Anyone have any ideas why Im losing coolant?My 4Runner was repaired in October for a faulty water pump which the dealer said was causing the origional leak.I had noticed oil on the garage floor which did stop after that repair.But lately I noticed I wasn"t getting heat when the vehicle was stopped.I checked the radiator and it needed a gallon of anti-freeze.I have 151,000 miles so I'm thinking it's the head gasket.I paid $525.00 to replace the water pump.I think Toyota misdiagnosed the origional problem.Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.Thanks in advance.

 

Lots of common things for coolant leaks on 3.0L v6. You have a v6 right?

Common List:

Water Pump
Headgaskets
Radiator ( split upper tank )
Upper Rad Hose manifold

Does the exhaust smell sweet? Notice any external leaks at all?

Jay

 

Jay:I've noticed nothing external:no white exhaust,no steam,no water or coolant under the vehicle.Yes,it is a six cylinder.I called the dealer and he said he'd "work with me."Sounds like another $500.00 to me.

 

Good luck with the dealer. He may be on the up-and-up, so be positive. You have a lot of info from the forum to spew at him so he may think twice before screwing you. Since I purchased my third Toyota from the same dealer, they've been exceptionaly great to me.

Let us know how it goes. I'm interested in hearing what the cause was.

 

Have him take a look at it. Should be no charge on a "Recheck". Hopefully its nothing major. Keep us posted.

Jay

 

Dealer has an appointment set up for January 9th.I Will keep you posted.

 

Roger that!

Where you from?

Jay

 

Reading Ma.

 

Timing chain could have worn a hole in the timing cover. Happened to mine at 158,000 miles.

 

They put in a new one when they replaced the water pump.Maybe incorrectly?Another question I can ask the dealer.Thanks.

 

You dont have a timing chain. The V6's have a Timing Belt.

Jay

 

Check under your floor mats as well for coolant, if your heater core or hoses are shot that's where it usually ends up.

 

If its not on the ground and its not on the floor of the cab it has to be going somewhere else. I may be a slow leak that is evaporating so its not visible. It may be leaking onto the gravel guard which keeps it from hitting the ground and it evaporates from there. Maybe its a bad radiator cap. It the plastic overflow bottle full?

Check for it in the oil. If the water is in the oilpan it may be a cracked block, warped head due to overheating or headgasket again. Just because the gasket was replaced dosen't mean its not leaking again now.

 

It is a good possibility that is is a faulty seal. The pump doesn't use a normal gasket, the tech has to apply a silicone by hand. If you got the tech that didn't excell in art class, you may not have a good seal. Plus if he didn't let it set up and put it back together and fired it up, it could leak as well.