reference.

There is a new hose clamp I installed (it still popped off just last week)

And here is what was sitting in the hose after it popped off the first time. Looks like old plastic. Maybe this is what melted in yours??

Here's the links:

https://imgur.com/a/fhpYK2c

https://imgur.com/a/vdX1XsQ

 

[Hungryhawk]

Do you have a OBD2 reader that can give engine coolant temperature in real time? There are readers that plug into the OBD2 port and output to a smart phone via bluetooth.
Our guages are only slightly better than the idiot red light on some cars. And they depend on a good thermostat.
Hoses like belts get old. Best to replace before failure.

 

[Runnin on E]

..... I’ll order parts for the cooling system and t-belt.

Here you reference the T belt and also in your initial post you state it was changed Just to be sure are you talking about the CAM timing chains or the serpentine belt on the front of the engine? Those two are completely different. When the CAM timing chains are changed by the stealership they put a sticker somewhere saying when it was done. It's a big deal and a lot of expensive work to change the TIMING CHAINS. Which is it?

 

[AuSeeker]

Here you reference the T belt and also in your initial post you state it was changed Just to be sure are you talking about the CAM timing chains or the serpentine belt on the front of the engine? Those two are completely different. When the CAM timing chains are changed by the stealership they put a sticker somewhere saying when it was done. It's a big deal and a lot of expensive work to change the TIMING CHAINS. Which is it?

I was wondering the same thing.....BUT it's a V8 so it has a timing belt not chains.

 

[Drcoffee]

You are talking about blowing the radiator hose off the radiator. Thats a lot of pressure. I would rule out head gasket albeit rare, still happens. Also a failed water pump or stuck T-stat.

 

[Jasonredwood]

Here you reference the T belt and also in your initial post you state it was changed Just to be sure are you talking about the CAM timing chains or the serpentine belt on the front of the engine? Those two are completely different. When the CAM timing chains are changed by the stealership they put a sticker somewhere saying when it was done. It's a big deal and a lot of expensive work to change the TIMING CHAINS. Which is it?

The v8 has a timing belt. That’s what I mentioned was changed and I will change it again. I don’t go to dealerships for the work to be done. If I have the time and patience I’ll do the work. When I don’t have the time and patience I take it to a qualified shop. So like I said, it was the timing belt.