Author |
Message |
Andrew Goldberg
Tinkerer Victoria V8 Soarer
Posts: 26 Reg: 02-2007
| Drove to uni this morning and everything was OK. After I finished was driving home and bout halfway heard this schreeching sound from the left side, hadnt heard it before... Then when I got home patches of steam were coming from the bonnet, opened the bonnet... wasnt any steam but everything seemed pretty hot... took the coolant cap off and looked pretty empty.... So filled it up with atleast 3 litres! and tested it for bout 15 mins, didnt lose any again...Going to test it again over next few days see if it loses more... The thing that sucks is for some reason my coolant level sensor doesnt work... even though I replaced it with a brand new one, I still get the warning. |
Greg Dugan
Tinkerer NSW V8 UZZ31
Posts: 7 Reg: 01-2007
| Hi Andrew, 1.Check that your radiator cap is working properly. 2.Check that your water pump is not leaking. 3.Check that your hoses are not perished or leaking. 4.Check for leaks or cracks around the overflow tank. In my limited experience unexplained water loss is usually due to a faulty radiator cap unless you can find an obvious leak somewhere but I am no expert on Soarers. |
Andrew Goldberg
Tinkerer Victoria V8 Soarer
Posts: 27 Reg: 02-2007
| Thanks cant be the radiator cap cos I have a new one, so thats 1 less thing taking it to my mechanic this weekend will be interesting to see what it is |
Andrew Goldberg
Tinkerer Victoria V8 Soarer
Posts: 28 Reg: 02-2007
| Really interesting today seen where all the coolant stains are.. they seem to be all over the front of the engine |
Leon Wright
DieHard WA V8 UZZ31
Posts: 759 Reg: 08-2006
| Sounds like a water pump |
Andrew Goldberg
Tinkerer Victoria V8 Soarer
Posts: 29 Reg: 02-2007
| had another look quickly after driving for 10 mins.. and air/water is coming out of the join at the top part of the radiator and then onto the fan which is spraying it all over my engine... 1 possibility |
Miles Baker
DieHard Vic 66 Mustang GT Convertible, 55 Chevy Bel Air, 69 Firebird 455, 73 Corvette 4sp T-Tops
Posts: 723 Reg: 08-2005
| Top tank. Common fault. |
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer South Australia GT4.0 V8
Posts: 8113 Reg: 11-2004
| There will be a split just below the radiator cap. As Miles said, it's common, but top tanks are available from most radiator shops. |
Andrew Goldberg
Tinkerer Victoria V8 Soarer
Posts: 30 Reg: 02-2007
| oh ok thanks alot |
Andrew Goldberg
Tinkerer Victoria V8 Soarer
Posts: 31 Reg: 02-2007
| Turns out it was the top tank.. going to see about getting it fixed monday... |
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer South Australia GT4.0 V8
Posts: 8133 Reg: 11-2004
| Meanwhile, drive it with the radiator cap at the first stop. That will stop any pressure buildup squirting all the coolant out. |
Andrew Goldberg
Tinkerer Victoria V8 Soarer
Posts: 36 Reg: 02-2007
| Got a new toptank fitted cost bout $175 and got new bearings for the pulleys thanks for the help all |
Dmitriy Milyutin
Tinkerer BC UZZ31 V8
Posts: 53 Reg: 09-2008
| Sorry for stupid question, is "top tank" the same as extension tank(overflow tank with rad cap) or it is an upper part of radiator? Thanks! |
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
Posts: 10222 Reg: 11-2004
| Top tank as part of the radiator. |
Dmitriy Milyutin
Tinkerer BC UZZ31 V8
Posts: 57 Reg: 09-2008
| I see, interesting! Will monitor leaking, keep you guys updated... Good luck! |
Dmitriy Milyutin
Tinkerer BC UZZ31 V8
Posts: 71 Reg: 09-2008
| Yesterday put new aluminum aka "high performance" radiator with new green coolant . Today noticed old pink coolant in the expansion tank. Asked mechanic about it, was told "it is residual and will mixed up in couple days". Before I told him, I put about 6L of water and asked to flush it out completely. He told he put 2 cans of coolant, - about 8L. Coolant capacity is 10,8L, so roughly 1,5L of old coolant and 1,5L of water are still inside. The question is, should I change it again, or it is fine to have 1,5L of water mixed with 9L of new coolant. Thanks a lot! |
Dave Rose
DieHard wa uzz31 v8
Posts: 600 Reg: 03-2007
| Did he drain the block???...i would drain rad and block, flush while all 3 taps are open , fill with Toyota fluid and distilled water, This is a photo of uzz31 with water pump off ,only ever had Toyota fluid in. green and red do not mix well
|
Dmitriy Milyutin
Tinkerer BC UZZ31 V8
Posts: 72 Reg: 09-2008
| yeh, Dave! I guess he did not, but he told he did. If it is a true it should not be pink residuals...and it is still not mixed Just checked out and it is not mixed. But he show me can with sign saying "Perfectly mixed with any coolant colors", something like this. Should I go to special shop to flush it out and put new? What do you think, guys? Thanks a lot! |
Dave Rose
DieHard wa uzz31 v8
Posts: 602 Reg: 03-2007
| Dmitriy if you were in W.A. i would do it for you ,why not have a go yourself? look in basic maintenance (change coolant)the block taps are a bit hard to get to, but with a socket u/joint it can be done. good luck |
Dmitriy Milyutin
Tinkerer BC UZZ31 V8
Posts: 75 Reg: 09-2008
| Thanks, Dave! |
David Ormsby
Tinkerer North Island GTTL
Posts: 28 Reg: 02-2008
| So just the fluid in the expansion has not mixed? You could just empty that and refill with green coolant to match the rest? When I change my coolant I generally repeat this process a few times: 1. Drain out as much as possible 2. Refill with plain water 3. Get car up to operating temp and open heater valve 4. Wait for car to cool This should give you a reasonably coolant free system. Then add required amount of coolant in concentrated form before topping up with water. |
Dmitriy Milyutin
Tinkerer BC UZZ31 V8
Posts: 77 Reg: 09-2008
| Yes, David. It is pretty weird. Still pink in the expansion tank. Will try to drain old one at weekend. Was too busy at new work recently... Good luck! |
Vinny Ozorio
Tinkerer NT Z30 Soarer V8
Posts: 20 Reg: 05-2007
| What the Hell ?? Is it that time of the Year..!! Damm top tank started leaking to-day as well.!! Its a bugger to find when the entire front of the engine is now a preety red colour ...WoW.. doesn't the fan spread it well ?? Anyone got a new Radiator for sale ?? I guess its now got 200,000 Klms so i won't conplain.. much !! |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo North Island JZZ31
Posts: 3922 Reg: 10-2005
| Should use toyota red too, especially in the v8. Random green coolant will probably cause you problems in the long run. |
Dmitriy Milyutin
Tinkerer BC UZZ31 V8
Posts: 78 Reg: 09-2008
| Why do you think so, Matthew? Thanks, |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo New Zealand Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2867 Reg: 11-2005
| Dmitriy, The Toyota Red Long life coolant is specially formulated to work with the rubber seals and aluminium parts within the cooling system to keep them in good condition. Different coolant types can damage seals on different pumps so it's vital to get it right. Just best to be on the safe side and go for the genuine fluid, same price as green stuff anyway, other wise chances are you will eventually have a problem. |
Dmitriy Milyutin
Tinkerer BC UZZ31 V8
Posts: 79 Reg: 09-2008
| Thanks Mike! Now I got it. Money is not a concern here, I have feeling it will be not easy to find pink Toyota coolant here... Cheers, |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo North Island JZZ31
Posts: 3924 Reg: 10-2005
| Any Toyota parts dealer can sell it to you as its used in most Toyotas. Best bet is to buy the concentrate and 50/50 mix it with distilled water. The other option is to buy the pre-mixed, but it works out cheaper if you mix it yourself. |