cosmophonic12

I’m coming up on 10 years on an OEM Toyota radiator. My 4runner (manual trans) has been flawless and no major problems (knock on wood). However, I am the third owner approaching 100K. Had any of your yota freaks had problems or failures with old age radiators? BTW, I live in phoenix and the sonoran desert heat takes a toll on this stuff like this. Thanks!

The Ruckus

I just picked mine up (2000 Ltd Auto) with 100,000 on the motor, 150,000 on the body. I'm assuming the original rad was reused when the swap was done, but I can't speak with 100% certainty. Anyway, for what it's worth, what I THINK was the original rad was replaced in August of 08.

stir_fry_boy

I have almost 200K on my original Toyota radiator in my V6 Camry. I also have 112K on my (I believe original) in my T4R. I think that the Toyota OEM radiators last a long time. They usually fail leaking antifreeze into the auto tranny but where you have a manual tranny, it shouldn't be an issue.
Honda on the other hand, runs a 91 degree operating temp while Toyota I believe (I would welcome the correction) is 83 degrees. That is a BIG difference because it is in Celsius. Every Honda I have owned I usually replace it at about 100K because of (what I believe) the temp difference, expanding and contracting more with the higher temperature.

MadCityRich

I just replaced my radiator at 129,XXX miles about 2 weeks ago. Some time during the winter the bottom portion began to leak where the aluminum and plastic join.

I went with a Performance Radiator, FWIW.

MadCityRich
'02 4Runner

rimpainter.com

I bought a SC'd 4Runner out of Cali as my SC'r "donor" rig a while back. The rig (and the radiator) had 197K miles. Many of the miles were racked up while towing an enclosed trailer to SD. No issues.

nieuwendyk-25

No radiator problems on my 2000, but I had a freeze plug fail! Really pissed me off, how does that happen...I've never had a freeze plug fail.

cosmophonic12

wow, thats weird!


your runner looks like mine.

nieuwendyk-25

Is yours red? Don't see too many of them...I am close to you on milage too...mine has about 87K on it

Yeah my freeze plug corroded and started leaking...go figure.

Ian Rogers

the radiator in my 4 runner is going on 10 years and 150k, knock on wood its going good. the radiator in my fj40 is going on 40 years and still going strong.. Just change your coolant every year and you will b fine.

SoCalPaul

Change your coolant regularly & watch around the top & bottom tank for seepage.

MunkeyTX

267k, going on 11 years. Damn near good as new, no leaks *fingers crossed*

3w41d

9 years and 227k miles on the original rad

crolison

The only reason i had to replace my radiator was that i smashed it on a rock

cosmophonic12

yes, just like yours. mines also a 5spd

if i get replace the radiator, im getting a Koyo

jimig

My 97 I had to replace my radiator at 195k miles due to the transmission line busting in there. Replaced the radiator, coolant flush, transmission flush. 5k miles later 2 solenoids in the transmission had to be replaced. And of course another transmission flush was done.
I believe that 180k mile service should include a new radiator along with the t-belt, water pump and belts.

One_96TR4

I'd be a little more watchful if I had an auto truck as I've seen a good bit of report of the tranny coolers in them failing lately. But In manual tranny truck has the original rad and 150+ miles and still going great. Change your fluid regularly and you should be good.