Ok so my radiator exploded on my 1993 4x4 3.0 v6 pickup the other morning and I just got done putting a new radiator, thermostat and cap I fired it up let it run for about 15 minutes and its still over heating, there are no water leaks but there has to be something else how can I tell if its the water pump? And any suggestions of an easy way to change the oil pan gasket?

 

take off your radiator cap....run a garden hose into your radiator. turn on the hise and let it run....start the truck...let it run....if it gets hot with the hose running in there....its the water pump. If it stays cool....check therm....

Is it losing coolant?

 

I would replace the thermostat first before the water pump.

 

I changed the thermostat when I did the radiator, and its not losing coolant, and the upper hose feels soft when i squeze it while its running...

 

How would that work? Because if the thermostat is stuck closed - the cooler water would never get into the block from the radiator. I'd say take the thermostat out and run it without the thermostat - that would isolate the water pump too.
There could just be air in the system too. To make sure all of the air is out (and to test the thermostat as well): On a cold start - take the radiator cap off, start the engine and then put the cap back on when you notice the water starting to move (thermostat opening).

 

fan clutch, head gasket
2 other culprits to add.

 

Oh...that was me thinking...then stopping mid sentence...then some more babbling and such. LOL

 

Ok so I let it sit for a while to let it cool back down, filled it with some more water started it again and slowly added water while it was running, it seem to be pulling water just fine, but I look at the rear of the truck for the first time after fixing it.and notice white steam/fog from the exaust ( almost look like a fog machine under the back of my truck) and then i looked under the truck to see if there were any wet spots and there it was a drip but not from anything I touched, it was dripping off the exaust, so I followed the leak and it seems to be coming from somewhere at the top of the exaust... should i just assume that the head gasket is toast or could it be something else?

 

White steam out of the exhaust on a 3.0 would definitely be a red flag for the head gasket for me. Especially since you said it overheated. Or the radiator exploded or whatever. You might be losing exhaust gases into your coolant or coolant out the exhaust or both.

 

From what your saying here, you have a blown head gasket.

 

Yeah, a fog machine is bad news, that's just what my old 95 3.0 turned into when the head gasket blew.

 

plastic cap rad explodes on a 3Vz and it needs a head gasket... What a shock.


post #6 FTW.

 

You're learning these 3.0h's are some fickle beasts...

Now make sure you have your heads done while they're off in case you've burned a valve or something...

These things are not Chevy motors... They can't shrug a heat spike off.


Use only Toyota OEM head gaskets if you're wondering...

Either go to Toyota and buy them, or call this guy: Cruiser Dan at American Toyota Phone is 1-800-432-6668 ext. 8. Pay what they want as they're far better quality than ANYTHING you can buy after market.

OEM, belts, pumps, gaskets, etc...

No after market parts are higher quality. And the 3Vz does not take kindly to inferior parts.

 

My favorite method of troubleshooting.....


(I've nothing to contribute. Just had to reply to this...bahaha)