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86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

Coolant Leak w/ Unknown Source

Old Feb 14, 2019 | 11:43 AM
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Nick McCardle's Avatar
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Coolant Leak w/ Unknown Source

Truck is a 94 3vze

So, I've searched on this one and not seen a similar leak. Appears to be coming from just above the water pump/thermostat area on the front driver's side of the engine. I did a new radiator/hoses/thermostat a few months back. Noticed a loss of coolant the recently, but almost never seeing any puddles when parked. Today I was doing valve cover gaskets, plugs/wires/cap/rotor, and planned on taking care of the leak thinking it was the thermostat housing. When pressurized it seems to be dripping from just above the thermostat/water pump and running down from there. Everything was dry under the upper intake when I had it off and nothing seems to be running from any of the pipes/hoses around/under it. See pics below, thoughts?



Last edited by Nick McCardle; Feb 14, 2019 at 11:48 AM.
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Old Feb 14, 2019 | 04:16 PM
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Could it possibly be that the thermostat needs a new gasket? Or do you think it may be coming out of the block?
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Old Feb 14, 2019 | 07:34 PM
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Have you checked the water outlet where the top radiator hose connects? It could be leaking there and have coolant just clinging along the idle roller area, running down. Also if you didn’t know, that engine seems to be pre ‘94, looking at the spring tensioner.
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Old Feb 14, 2019 | 07:43 PM
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I noticed the spring tensioner, too. Like mholme, I thought that meant pre-1994 (mine is a '94, and I have the hydraulic tensioner). My go-to source is https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/sho...ssembly=504797 It seems to show the hydraulic tensioner from 1992 on, but the spring shows up for models up to 1995. So I don't know, but would be interested to find out.

McCardle says he checked for leaks above the photographed point. (This is essential; gravity is not your friend. Every leak heads down.) If there is no leak on top (the upper idler), I would suspect that the water pump gasket has failed at the top of the water pump. https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/sho...rimLevel=18380
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Old Feb 14, 2019 | 08:38 PM
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From the photos, too close up to tell definitively, it looks to be leaking above the water pump. Maybe it’s at the back of the roller, going to the bypass pipe.
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Old Feb 15, 2019 | 02:56 AM
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I had a cheap radiator cap. Purchased a new one. Good as new. I am sorry. I should have read more before replying. I sa coolant leak and I thought about what happened to me. Sadly I don’t think this will help you

Last edited by 40vern; Feb 15, 2019 at 03:01 AM.
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Old Feb 15, 2019 | 04:56 AM
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It's definitely dripping from above the water pump/thermostat area, so I don't believe it's either of those. It's also not the water outlet where the top hose connects.

mholme, where are you talking about exactly - the roller at the bypass pipe?
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Old Feb 15, 2019 | 06:48 AM
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Temp sending unit leak?
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Old Feb 15, 2019 | 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by 87-4runner
Temp sending unit leak?
3VZE. The temp sensors are in the back. (But yes, leaks can start from just about anywhere and the fluid will get blown around.)
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Old Feb 15, 2019 | 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Nick McCardle
mholme, where are you talking about exactly - the roller at the bypass pipe?
Looking from the other side of the timing belt covers, in the valley. That roller mounts to the intake manifold coolant outlet. It’s actually sitting above the bypass pipe. You’d probably have to remove the plenum to see it.
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Old Feb 15, 2019 | 08:37 PM
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I believe mholme is referring to the No. 2 idler pulley. Here's a drawing: http://web.archive.org/web/201208130...68cylinder.pdf (page 56-57) The upper radiator hose connects to a passage though the pulley (over the timing belt) to the lower intake manifold.
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