Water or Lack of it!!

[misterlister]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the Hi lux `surf. Only had it a week, went 300mile trip fine on the way up, on the way back, clouds of smoke on start up at services, may I ask why? Also the water gauge went ballistic to red. Opened cap - geyser went upwards, filled with water - fine then it did it again! filled with water after the geyser, has been okay since.I have heard about cooling problems is this what I'm experiencing? Also front windscreen mists up alot. Can any of you experts help me out? I love the car but as an initial experience it's doing my head in.
I'd be very grateful for any feedback/serious advice. i'm going into garage this week to get it serviced anything I should get them to look at specifically? Or can I do anything myself to cut costs?

[Vagrant No2]

Hi and welcome . Could be a number of things , but take vehicle straight back to the dealer for them to fix free of charge . You have a 3 month warranty by law .

If you bought private you still have some writes as goods not of merchadisable quality .
Could be simple thermostat or rad cap faulty . Air locks . Or worst the head has failed .
A misting up front screen may be the heater maxtrix is leaking causing a loss of coolant(damp carpets) and steam (misted screen and smell of curry ) and then overheating .

Just a couple of starters for you .

Rick

[Koi]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the Hi lux `surf. Only had it a week, went 300mile trip fine on the way up, on the way back, clouds of smoke on start up at services, may I ask why? Also the water gauge went ballistic to red. Opened cap - geyser went upwards, filled with water - fine then it did it again! filled with water after the geyser, has been okay since.I have heard about cooling problems is this what I'm experiencing? Also front windscreen mists up alot. Can any of you experts help me out? I love the car but as an initial experience it's doing my head in.
I'd be very grateful for any feedback/serious advice. i'm going into garage this week to get it serviced anything I should get them to look at specifically? Or can I do anything myself to cut costs?

Would suggest you drain coolant and flush system and refill with antifreeze etc from fresh. Make sure both heaters set to hot, fill slowly via rad cap and make sure there is a couple of inches of water in the expansion bottle, see fill level mark on side.
Once full, start up for a minute or so and check level again, repeat this a few times. Take for drive and allow to cool and check level for a couple of days, air locks can move after a day or so.
As for servicing, oil change every 3000 miles then oil & filter every 6000, personally for the price of the filter I relace it with the oil every 3000 miles.
Check grease points on joints etc, search on here for the grease card showing you where to grease.
As for you problems, could be several things, duff rad cap or stat, had an air lock or head problems.
I would suggest for peace of mind if you do the coolant flush you change the stat & rad cap anyway. As for the head only sure way to tell is a pressure test.