Sorry to post a bunch, but I am trying to get stuff figured out. We did the HG replacement last week. Other than rough idle no problems. Well today on the way to the folks for lunch. After 5 minutes of driving the temp started going up. It got up to half way, I pulled over and no leaks. Turned the heat on full blast and before I look and put the hood down, it had dropped back to normal. We I got to my dads I checked it again and the coolant was right. So on the way home, I left the heat off to see what it would do, did it again. When I got home it sounded like the water was boiling in the radiator, with tons of pressure... Maybe one day I will be able to enjoy the truck...

Thanks Again

 

Thermostat? Water Pump?

 

Both are new.... Coolant level is good. That is why I am confused, but from the boiling sound of the radiator, it is getting really warm now.

 

Sorry to hear that. No, I kid, I'm having over-heating trouble right now too. Mine out of the blue over-heats the other day, so I checked everything. Couldn't figure much but possibly thermostat or waterpump, heater's working. I went and picked up a thermostat and drained the coolant to put it in. As I'm flushing the system, prior to install, I decide to cap it off with just water and see if it will get hot like it had been for the past 3-4 days. Nada, can't make it over-heat now with the old thermostat. I'll hold on to the new thermostat till I needs it, I geuss. Maybe yours'll go away like mine did.

 

Are you sure you put the head gasket on correctly (didn't block any water passages?

 

Had a mechanic do it. It has been fine for a week now, other then idle rumble. Temp gauge stayed low....

 

Couple of questions... Unhooked the temp sensor on the thermostat housing and the temp is non-changing, should it not send a different reading to the gauge. The reason I checked is that the plug on top does not go all the way down. Also, should the radiator sound like it is boiling after a 5 minute drive?

 

Just went and bought another new t-stat, I guess I will know soon. If not maybe its the fan clutch.... who knows?

 

My 87 Runner 22RE had a partially clogged radiator.....before I figured it out I had blown the head gasket. After replacing the rad and the HG all was rock stable. If your rad has 235 thou miles like mine did then you'd better replace it right away. To test for a bad rad....just put your hand over different sections of it and notice some places are cooler than otjhers. This might be easier said then done as the shroud is a pain.

 

I am going to take it up the road after I change the t-stat. If it is still up there, I will check the rad. With 179k, it is highly possible. Any recommended places to get a good one at a good price?

 

try venting coolant lines at high points. the 3 slows are notoriously hard to get the air out of. There must be lots of info on venting here if you look.
I had to play with venting on mine after HG job. Just a matter of disconnecting hoses here and there and making a bit of a mess. It needs to be wrm enough to have tstat open. Mike

 

Ok, changed the t-stat and absolutely no change, but there was one thing I tried different this time. The temp was going up, and I continued to drive, with no heat on. It got up to exactly half gauge, stopped, and then dropped down to operating temp after a couple of miles. WTF is going on? I am confused... am I overheating? or is it a sensor going out? or something else?

 

It's the rad....you are risking taking out a head gasket again.
http://radiatorbarn.com/

 

So is that where I stand, radiator failing? I hate to replace it at $200 and be in the same boat is there anyway to test it?

 

You could take it out, into a radiator shop and they can clean and pressure test if for $75.

Sounds like it might be radiator to me. The HG is still suspect also - a leak down test would tell you for sure...

 

I don't know exactly what year yours is but I just looked up a radiator at that website for an 87 Toyota pick-up///22RE...no ac... $124.08 Free shipping no taxes.
Your symptoms were the same as mine. You have a bad rad.

 

Mine 4 runner did the whole overheat and boiling thing too. It turned out to be a radiator. I was in the middle of an 1,400 mile road trip with the wife and kids. Bought the radiator at advanced autoparts in Suix city for about $150 and changed it in the parking lot. That just shows how easy they are to swap.

The crappy thing is I changed the thermostat in the hotel parking lot and it didnt help but then the wife made me take it to a shop and I paid $200 for a flush and fill that did absolutly nothing to help.

Why is a flush and fill more than a new radiator?

 

Alright, I need a radiator. Mine is an 87 4runner, 22re, 5 speed, AC, 4wd. The one I have now, has no drain and it is a pita to drain. So what is the best place to get a good replacement at a reasonable price? Thanks for all of your help...

 

Now I am becoming very f&^%kin pissed. I went to the local autoparts store today and picked up a new radiator. Great. An hour later I removed the upper hose and ran water through through it to clean all the old stuff and hopefully the gunk out. New radiator installed, when I started it up, sounded fine, maybe a little low idle. Topped off the radiator after it warmed up, capped it and went for a drive. Clunk... clunk.... clunk... sounded like a model t ford. I checked the idle and it only causes it to clunk slower or faster.... PLEASE HELP!!

 

O.k., don't panic just yet. My first geuss, because I've done this before, is that you may have incidentally sprayed some water on the EGR valve, or the distributor/spark plugs. Try checking the distributor/plugs for moisture, the EGR will suck itself dry eventually. Just let it run as long as you can stand it.Then turn it off and let it sit for a while. It's worked for me before.

Just so you don't feel alone in this, my rig is trying to over-heat now again. So back to the drain/flush and install the previously purchased thermostat I goes. Good luck, hang in there.