1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

2.4L Radiator Leak

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by EVE Designs, Sep 10, 2013.

  1. Sep 10, 2013 at 6:47 PM
    #1
    EVE Designs

    EVE Designs [OP] GNAR Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2012
    Member:
    #81770
    Messages:
    170
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Craig
    Valle Vista, Ca
    Vehicle:
    13 Offroad
    I have a 5 lug 1st Gen Tacoma 2.4l Mt as a daily commuter.
    yruny2aj_8ad9edf35299423c3dabed4a50a15e10caa970c4.jpg
    Yesterday i discovered a leak in the plastic piece on the top of my radiator.
    ehudazy3_24e1081afec263d088cbc3254847828e55987042.jpgamynune8_704c653ac0440354c479fab22db625a9290a8870.jpg
    It's about 3" long and this is the only place it's leaking.
    What is my best course of action here? Im thinking a stop leak product but I've heard that may not be a permanent fix.

    Does anyone have a suggestion for me?
     
  2. Sep 10, 2013 at 6:51 PM
    #2
    Steves104x4

    Steves104x4 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2010
    Member:
    #35468
    Messages:
    15,733
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    Buffalo NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 RC 2.7 4x4
    BUCKLE UP! It makes it harder for Aliens to pull you out of your Truck.
    Maybe Loctite epoxy. [​IMG]
     
  3. Dec 27, 2013 at 7:58 PM
    #3
    Holy schmidt

    Holy schmidt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2013
    Member:
    #119308
    Messages:
    3,507
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Wyatt
    Nebraska
    I had the exact problem and i did the epoxy as above. It stopped the leak for a few months but i ended up stopping the hassle of patching it over and over again by just replacing it. Nappa had my radiator for $150ish but mine is a 3.4 so it might be cheaper for you
     
  4. Dec 27, 2013 at 8:48 PM
    #4
    2000GTacoma

    2000GTacoma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2011
    Member:
    #50183
    Messages:
    2,357
    Gender:
    Male
    Snow Hill NC
    Vehicle:
    00 Tacoma Ext. 3.4L SR5
    Don't put stop leak in it. Personally I do not believe in a mechanic in a bottle product. A new radiator will be around 100 to 150 bucks. Plus antifreeze.
     
  5. Dec 27, 2013 at 11:07 PM
    #5
    Holy schmidt

    Holy schmidt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2013
    Member:
    #119308
    Messages:
    3,507
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Wyatt
    Nebraska
    ^
    Yeah all in all my was 150 with Toyota antifreeze and some hoses
     
  6. Dec 28, 2013 at 1:04 AM
    #6
    Hawaiian05

    Hawaiian05 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2012
    Member:
    #84019
    Messages:
    332
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tony
    Boise, ID/ Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2021 Army Green TRD OR 6mt/ 2002 4Runner Sport
    Replace radiator and a jug of coolant. Don't waste time with any "stop leak" or additives.
     
  7. Dec 28, 2013 at 4:37 AM
    #7
    Mod

    Mod Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2010
    Member:
    #40950
    Messages:
    1,787
    Gender:
    Male
    CR, WA
    Vehicle:
    1999 8 port 3RZ 4WD SR5
    stock
    You might try a radiator shop and get a quote. Usually,,they can reuse the aluminum clamp that holds that tank to the core 1 time. After that, it's a new radiator. A good radiator shop has the knowledge to reuse that clamp and just replace the tank.

    Been there, done that, epoxy'd it, then had a cracked tank replaced like that from a good shop. About $45-50 total for the full meal deal (core boil out, flow test, pressure test, and tank replacement, ect). The fixed radiator had 190K miles on it and it still lives to this day (270k)

    Yeah, don't put any heater core plugging (trashing) solutions in there, you'll wish you hadn't. You have a 50/50 chance of plugging you heater core with that stuff and I didn't like those odds to begin with,,but you live and learn.. Replace the radiator whole before adding the stop leak crap.

    Gazillions of heat cycles on radiators (expanding and contracting rapidly). Very important to take care of them properly.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top