Overheating anytime I’m towing.

1.5 yrs. More than 3 owners, no info regarding the cooling maintenance. But from what I can see from the random electrical splices, Zip Ties, and stuff, she was a pavement princess but I definitely got cat fished.
Okay, Fan Clutch, Rad, and Water Pump. (Grr more money......)
Most of these I can do by myself I think, Messy tho.

 

Auto, Yes I do keep it in 4th, and only place it on D / 5th gear lockup when on the highway on a very long flat road.

 

We did (my tech) did replace the coolant and the thermostat not too long ago.
The Power Steering is the last fluid for me to change out.

I agree a 07 it would make sense to start replacing some of the plastic and rubber stuff.

 

Going past 100c when at a stop light, parked, or backing up a trailer?
Or getting close to 100c?

I thought it should not go past 100c, least more problems happen.

 

This might be a stupid question, is it possible to feed down one of those water snake camera things / borescope / flexible wire with camera and light at the end.
And shove it down one of the coolant pipes / rad cap/ etc to see its internal condition?

 

Before doing the hard things, try the simple things. A fan clutch is easy to test and replace. A water pump is a good idea if it is the original. The answer is often simple once understood.

 

That is 212f. Always going to heat up at a stop with the lack of airflow. How long have you been watching the temp. Are the temps you are seeing now higher than prior monitoring or did you just start monitoring

 

Overheating in situations where my temp gauge had never moved before was the first indication of a head gasket leak on my 05.
2nd hint was bubbles coming out of the coolant overflow tube in the overflow tank while warmed up and idling.

I hope it's not that - was expensive. However my son still has the truck and it now has over 300k miles (482 km) on it with no further problems.

 

What ever, with all that sludge, gunk, crap on your finger, you can bet that’s throughout the radiator. I’d replace the radiator. And since the water pump is 17 years old I’d replace that too. Water pump life expectancy is 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Yes I know lots last way beyond that but that is the automotive industry stated average lifespan. If the radiator is off the replace the pump.

 

i'd also recommend flushing the system before installing the new parts.

there should definitely not be gunk or grit in the system, but that is going to extend past serviceable parts like the pump/hoses/thermostat/radiator. i wouldn't recommend replacing those components until you can be sure that the motor is mostly de-gunked. otherwise if you only replace those parts, the gunk is going to flow from the motor cooling jackets/heater core back into the new parts, and you'll be back where you were before, but with more frustration and a lighter wallet.

given the age of the vehicle, it's really not bad of a suggestion to replace those things, but i would solve the gunk problem first.

 

I agree 100% (forgot to say it). Yes flush the shit out of the system before replacing the radiator and water pump.

 

You need a coolant system flush at the very least.

Personally, I would change radiator and water pump.

NEVER put green coolant in a Toyota! And ONLY use distilled water.

If you have to use non Asian coolant, use straight water. Drain radiator and black later and replace with proper coolant.

Never mix the green crap with the pink!

 

i kinda think you are overthinking this. 100c / 212f isnt all that high. I have seen mine up to 107c / 225f bunch of times. going up a hill or flogging it. good thing you arnt looking at trans temp, that shit gets high lol

i would say with dirt you are seeing inside could use a flush.
also, for the fan clutch, go spin it when cold, should have some resistant's to it. then loosen up once hot.