engine getting warm

[m.thawley@btinternet.com]

im new to all this but i have a 3.0surf 94 and when i was pulling my 1100kg caravan up a steep hill in wale the temp went hi i stopped and it cooled down in 2mins ive been told to fit a extra fan to the front of the rad but i want to know if u can buy a fixed fan rather than a viscous please help

[BUSHWHACKER]

im new to all this but i have a 3.0surf 94 and when i was pulling my 1100kg caravan up a steep hill in wale the temp went hi i stopped and it cooled down in 2mins ive been told to fit a extra fan to the front of the rad but i want to know if u can buy a fixed fan rather than a viscous please help

If you quite a lot of heavy towing, it's worthwhile fitting an extra transmission cooler. The standard cooler is in the bottom of the main radiator, (on the automatics) so when the transmission fluid gets hot, the heat is transfered to the engine coolant and the temp gauge rises.

I would check your transmission fluid to see if it's cooked, it should be the colour of red wine, just pull out the orange dipstick to check.
You check the level of the fluid with the engine running.

Also, fitting bonnet vents will help keep the engine bay cooler, I have two and they make a huge difference, especially when sat in traffic.



p.s. I've also removed my under bonnet insulation.

p.p.s. You should have an electric fan behind the grille as a back-up the the engine fan that comes on automatically.

[Bogus]

p.p.s. You should have an electric fan behind the grille as a back-up the the engine fan that comes on automatically.

He has a 3.0L. I dont think they have the luxury of the electric fan. I remember one on my 2.4 but sure theres not one on the 3.0

Bogus

[BUSHWHACKER]

I thought the air-con fan doubled up as a engine cooling fan if the temperature rises?

[Bogus]

I thought the air-con fan doubled up as a engine cooling fan if the temperature rises?

I was totally unaware of that, thats a good addition to my limited knowledge store.

Cheers

[m.thawley@btinternet.com]

engine getting warm

thanks 4 coming back to me guys i dont do alot of towing just my caravan twice or three times a year i think if i made to viscous fan solid it would sort it do u ps ithought when i bought a 3.0 it was bombproof

[TonyN]

He has a 3.0L. I dont think they have the luxury of the electric fan. I remember one on my 2.4 but sure theres not one on the 3.0

Bogus

There is one, same as the 2.4's.

[TonyN]

thanks 4 coming back to me guys i dont do alot of towing just my caravan twice or three times a year i think if i made to viscous fan solid it would sort it do u ps ithought when i bought a 3.0 it was bombproof

Radiators get full of junk, could be half plugged. Also I assume your coolant is at the correct level?

As Vince said, old ATF fluid dosn't work very well, and will get hot quicker than good stuff.

Make sure the viscous fan is working properly, making it solid is a little overkill if your not towing all the time, and the slightly less MPG and noise may annoy.

A 3.0 should tow 1500kg without getting hot apart from on long steep hills. Ours gets hot towing up steep inclines, but levels out about 3/4's up the gauge.

[m.thawley@btinternet.com]

it only got warm twice and as i pulled up 2mins later it was fine
but it was a steep hill i also dont think that the little fan on the front is cutting in because my aircon doesnt work when driving
do u think i should
drain my rad ps is it hard to bleed
wire the aircon fan onto a switch
change thermostate
change auto trans fluid
if i do this do u think this will sort it

[MattF]

if i do this do u think this will sort it

Simple question. Have you serviced the cooling system since getting the
vehicle? Flush the cooling system and radiator, replace the coolant, rad
cap and thermostat, then check and probably replace the ATF fluid. Unless
or until those have been checked, done or replaced, hypothesising is moot.
Never start modifying before your base system is correct.

[Big Burgo]

When you buy a new thermostat , make sure you get this one...

Toyota part number for a 71*C thermostat for 1kzte is 90916-03121

[m.thawley@btinternet.com]

thanks alot mate i will do just that you guys really know your stuff by the way is it easy to drain and refill cooling system without getting airbloks and sorry to be a pain but is it simple to drain and refill auto trans fluid
again sorry to be a pain in the arse

[MattF]

Unless you spend most of your time putting the Surf under heavy load, don't
derate the thermostat to that degree. Going down to the 82 degree 'stat might
be fine for a largely standard use with bouts of towing, but if you go down to
71 degrees on the 'stat, and only occasionally tow, your vehicle will rarely, if
ever, reach its correct and optimal operating temps.

[m.thawley@btinternet.com]

is it hard to change the coolant without getting air blocks

[MattF]

is it hard to change the coolant without getting air blocks

If you do a search for coolant, there are plenty of threads about it. Just
remember to pur the new coolant in slowly. I use a narrow neck funnel to
limit the rate it will enter the thermostat housing neck. It will minimise the
airlocks you will get.