I have an 87 Toyota Pickup 22r 5-speed 4wd single cab. I recently replaced the radiator (2314 CSF) with another radiator (2314) because without a bumper the original got hit by something and spewed coolant. It didnt overheat. It wasn't being operated at the time of the hit and leak. Since then I've had a few issues with the cooling. I put a 2-stage 190-degrees thermostat. Before that the upper radiator hose had swole up and leaked coolant. Again didn't let it get super hot. It did get up to about 200 degrees however. Replaced the hose. Then the thermostat. Yesterday the temperatures crept up in it when I was going 65ish mph. My thermostat read about 210. I slowed down to to 50 got to my destination and checked again. Coolant was coming from where the upper hose(new) met the radiator. Let it cool. Burped the system and got some air out. When I burped the system I would squeeze the upper hose and little puffs of white smoke would come from the radiator filler hole. I burped the system again this morning, just to be on the safe side. Not much air if any was in the system. But once the thermostat opened up, again, I had the white puffs of smoke come from the radiator filler hole. Operating temperature is anywhere from 190 - 195 depending on the type of day and the driving I'm doing. Not sure if it's worth mentioning but on startup some white smoke does come from the tailpipe. I have started the truck without the radiator cap and I didn't have my radiator throw coolant up. I'm just not certain what steps to take and what to look at. Trying to find certainty in what it is and willing to try most things. Just don't want to throw money at it and keep the same problems (like my brakes). Thanks in advance. Sorry for the long post. Just didnt want to think of leaving anything out.

 

Have you done a compression test and/or a leak down test?
Do you know the condition of the head gasket?
White smoke out the tailpipe is not a good sign...

 

I have no history on anything engine wise. It's got 307,xxx. Could be on 2nd engine. No telling. I was going to try and shoot some air down each cylinder to see if the bubbles would come out of the radiator. I just haven't got around to doing it yet. Kind of scared to have it confirm my fear. This is my daily driver.