overheating troubleshooting tips

I have a 95 with a 2.4L 4wd that overheated the other day...blew the upper radiator hose. swapped the hose out and got her running again, but i am still getting a higher temp reading than it used to read. this was just at an idle for 5-10 mins. I shut her down before she got too hot. the top hose is hot, bottom hose is cool as can be. if i squeeze the lower hose i can hear water moving around inside. I assume that means that it's the radiator, but i am not certain. My next step is to flush it out, or replace it. any helpful advice on a diagnosis, cheap parts or possible causes? Thanks in advance.
Clover
Hammond, LA

 

sounds kinda like the thermostat isnt opening?

 

^ This would be my guess.

 

oil level is good, it leaks a little from the rear main so i have to moniter it regularly
just changed out the thermostat and it still gets hot. i am thinking radiator, water pump, and fan clutch are in need of a replacement, also a compression test is in order. thanks for the quick responses, very much appreciated

 

no hot air from heater 203000 miles

 

i thought that the fact that no hot air coming out at norm idle temp was a bit odd. what is that due to?

 

I hate to tell you, but you have a 17 year old Taco and the radiator is clogged shut. You are not exchanging heat in the air fins that make up the radiator. They are clogged up and not letting water/coolant flow through them. The water may move from top to bottom, but no heat is being exchanged from the coolant/ water. I would replace the radiator first and see if it over heats again.
You could also be having a failing water pump, if it over heats at idle with a new radiator installed. This should cure your problem.Good Luck.

 

this sounds like it and you may have a big air bubble in the system. When you refilled the coolant did you run the engine and run new coolant through the block? You can do this by leaving the top rad hose off the radiator side and when the thermostat opens it will run water out the top hose and into a bucket. It flushes the system, gets all the bubbles out, and verify that the thermo is opening.