Author |
Message |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 8 Reg: 05-2007
| Hi everyone! I'm having some overheating issues with my Soarer, whilst driving one day i saw steam coming from the side of the bonnet, with the heating gauge also indicating it was overheating i immediately pulled over and had a look. The coolant box had steam gushing out and coolant was over the place. The thing is that i just got a mechanic to change my radiator a couple of weeks ago, and now he says i need to change the coolant box(the box next to the air filter). Has anyone else experienced this problem? and how much are the boxes? Also Could it be anything else more serious? Thanks. |
Dave Hart
Goo Roo Waikato UZZ32
Posts: 1207 Reg: 08-2005
| Good chance that coolant box is as old as the radiator and therefore cracked too. Give James Sloane a call at Castle Hill Toyota in Sydney and mention you're a Soarer Central member. Get a price of the box and decide (it comes without cap and without level sensor). Then if anyone comes up with a better price grab it because James is usually hard to beat. Don't bother with a second hand one because the cracks around the level sensor hole are hard to see. I'd change the cap while you're at it too and make sure it's a genuine part. |
Daniel Clarke
Goo Roo NSW TT 2.5L 6 cylinder
Posts: 2815 Reg: 03-2006
| If James is unavailable... Ask for Adam Houchin ( pronounced How Chen). He is a mate and mention the Soarer club samme deal as James. |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 9 Reg: 05-2007
| The Cap as in the metal one? or are you referring to the black one with the two wires? is that the sensor? i think one of my wires are cut, does that affect anything? Thanks Dave. |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 10 Reg: 05-2007
| I just gave James Sloane a call, he quoted me: $315 for the overflow tank $150 for the sensor $13.50 for the cap Do you guys think i would need a new sensor and cap? |
Anish Varsani
DieHard QLD V8 UZZ30
Posts: 578 Reg: 07-2005
| I'd get the cap and sensor. The sensor's probably brittle and the head might separate from then sensor body when you go to install it on the new tank. |
Daniel Clarke
Goo Roo NSW TT 2.5L 6 cylinder
Posts: 2816 Reg: 03-2006
| Kevin, IM with Anish... ONce you replace it all now.. you will NOT have any issues with the above parts.. Remember, if the used ones play up, you lose time and coolant which costs money either way ( time is money). So get new ones and be done with it |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 11 Reg: 05-2007
| Sounds like that's the way to go, thanks for your advice guys |
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer South Australia GT4.0 V8
Posts: 8656 Reg: 11-2004
| The tanks are known to leak around the sensor, but it's normally no big deal apart from the mess of the coolant. I haven't read of the tanks actually splitting, can you get a photo of the split? |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 12 Reg: 05-2007
| I'll have a look tomorrow and see if i can find a split. |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 13 Reg: 05-2007
| Hey Peter i couldn't see actual splitting of the tank, what else could make it overheat so quickly? |
Daniel Clarke
Goo Roo NSW TT 2.5L 6 cylinder
Posts: 2830 Reg: 03-2006
| CRacked Top tank on radiator. |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 14 Reg: 05-2007
| Don't see any cracks, some one told me it could be a broken gasket, because the overflow tank shouldn't cause the car to overheat, would it? |
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer South Australia GT4.0 V8
Posts: 8669 Reg: 11-2004
| I suspected something else might be at play here. The V8 radiator is pretty big, and provides a lot of cooling power. Suggest a test drive (after topping the radiator up) with the radiator cap on 1st stop only, ie. not fully locked on. That way, even if there is a leak, you won't develop pressure and have it all squirt out quickly. If it still overheats, then you have to find out why. I drove my car carefully for a week like this in 40 degree heat when the top tank split, with no overheating. When you top the system up, don't overlook the filler bolt just above the thermostat. You might also try idling the engine with the cap fully on and try to see where the leak really is. The first things that come to mind are, thermostat, clogged radiator, split top tank, air in the system. Read the Radiator Flush and Thermostat tutorials for more information. Blown head gasket is possible, but that usually doesn't happen unless the motor is badly overheated first, ie, it's not usually the original cause, more of a result. |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 15 Reg: 05-2007
| Thanks for the info peter, i don't think i have a clogged radiator since i just replaced it. I think its a blown or damaged head gasket because its overheated quite a few times before i got the car. But i will try topping the radiator up and see how it goes. Which radiator fluid do you use Peter? |
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer South Australia GT4.0 V8
Posts: 8676 Reg: 11-2004
| Toyota Long Life Coolant - nothing else! |
Leon Wright
DieHard WA V8 UZZ31
Posts: 887 Reg: 08-2006
| Just make sure you thoroughly thoroughly flush the system out before adding the red stuff, it makes nice jelly when combined with any green stuff |
Andrew Ferres
DieHard WA '90 C-F Celsior V8, '84 Soarer V8, '91 Supra V8
Posts: 748 Reg: 07-2005
| Just to clarify, Toyota Type IV is a Transmission Oil !! Toyota Long Life Coolant is what you want for the radiator.
|
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 16 Reg: 05-2007
| All i see is green stuff everywhere -_-" |
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer South Australia GT4.0 V8
Posts: 8678 Reg: 11-2004
| Smack me! |
Andrew Ferres
DieHard WA '90 C-F Celsior V8, '84 Soarer V8, '91 Supra V8
Posts: 751 Reg: 07-2005
|
Kevin Fang wrote on Tuesday, January 08, 2008 - 10:31 am:All i see is green stuff everywhere -_-"
Drain the radiator, and open both drain cocks on the side of the 1UZ (one on each side). Then fill the system up with water (tap water will be fine, distilled water if you are anal). Start the car and get it up to operating temp (heater on). Then let it cool down and drain the system again. Then refill with a 50/50 mix of Toyota Red and Distilled water. You will probably need 5L of each. I personally have just used 4L of coolant, and the rest water, but just means you have to change it earlier. |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 17 Reg: 05-2007
| Thanks mate! ill give that a try and see how it goes . |
Brian Timms
DieHard New South Wales TT Soarer Goodness.
Posts: 921 Reg: 12-2006
| Also, give Ray Burns at Bill Buckle Parts a call for some prices, tell them you know Brian at the Soarer club, and see what prices you get there... B. |
Kevin Fang
Tinkerer Nsw SC400 v8
Posts: 18 Reg: 05-2007
| Hey guys, the replacement overflow bottle, sensor and cap fixed the problem. Topped up with coolant and loads of water the temperature gauge does not go over the half way mark now. Apparently there was air inside the internals creating steam pumping out of the overflow bottle. i'm so damn happy! thanks so much everyone for all the information! |
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer South Australia GT4.0 V8
Posts: 8739 Reg: 11-2004
| That is what the bolt on top of the thermostat is for, bleeding air from the engine. Glad you got a good result! See the second photo here: http://soarercentral.com/sc-forum/messages/37/11945.html#POST14822 |