Hello all:

I have a 1993 3VZ-E 4x4 Pickup. When I first acquired this vehicle several weeks ago, It would idle somewhat fine but when I took it out on the road it would overheat, blowing all the coolant out of the radiator and into the over-flow. I troubleshot the issue and determined the head gasket was blown. I brought the head to a local machine shop and had it resurfaced and pressure tested and re-installed it on the truck with new gaskets and new head bolts adhering to the installation instructions very attentively. Now it is still doing the same thing and I am wondering why. Any advice? I also flushed the coolant system and installed a new water pump and a new thermostat.

2ND PART ANSWERS:




Yes, new cap.
yes, both heads done.
yes, flushed with engine running on hose running into radiator and draining on the bottom hose.

head gaskets were installed exactly as previous. I suppose I am making the assumption that the head gaskets were previously installed correctly. Is it worth it to pull heads and verify correctness of gaskets

 

Did you do both heads?

 

Did you install the head gaskets properly? They can be reversed and can cause over-heating

 

Sounds like a blockage to me. A blown HG consumes coolant (since it leaks in the cylinders), not make it blow out everywhere.

Is your radiator cap to spec? If it's not letting out air when it needs to due to pressure, it might spit out coolant like you are describing. Just take one off another truck and see how it does.

When you say flush, did you do a full flush with water with the engine running or just drain the radiator? If it's not the cap, you must have a blockage somewhere...

 

A blown headgasket or warped/cracked head can blow coolant out...compression pressure is greater than coolant pressure.

Most cases you are right, it'll consume coolant.