My 88 4x4, 22R, 5spd pickup is running hot. Backstory: 3 weeks ago i overheated (hot weather, stopped in traffic). This has NEVER happened before (we bought the truck new). A few days later we checked the oil and there was water (nasty milkshake)...so over the past 2 weeks we have replaced the head gasket, (and all exhaust and intake gaskets), had head "machined" (they said there was a crack), replaced timing chain (thanks to y'all I recognized the absence of t.c. guides), and thermostat (180?). Got it all back together, cranked up on 3rd try, but still running hot. It hasn't hit the red, but up between 1/2 and 3/4 (it used to ALWAYS be around 1/4). The radiator is less than 1 year old. The fluid is still there (not leaking), we use 10w40 oil (hot climate).
What else can we do? I work very close to home, so I don't get it VERY hot, but it still worries me (eventually, we will need to get it back on the highway). Please, any suggestions?

 

Greetings,
1 suggestion: Did you use an aftermarket T-stat? If so could be your prob. Here's why: most A.M T-stats are mass produced and will cause your Toy to O.H.! Replace it with a O.E.M. t-stat, but, before you do, cut the nipple off. I seen Toys O.H. too many times because of a crappy aftermarket T-stat. It's worth the money!

Take Care,
Harry

 

Thanks! Don't know what kind of thermostat, the hubby's been buying all the parts. But I will find out!

 

Might still be worth looking closely at the radiator too.
Doesn't have to clog much to make a big difference.

 

What do you look for to see if the radiator is clogged? Oh, and what is OEM?

 

OEM is "factory parts" (Original Equipment Manufacturer)

I used to just drain it and put a bright light in the bottom hose hole and peer into the filler neck and see what it looked like. Either squeeeeeeky clean, or it would get cleaned. My 85 started overheating on me at around 125k, there was lots of little rusty flakes (that's what it looked like anyway) in it. I took it out, soaked the outside with soapy water and cleaned out the minor clogging from mud, mostly in the lower corners. Then I took it to the shop. They cleaned it internally. End of overheating.

I've never seen any good come out of those do-it-yourself flush kits either - they tend to clog the radiator worse. I would take the rad out and take it to a pro and have it really cleaned. I have no idea what they do. While the radiator is out - then use a flush kit to flush out the block.

 

Fan clutch would be my guess if it overheated while stopped. Why? Fan pulls air thru radiator to cool it when stopped.

 

How to check fan clutch? Now it get hot all the time (when stopped & driving). I run the heater & it drops temp a little, but not much. And the motor stays hot for a long time (after only a short drive). I'm gonna check on that thermostat this evening. Thanks so much, y'all!

 

Fan clutch testing:

http://www.barneymc.com/toy_root/techneek/fan_clch.htm

 

Yup. My guess as well!

I bet that's it.

 

good call!

 

Might check EGR function, if EGR is not working there will be an increase it combustion temperture that can cause over heating and head gasket failure.

 

Thanks so much. We replaced the fan clutch & have ordered a lower temp thermostat (160 I think). It seems a little cooler, but I only drove it a short distance last night. By tomorrow I should be able to tell if the fan clutch helped. How do you check the EGR function?
I'm so happy with the way this truck is sounding--that timing chain was really making a racket! And, it has more "get-up" than ever (even for a little 4-cyl)!

 

EGR test procedures are detailed in the Factory Service Manual. In short, a couple of quick checks with a vacuum pump and gauge are to pull a vacuum on the EGR itself at idle and note if the engine stumbles or even dies. If so the EGR valve itself it working. Then with the engine warm, put a gauge on the EGR vacuum line, run the engine about 2000 RPM and note if a strong vacuum is present on that line. You can also remove the valve and clean it out if it is plugged up, check the small vacuum ports for clogging.

 

Thank y'all again for your help. The truck is running much better with the new fan clutch. We will install the 160 thermostat this weekend (to see if that helps, too). If I have any other questions, I know where to go....Thank You!