PCE91V64x4

I changed the thermostat and radiator cap and flushed the system and replaced the coolant with the red Toyota long life.

I idled the truck yesterday for more than 35 minutes with the cap open and the lower radiator hose was not hot. I drove the truck maybe 3 miles and then the hose was hot. The whole time the temp gauge read normal.

Today I drove the truck about 8 miles and the lower radiator hose is not hot, but the temp gauge inside the truck reads at the normal location. And now I have a leak at the black plastic cube where the upper hose runs into the firewall (where the hot/cold lever arm runs out of the firewall and actuates that black box). I tightened the hose clamp and that stopped the leak but it makes me wonder why now. Maybe it is unrelated.

Am I being paranoid here because I just changed the t-stat? Does this sound normal? It seems to me like the thermostat should open when the temp gauge gets into the normal range but since I did not check this prior to changing everything I am not sure how it ran before yesterday.

Thanks in advance.
Scott

PCE91V64x4

After driving a few miles I checked it again and there was a leak at another hose (the small hose that comes up from the timing chain area to one of the tubes that runs under the plenum). So, I changed that clamp to a new hose clamp and no more leak.

I think that my old rad cap was not holding pressure and since the new one is that is causing me to find leaks that I did not have before. My last two drives the lower hose did not heat up (so the thermostat did not open) but the temp gauge read normal. And after the latest trip I did not have any leaks. My next concern (after the thermostat) is that I would fix a leak and find another and keep finding and fixing leaks until I changed all the hose clamps but for now that is not the case.

vital22re

iTrader: (2)

just keep monitoring the temperature and make sure you watch the coolant level in the radiator.

myyota

Sometimes fixing one problem can bring up the next weak area down the line, but once you get everything fixed its one less thing you need to worry about for a long time.

turborich

Sounds like maybe the t-stat is stuck? The lower hose should be hot to the touch. I would verify your temp gauge.

Jay351

Make sure that you have burped all the air out of the rad. Did you have the heater set to hot and the front end higher than the rear??

PCE91V64x4

So 40 miles this morning and no issues. I guess my assumption that the thermostat would open when the truck is in the normal range is incorrect. The lower hose is plenty hot after my trip this morning.

TNRabbit

Too many people assume a thermostat is stuck. I find the OEM ones fail VERY infrequently, so that's not the first thing I'd check.

That said, it sounds like you're good; just keep an eye on temp & any leaks.