Quick coolant question...

[Muddy Boots]

Hi guys I could do with a bit of advice on coolant.

Following the cylinder head crack a couple of years ago I now check my coolant weekly. Over the last couple of weeks i have noticed that on average I am getting through about 2 litres of coolant every week or so. There is no obvious leaks and for the most part the driving is over short distances of no more than about 40 minutes at a time. I running halfords coolant at about a one third mix.

So the couple of questions

When I top up the coolant I an filling it to the top of the rad cap and checking the level in the expansion bottle and toping this to the maximum level shown.

Is it normal for a second generation to be getting through this much in a week?

The bottom rad hose was replaced and and the coolant flushed about 10 months ago during which time I replaced the thermostat.

The only thing I havent replaced is the rad cap since having it imported would this explain the coolant loss?

What do I need to check and is this an early sign that the head is on it's way out again?

Cheers for any advise.

[MUD MUNCHER]

Hi guys I could do with a bit of advice on coolant.

Following the cylinder head crack a couple of years ago I now check my coolant weekly. Over the last couple of weeks i have noticed that on average I am getting through about 2 litres of coolant every week or so. There is no obvious leaks and for the most part the driving is over short distances of no more than about 40 minutes at a time. I running halfords coolant at about a one third mix.

So the couple of questions

When I top up the coolant I an filling it to the top of the rad cap and checking the level in the expansion bottle and toping this to the maximum level shown.

Is it normal for a second generation to be getting through this much in a week?

The bottom rad hose was replaced and and the coolant flushed about 10 months ago during which time I replaced the thermostat.

The only thing I havent replaced is the rad cap since having it imported would this explain the coolant loss?

What do I need to check and is this an early sign that the head is on it's way out again?

Cheers for any advise.

it might be blowing past the rad cap when under pressure and check your front carpet to see if they are damp as it could be the heater matrix leaking my 2.4 does not use any water in between services i hope this is of some help
cheers shaunD

[Muddy Boots]

I am hoping it's the rad cap I noticed some spray on the turbo pipe but thought it might have been thrown up from the road.

There didn't look like enough to be 2 litres vented though.

[Sancho]

If you're filling it cold, which would be the sensible thing to do, and going to the top of the rad cap and the max mark of the expansion bottle, you may well be putting too much in, so that it's pushing the excess out of the expansion bottle.

Are you losing coolant out of the radiator or just the expansion bottle?

Other things to check are pin hole leaks along the top of the radiator (small white deposits) and change your rad cap just to be sure. If it's not opening, it'll push pressure out through the expansion bottle.

[Muddy Boots]

Thanks for that. I will have a look at the top of the rad. I have just ordered a new rad cap from roughtrax so that will be going on tomorrow with a bit of luck.

Always fill it cold.

My thoughts are to wipe down the turbo hose fit the new rad cap and then check it after a couple of days.

Out of interest if it is venting out of pin holes in the top of the rad is this a new radiator job or can it be repaired without removing it?

[fatfires]

how good are you at soldering?

[PDR]

2 litres per week? Yes, I’d say that you have a problem

Since the head gaskets where changed on my V6 in February 2007 I have only topped up my coolant once and that was only ½ a pint. It didn't need it but I just happed to have some spare after topping up another car. I check it every month and the level never changes.

[Tallyman]

2 Ltrs a week is definitely signs of a problem. I replaced my radiator in Spring 08 and since the, once I'd fully burped it, I haven't lost any coolant at all.

One thing I would suggest is that you get your coolant stength up to at least 50%, especially as it's likely to be a cold winter this year.

As regards the loss, did you ensure both your front and rear heaters were on fully open when you topped up as an air lock can explain coolant loss if the trapped air is continually expanding and contracting as the coolant heats up and will push the coolant out of the system. When it contracts, if the original coolant has been pushed out of the expansion bottle then there will not be enough in there to top the system back up again as it cools.

Also check underneath for any leaks from the pipes to the rear heater matrix as you would be unlikely to notice any loss from there as it would drop on to the road as you travel.

[Muddy Boots]

Many thanks,

Just had a quick inspection around the rad cap and it looks like the coolant is venting from here and the short hose immediately below it, It looks like one of the clips has worked loose so I will tighten that sucker up, swap the rad cap and then report back.

Many thanks guys.

I so hope it is a simple fix as I wanna get some mud bashing in over christmas.

[Muddy Boots]

Just a quick up date and a bit of a problem.

I ordered the new rad cap from Roughtrax which got delivered next day great service.

However for some reason it doesn't fit my truck. The lugs underneath the new one seem slightly longer than on the original and subsequently it doesn't fit.

Roughtrax will send out a second one but is this a common problem. There is about a tenner's worth of difference between an orginal toyota one and the pattern one.

Anyone else had problems with these?