Radiator Cap/Excessive Pressure

Weird question, but can anyone with a 2016-2018 post a picture of their radiator cap?

I recently had my local stealership do a coolant flush. Since then my coolant overflow resi hose has been blowing off the radiator. Causing coolant to shoot all over the engine bay. I honestly have no clue what is causing the excessive pressure buildup. But I’m wondering if they lost my stock radiator cap and just stuck on something that seemed to fit but is causing excessive pressure buildup.

I’ve also noticed that the top big hose that goes into the engine is going flat when cool. Almost indication suction. Again, no clue if that’s normal.

Pictures below of my current radiator cap with the overflow hose that’s blasting off. And the best pic I could muster of the ‘flat’ hose that likely shouldn’t be flat.

TIA

 

Upper hose, collapsing, as generally cost from a bad radiator cap. Order a new one from Bam or another online retailer

 

Thanks. Fortunately I have one already in route, as well as a replacement radiator on hand.

Could a bad cap also be causing overflow hose to blow off the radiator? Just seems very odd that both issues, or at least the hose blowing off, didn’t occur until the dealership did the flush.

 

Quite often those hoses just get soft and don’t like to stay on. You could try a clamp

 

Check your overflow hose for clogs...

 

You have air in your coolant system. And judging by your pics and symptoms, I'd say you have quite a lot of it.

You're also missing some hose clamps.

This is an absolute no-brainer. Take it back to the dealer and insist upon corrective action. Like put it in a stall with a certified tech. And not on the lube rack with the apprentice to the assistant who can't change your cabin air filter.

Your outcome is unacceptable.

 

Should there be clamps on both ends of the overflow tank?

 

No, and they shouldn't have touched those anyway. Sounds like a tech was distracted or mad that he got a coolant flush (can't make time if they're done properly, lot of line guys avoid them or rush them)

This. Raise hell. There is no excuse and Toyota takes that stuff seriously. If the dealership won't fix it for free (1st comeback should be free to you, a complete redo) then call Toyota. They'll rail that dealership.

 

Nope, it should never be handling any pressure (or vacuum)

You're saying the same little overflow hose is the getting blown off and collapsing? If yes, there is either a blockage in the hose or the plastic reservoir. Take the hose off and see if you can blow through it. Same with the passage in the reservoir. Something got stuck in there. Like maybe sludge.

Did you request a coolant flush for maintenance? Or is there an issue you've been noticing?

 

Yes I requested the flush.

A couple weeks ago I noticed the radiator had a smallish leak. Presumably resulting from a deer impact 6+ months ago. The leak wasn’t significant, but enough. I put a small portion of some Bars stop leak. After some warnings from others I regretted that discussion, but what was done was done. I decided to attempt a flush to get any remnants that stuff out. The dealership wasn’t charging too much so I had them do it.

Unfortunately the truck sat for a week afterwards as I went on vacation. It wasn’t until I got did I see the leak was still present so I ordered a new radiator. After driving around a day I then noticed I was see way more fluid coming out than before. Once I popped the hood I could see the blast radius and noticed the overflow hose wasn’t connected.

As usual I greatly appreciate the feedback and insight TW community has provided. Sound like I’ve got a few things I can check on my end now. As much as I do feel the dealership has some fault here with probable air in the system, I fear the stop leak I put in is likely the cause of any blockages. I do still think the replacement radiator is warranted as I’m not convinced the initial leak has been contained.

At this point it almost seems wasteful to have the dealership perform corrective flush, just for me to drain the system and swap radiators soon after.

Again, thank you to those that provided insight.

 

Just doing a normal flush, what dealer did isn't going to remove all the bars stop leak yo put in there. That shit clinges to everything in coolant system. Get some Irontite system cleaner/flush. That bars stop leak will mess up heater core, thermostat, radiator cap.

 

The choice to add the stop leak was a poor choice for sure.

Thanks for the suggestion on the irontite. I’ll pursue that.

Already pulled the overflow hose this morning and flushed out this shit. The inlet spout looks clogged too. Who knows where else this buildup probably is…

Been eyeing tundras for a while. May be that time haha.

Kidding….kinda

 

Here’s the shit I just fished/flushed from the reserve tank. The hose from the reserve tank to the radiator was clogged, as was the reserve tank inlet.

Lesson learned on the stop leak shit. Hopefully I haven’t future fricked myself…

 

Get one of these funnel sets. It allows you to bleed the system as well as not make a complete mess

https://www.mobiledistributorsupply...AAaOzRo5zaVQ3ZSdif4zstbeAeXLvYxEaArjbEALw_wcB

 

Yikes, hopefully that’s all that was in there plugging it up. I’d be worried about throwing the new radiator in, then having more of that crud clog up your brand new radiator.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. That one looks to be a nicer version of the Amazon special I’ve already purchased.

Agreed. I’m gonna drive it as is for a week or so. See what happens and confirm if the original leak that started this whole shenanigan persists before I replace the radiator.

 

You’re good, there are dozens of funnel kits available. I need to buy one, I’ve borrowed one several times

 

Hobo freight ones seem to work just fine

 

thanks……have a store close by