bgordon45

I've been doing a bunch of work on my truck lately but missed a defective radiator cap. The coolant got low, the truck overheated and either the heat or pressure blew some seals.

As best I can tell I'm leaking around the thermostat and the water intake (No. 2 idler pulley) - and maybe around the water pump but I can't quite tell until I get in there.

My plan is to redo the seal on the water intake and put in a new thermostat and gasket there. If the water pump is leaking then I guess I'll dig deeper and change the timing belt while there. The parts should be in good order as I did a full timing belt job about 75k miles ago (new belt, water pump, both idlers - all Toyota parts).

Are any of the aftermarket thermostats worthwhile? AutoZone only had a FailSafe unit and NAPA only had one rated at 195F. I think the factory rating is just over 180F.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

If that got Hot you should really think about looking at the head gaskets.

From what I have seen over the years they would fail before most anything else.

cooling system pressure test and compression test perhaps

I hope I am wrong!!

bgordon45

UPDATE:
I've been real paranoid about the HG. I shut the engine off a few times the temp gauge got close to the red.

I finally dug into the problem and prepared to do a timing belt job as I'd be in there anyway and I was due. I ended up putting on a new timing belt (always fun), replacing the crank seal and the no. 2 (upper) idler bearing. It didn't appear to be leaking at the water pump but I took it off and redid the seal with Toyota FPIG. I decided not to put in a new water pump as I replaced it during the last timing belt change with a factory one and it looked great.

The upper idler bearing was worn (after 75k miles) and the nuts seemed pretty loose. The coolant leak was where the idler bearing (water outlet) meets the engine under the intake. I didn't take the camshaft pulleys off and it was a pain to get in there but came together with a swivel joint and some effort. It's all back together and running well with no leaks now, so I don't think there is a HG issue.

Keeping my eye on it.

bgordon45

I also opted to keep the thermostat (Toyota part replaced at the last timing belt job). The dealer here did not have any in stock and Autozone only had a Failsafe t-stat and NAPA could only sell me a 195F t-stat. Factory is 180F.

I did replace the t-stat gasket. I am going to order a factory t-stat to have on hand.