Coolant leak

The following image is the block coolant drain on a 2002 V6 engine. It can be seen by turning the wheels all the way to the right, peeling back the rubber splash guard and looking at the upper part of the lower block. I've tried on two different occasions to get something out of it but on my 1998 V6 I believe I could not get a good enough grip on the drain bolt to loosen it, and the drain hole itself is flush with the block.

So I gave up.

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Yeah, I looked at the manual. From the diagrams, it sure looks like the L-4 engine block drain is facing the front. I tried a couple times to find it then said the hell with it.



I have done about 5 flushes so far. I will do some more. I am running the heater when its at temp to get that crud recirculating also.

There was a good 1/16" to 1/8" of particulate crud in the bottom of the overflow tank.

I just called the dealer, the radiator is in, I will pick it up.
I'll put it in later in the week or this weekend.
I figure I want to at least drive until Thursday driving it with the flush in.
I will then drain and refill until clear. I figure empty, fill, run until warm, with heat run, and repeat.

 

Glad to hear you're flushing it properly anyways. Did you get that radiator yet?

 

I picked up the radiator. The dealer (or rather the service guy) who came up with the estimate also ordered the t-stat for me. Score!

Now here is the weird thing, I was expecting a Denso radiator. It isnt. Its a Toyota box, but it says HiLo on it. And the radiator says Harrison on the plastic top, which matches the one currently in the vehicle.

I also have been noticing a lot of pressure/force when removing/fastening the cap. The rubber washer has noticeable flattened so it is wider than the metal piece behind it. It is also jagged, or tearing on the perimeter.

Ironic thought: What if its not the radiator but the stupid cap that is the problem? I will top off tomorrow morning and see if it loses fluid again (which I suspect it will).
Edit: No, it is still leaking from not the cap...

And yeah, its still rusted to crap inside. I wonder if this is the bane/result of the 100,000 mile coolant?

 

Radiator replacement done.
No real issues, except I need to get an OEM bolt for the upper right (looking at the front). I dont know what or how the previous owner had in there, but it was refusing to thread.
I tried loosening the other 3 to get it to start but no go.

I had to run out and get new hoses. It wasnt the overall condition of the existing ones, but when I pulled the upper/left hose, there was a coating of rust on the inside as far as I could see.

I refilled it with a gallon of 50-50 and a liter of straight concentrate (figuring on 1 liter and change still in the block).

I am leaving the armor off because a Fumitomo drain valve is coming this week, and I'll put that in then put the shields back on.

 

Hey I have the same engine on my 4Runners, where you ever able to find the drain plug for the engine block?

Hope your truck is running COOL.

 

I never did, I looked at where the manual says it is, but didnt locate it. In the end I flushed the living crap out of the engine with distilled water before doing the work. By that time I figured it was close enough to just water and then calculated the amount in the block and added that amount of concentrated red, then 50-50 for the rest.

 

Also you might take a hose and shove it in the overflow tank till it gets washed out. Then siphon out the water and add you coolant.
Check the radiator cap seal too.

 

The block drain plug on the 4 cylinder faces the passenger side. It's near the water outlet from the block. You can see it if you crawl under from the front near the passenger tire. I forget, but guessing it needs a 12mm socket. With an extension you can reach it from underneath or from above, but you can't see it from above. Once you know where it is, you can feel for it from above. The coolant just drains out all over the crossmember making it hard to catch in a pan. You can try holding a large hose over it right after you take the bolt out to try to direct it down into a pan to minimize the mess.