Radiator/Oil Cooler Dissection

RC57

Member
Based on experience of others on this forum, I replaced the oem radiator on my 99 4R LTD with 170k miles. Most of the miles have been in North Carolina, where the roads get salted regularly during the winter months. This radiator has given me no trouble at all, however I considered it a ticking timebomb. Coolant and ATF are both clean in appearance and levels are stable.

I drained the coolant through the radiator petcock, getting out about 8liters. I did not remove the block drain, based on 8L being the capacity according to the manual. I saved the coolant and poured it back in later.

I disconnected the oil cooler outlet hose and allowed it to drain into a measuring container. Very close to 1qt drained.

All hoses came off their respective nipples easily. I've ordered replacement oil cooler lines that I'll be installing at 180k miles when I change the coolant and do a drain and fill on the auto tranny.

R&R with a Koyorad A1998 was the easiest radiator replacement I've done in ages. I did _not_ install an aftermarket oil cooler. I expect the new one built into the radiator to last 10+ years like the original. The Koyorad looks nearly identical to the oem.

I pulled the oil cooler out of the old radiator and took a few pictures and placed them in an album along with observations. The oil cooler outlet looks questionable.

Toyota - 4Runner . org Forum - RC57's Album: Radiator Dissection

Looking at the condition of the outlet fitting, I'm definitely happy with my decision to change the radiator now and not later. Now I'm wondering if all radiators of this design should be swapped out as preventative maintenance (my 97 Avalon with 170k miles fer instance)?

-RC
 
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