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

Leaky heater core in the 91 PU...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-31-2009, 01:59 PM
  #1  
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
 
iamsuperbleeder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lake City, Fl
Posts: 12,248
Received 29 Likes on 24 Posts
Leaky heater core in the 91 PU...

Well, I thought that I had been noticing a slight antifreeze smell lately...

the first thing that popped into my mind was "OH, MY HEAD GASKER FINALLY WENT! TIME FOR A NEW MOTOR! YAY!"

but after I got another good whiff, and thought more about the smell, it's FRESH antifreeze, not burning antifreeze...

so then I though "well damnit, it's just a leak..."

THEN, this morning on my way to work, the smell comes on STRONG! and then I notice a mist coming from my air vents INSIDE THE CAB! Oh and guess what, the mist is... you guessed it... antifreeze vapors...

you don't even want to know what I thought when I realised this


So anyhow, winter's done for a good long while here in Florida, and it's getting good and hot again, so I picked up a 5/8" union and some hose clamps, as well as some more coolant, on my way home from work today, and I'm just gunna block it off for now, till I can get in there to replace it.

Who's replaces the core in their 3rd gen PU or 2nd gen 4Runner? How tough is the job?

I know that most are a MAJOR PITA... I did one on a 97 S10... that was horrible...


Also, anyone think breathing in antifreeze vapors for 20 minutes or more has any long-term health risks? it made my chest hurt a little, and the mucus you cough up taste like $#!@, lol

Last edited by iamsuperbleeder; 03-31-2009 at 02:00 PM.
Old 03-31-2009, 02:20 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
toyota4x4907's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: middle of no where Alaska
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I think you're the first dude that actually WANTS his engine to blow up



sorry, no tech info

oh man! You have 294K? Why not let it last another 6K miles so you can say yours reached 300K and get cool Toyota Nation stuff?!

Last edited by toyota4x4907; 03-31-2009 at 02:22 PM.
Old 03-31-2009, 03:46 PM
  #3  
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
space-junk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Wilton, CA
Posts: 5,527
Received 118 Likes on 67 Posts
trav, your gonna have to rip the whole dash out... dashpad and all...
should take you about 2 days to do...

might wanna double check the stock wiring harness and all the welds (clutch bracket to firewall comes to mind) while your there...

and take pics...
Old 03-31-2009, 04:16 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
dc4runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a 2nd Gen 4runner. I think I'm getting a coolant leak from my heater core too. I had to keep filling my rad, but it just started overheating and one of the bypasses starts hissing when it overheats. it also has that smell you where talking about it. I changed the t-stat, and I had my rad cleaned and fixed a couple months ago. I'm not an expert on my truck, I've had it for about 5 months so any ideas will help.
Old 03-31-2009, 04:33 PM
  #5  
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
 
iamsuperbleeder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lake City, Fl
Posts: 12,248
Received 29 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by toyota4x4907
I think you're the first dude that actually WANTS his engine to blow up



sorry, no tech info

oh man! You have 294K? Why not let it last another 6K miles so you can say yours reached 300K and get cool Toyota Nation stuff?!
lmao, well, it'll give me a good reason to start the new motor work early

beside, I already have the 200k miles Toyota Nation stuff

haha, naw I think I'll make it to 300k, I only have 2 more oil changes to go

and it's really closer to 295k now, I just rolled over 294840

Originally Posted by space-junk
trav, your gonna have to rip the whole dash out... dashpad and all...
should take you about 2 days to do...

might wanna double check the stock wiring harness and all the welds (clutch bracket to firewall comes to mind) while your there...

and take pics...
damnit... that's was I feared...

even though I kinda expected that responce, it still sucks

oh and when it happens, you can bet there will be lots of pics; comon, you know me man




Well it finally stopped raining so I went out and made a loop by cutting up and re-using the old heater hoses, along with the union I bought. Both hoses have some brittle spots in them, so I was going to replace them with the new core later on, but the curved portions I re-used are in good enough condition; good enough to use for the loop I made anyway

Ran it to operating temp, made sure the system was buped, drove it around, and popped the hood for a final inspection, and we have no leaks!

Oh, and no more antifreeze misting from my vents now, so that's a plus

it's odd though that I never did see, nor can I find even now, a wet spot on the floor where it was dripping... it must have been such a small pin-hole, it just sprayed out into a mist and was carried away by the air flow and up out of the vents...

Last edited by iamsuperbleeder; 03-31-2009 at 04:38 PM.
Old 03-31-2009, 05:32 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
YoYoMa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Willits, CA
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by space-junk
trav, your gonna have to rip the whole dash out... dashpad and all...
should take you about 2 days to do...

might wanna double check the stock wiring harness and all the welds (clutch bracket to firewall comes to mind) while your there...

and take pics...
x2
Lots of pics.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kawazx636
The Classifieds GraveYard
34
10-06-2021 03:03 PM
Iceman4193
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
22
10-16-2015 10:50 AM
scott90
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
7
10-04-2015 09:21 AM
gyroscope7
General Vehicle Related Topics (Non Year Related)
7
09-27-2015 08:39 PM
--Oz--
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
1
09-06-2015 01:06 AM



Quick Reply: Leaky heater core in the 91 PU...



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:49 AM.