My Tacoma is a work truck, over heating.

I drive all day long every day. About 300 miles a day. Lots of stops and idling. On these hot days, really anything over 90 my A/C stops blowing cold ( unless I rev the engine to 1500 rpm) while sitting and idling for any more than a few minutes.

I'm putting on my lift and wheels and tires tomorrow and was wondering while I was at it if I should throw on an electric fan to help keep it cool during the summer. Coolant looks good but maybe I should have it flushed. Very hot and dry here and I'm on dirt roads all day in the oil field.

Suggestions

Thanks
Dustin

 

the way you worded the title, I thought your trucks engine was overheating...
As for the coolant flush, check your users manual for correct intervals. It doesn't hurt to change it early, but not necessary.

 

I sat and watched it yesterday. It was 98 here and the temp guage got real close to the red before I jumped on the road to cool it off. It cools just fine going down the road. I just expected it to cool better while idling. I'm going to wash out the radiator today. Maybe something got between the condenser and rad.

 

I wouldn't be all that concerned with it being a newer truck. Unless you have a blow over through the over flow tank.

Last week the temps here where over 100 and I noticed with my scangauge the truck temp was running anywhere from 188 to 213. My normal temp without a/c is 193. I think the coolant will not boil until something like 250-260 degress.

I have noticed the a/c is just about useless at idle. I think this is how newer a/c systems work.

Get a coolant tester to make sure your coolant is working correctly.

 

I can see the pump jack in the back! wooo i know your feeling im ou in the fields too. i recommend anything thats gonna keep you fresh in that truck. im sure you work loooong days out in the oil fields! anything to keeps us cool.

 

Maybe the AC needs to be recharged. To keep the truck from over heating, use the heater to take the heat off of it. Perhaps your thermostat is bad.

 

How long are you idling and how much time is actually spent driving? These trucks do not cool very well when idling.

 

I'd clean out the condenser first before a coolant flush, especially on dem oil fields roads

 

Do you hear the fan kicking up? If it's at full lock for the temp, it would roar like a beast (it's that massive roar when first starting the truck cold, as the silicone fluid is all drained out of the working area and it's turning at full lock until its pumped back).

 

x2. the fins need to be cleaned to transfer the heat, and it wouldnt hurt check the hoses like singlecabgay said. oh i mean guy

 

I had plenty of heat problems on cars when I lived in TX. Most of my cars, I took the thermostat completely out. They would run a little cooler in the summer, but in the winter the heater would take longer to get up to temp because of that. You can also reroute the coolant hoses going to the throttle body to bypass it and just connect to eachother. These are small no cost things to try to keep cooler. Cleaning out all the dirt and dust from the radiator and ac condenser on a weekly basis is also helpful. Since you idle alot, an electric fan will push more air than the machanical fan, but that is the only advantage of eletric on cooling. Once you get moving, the mechanical fan will out perform the electric on cooling. Checking the charge on the AC isnt a bad idea either, just be careful not to overcharge it, you'll get poor performance and maybe leaks. Then window tint also makes a huge difference on interior temps, and even when you are sitting idling, put a sun shade in the front window. Hope this helps keep you a little cooler.

 

He has a 2011... if his AC needs a recharge, he's got a warranty issue.
AC systems are sealed and they don't need routine recharging.
Modern AC systems using R134a, and it's replacement, R1234yf, are simply not as efficient as the old R12 systems.
When ambient temp climbs, the AC temp will climb.

BUT...

The OP's comment on the temp gauge getting close to the red is disturbing. I sit in heavy traffic on the way home, and it's been 100 degrees, UG is showing intake air temp of 115, and I'm idling with my AC running and the engine is just sitting between 199 and 204.
Even in Vegas, I've never seen it above 204, and my AC always blows cool or cold.

I suspect he may have an issue with his fan clutch, or perhaps the fan shroud is damaged or missing.
Yes, if that's the case, an aux electric fan will certainly help, but it should not be needed on a 2011.

 

+10,000... but do NOT use a pressure washer.

I found out the hard way that a pressure washer will bend the fins over. Cost me a new radiator.
Just soak the whole thing down with water, sprayed in from behind, then soak it with Simple Green, and flush with water.

 

You have a 2011 right, take it in for warranty work. Something is not right on your truck, my 2009 had no issue with 124 in Death Valley, AC worked great and the engine temp was barely above normal..the needle barely moved.

 

Warranty won't cover cleaning out a dirty rad, if that is the culprit. I would make sure the rad and condensor are clean, and if the problem persists, then for sure, warranty, unless over milage. I'm betting it won't persist.

 

No way the rad on a 2011 would be that dirty, unless it was taken into a deep mud hole. I put 200k on my old 92 Toyota PU and the rad was never cleaned other then the spray from a normal wash and it still very clean just a few dents in the fins. My 2009 is still clean and I do a lot of trail driving.

 

Depends on the conditions its operating in. It certainly is possible. Either way, I would be checking it, or be prepared for a bill from the dealer.

 

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I washed out the between the condenser and rad today and topped off the coolant. Checked all the hoses. It was pretty dirty. Well see how that works tomorrow.

Thanks for all the replys.
Dustin

 

Any update on your overheating issue? Mine is starting to act up. Did you find anything that helped/needed replaced?

Thanks

 

Newer vehicles really don't like being run without a thermostat. They depend on it being hotter for proper combustion. If you can't fix it and want to go real radical, put some vents in your hood.