Gen 3 Temps & Cooling

[brett_mil]

Hi All,

Mine is a 1996 Gen 3.

After driving up to Birmingham last weekend unloaded, I noticed the stock temp gauge push up when on longish hills on the motorway.

With the plan to do a bit of towing in the near future, I've installed an aftermarket water temp gauge and also an aux atf cooler.

Drove from Belgium back to the UK today and kept my eye on the temp gauge. Seemed to stay at about 82 off the motorways, and about 90 on the motorway. When we got back in to the UK, on one long hill, the temp rose to 102. Worried me a little, and wanted to know if this is normal, or if I should investigate this further?

Your comments are all appreciated!

Thanks!

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I have replaced the rad cap and followed the burp procedure too.

[TonyN]

If its not losing water, just getting hot under load then its probably either a stuck thermostat or blocked rad.

[Bogus]

Youve had a reply from the guru so anything else is a bit superfluous, but for info and reinforcement, that you do seem to have a problem, I have a 1996 3rd gen too and recently journeyed from Edinburgh to Morayshire, up hill, down dale, dual carriegeway speeds etc etc. On the way back I had an 8ft x 4 ft trailer with maybe 300-400kg on it. I dont have an extra ATF cooler. According to my new blingy water temp gauge it sat at about 82 all the time occasionally touching 90 on the dual carriegeway hill climbs. The stock gauge of course never deviated from the normal fraction below midway position.

[kpautos]

ditto, was not towing anything but did have 4 adults plus luggage we have just got back from west country, did 1100 miles and stock gauge never quite reached the 1/2 way point, very hot on the way down and a few jams on the m25/a303, given the massive size of the radiator its amazing these things ever get hot![ ps i have removed the bull bar and massive toyota spots-but that made no difference to the temp gauge-it has been mentioned on other posts]
hope you find the problem, regards, kirk.

[brett_mil]

Thanks for all the reply's guys!

Def not losing water, so will have a look at the stat and rad.

Is the stat easy for myself to check, or am I better off taking it to someone to have both checked?

If so, does a normal motor garage do this, or should I be looking for a specialist?

Thanks again!

[Bogus]

Changing the stat itself is not difficult, but its a bit fiddly because access is not great. Its on the bottom hose.If youre OK rolling around on your drive and skinning the odd knuckle its do-able. However it should not be an expensive task for a garage, its dedfinitely easier with the truck on a lift,and any decent garage will do. No specialist needed. As you will lose coolant while changing the stat its an ideal opportunity to get your system flushed as well and refill with shiny new coolant on completion.

[brett_mil]

Bought a genuine stat from Roughtrax and having it swapped tomorrow. Also put some rad cleaner in and will be fully flushed tomorrow!

Here's hoping!

[J i m s t e r]

You should also check the state of your rear heater pipes too - they can be a source of lost coolant once they rot through.

[brett_mil]

You should also check the state of your rear heater pipes too - they can be a source of lost coolant once they rot through.

Will do, thanks!

[BUSHWHACKER]

Bought a genuine stat from Roughtrax and having it swapped tomorrow. Also put some rad cleaner in and will be fully flushed tomorrow!

Here's hoping!

It's the outside of the radiator you should be clening, not the inside......
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/showthread.php?t=69143

[Diezel Weazel]

Today successfully lifted Rob's (ro8l1k3) 3rd Gen Truck n then Surftrained it from Peterborough to Basingstoke ... towing about 3 ton approx 125 miles n no great Drama's (no coolers)
He's a Happy bunny atmo....


Jess
nearly 10 years of Surfs
"Cos short cuts can cost more in the long run"

[brett_mil]

It's the outside of the radiator you should be clening, not the inside......
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/showthread.php?t=69143

Yeah, the rad got special treatment after that day out! It's spotless on the outside...

[brett_mil]

And it is clean on the inside too it seems

Just got back home after havong had the rad flushed, replaced the thermostat and she is no good. Sitting at 95 on the MW and over 100 on hills.

Coolant has gone a dark color after first test drive and doesn't smell very good

What are the chances of it only being the gasket?

[Bogus]

Hmmm, you say its not losing water and if the head or gasket was gone I think thats usually what you would expect. You could as your next step get the coolant tested for combustion gases. If they are present then the chances of it being gasket only are pretty slim I think

[stormforce]

there is a slim chance it is the gasket but till you get the head off you won't know.Once the head is off then get it pressure tested to make sure it's ok before just doing the gasket.