My 1988 22RE 4runner is still overheating after I replaced the 2 radiator hoses, radiator, thermostat, and radiator.

This is now beyond my limited expertise...

The radiator slowly loses coolant after about 2 days. Then the thermostat starts to rise and when I check the radiator is about 1/4 gallon short on coolant.

No apparent leaks...

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Robby

 

do a compression check....that coolant has got to be going somewhere

 

Sounds like a cracked head - Start the engine cold, cooling system full & then stop it after 60 seconds or so - release radiator cap - if pressurized then the heads cracked-could be the head gasket or both but probably the head. Good luck

 

I had a hose that came off the intake area that had a leak on the back side, and it was a very fine mist of a stream. I had the engine running and crawling around underneath looking at all the hoses and head gasket area when I spotted the mist.

How does the engine sound when idling? Is there any white smoke?

 

It's not in your floorboard is it? Is your heater core ok? If the core leaks, sometimes the coolant will drip from the drain that goes through the floor of the cab, same place moisture leaks out from a/c condensation.
If it's getting into one of the cylinders, it should be steaming out of the exhaust, sometimes even dripping from the tailpipe.

 

It idles fine I think. There is some white smoke at startup and I have to gas it as soon as I turn the key.

This all started very recently.

I'm not seeing any drips inside. I have a leak in my evap coil but I thought that would only make me lose freon.

 

Sounds like either a blown head gasket or cracked head, like was mentioned above.

 

Yeah that's the general consensus. I guess I won't know until I get in there.
I've got an FSM. Anybody know how hard it is to get to the head on a 22RE?

Any tips?

 

Its not that hard, there are just alot of things that need to be unbolted to get the head off. Things that come to mind are intake manifold, exhaust manifold, power steering brackets, balancer and timming cover, and probably a few other things that i can`t think of right now. It just looks harder than it is because of all of the vacuum lines, just make sure you mark everything as you remove it so you know were it all goes when it comes time to put it all back together.

 

pressure test the radiator cap...

 

new radiator cap...

 

what does the oil look like.....oil , coffee or milk?

 

If i can replace the head, anyone can. I busted a plug in #4 cyl., i had to replace it . Fsm and Google the heack out of it, got me through.

 

Before you going pulling things apart pressure test the system that will tell you if you have a leak. Or blown head gasket.

I am guessing since you replaced all these parts you just might have a big air pocket that makes it look like the system is full when it is not.

upon stating once it gets hot it blows coolant out the over flow so hard it can`t flow down the hose to the tank.

If you have a leak or a blown head gasket you should be able to tell pretty easy.

Good Luck