cooling system

Hi:
My 2002 Toyota Tacoma V-6 engine is leaking a little coolant fluid, went to Auto Zone picked up a new radiator cap, cap that was on radiator was a 9 lb. they told me it was wrong cap that i should be using 13 lb. Truck doesn't overheat an I have awesome heat, but coolant in radiator doesn't seem to moving, fill reservoir to proper level after installing new cap i don't see any leaks but my top hose hot to touch an bottom hose is just warm, do you think i should replace thermostat?

 

Where is the coolant leak? Can you see it dripping?

What is the temp gauge in your dash indicating? Normal temp range?

 

You can replace it if you want, but the top hose is supposed to be hot, and the bottom is supposed to be cold. If you can't see the leak, but know it's leaking, it could be the water pump, those start to seep after a while.

 

Really can't see the leak its on the right side some were, drips down on belly pan an on to ground, I checked the soft plug below the starter looks great, the Temp gauge stays the same right in the middle, never had it over heat, I get great heat out of heater. I really don't think its the water pump in relation to were the drip is dripping, its not much i may have had to put a cup maybe two in the reservoir, after replacing the radiator cap an to the right cap 13 lb. an ran it for 10 miles it wasn't leaking. Do you guys know if your using a 9 or 13 lb. cap, i have the owners manual but they don't tell you anything about the cap. I was thinking the water wasn't circulating when i felt top hose really hot an bottom cool were the thermostat is located at. Radiator an hoses look good, I even put new clamps on top radiator hose were i was getting these white spots as if hose was leaking, I doubled up clamps at both radiator an engine block. I have the thermostat an gaskets for replacing it, but wanted to try one thing at a a time. Thanks for your help, appreciated, Tacoma is a SR5 club cab, it came from the south an now in Pa. body is perfect an frame also, had the spare tire recall done here in Pa. it has 237,000 miles on it an runs like new, i wouldn't be afraid to take it any where. GREAT TRUCK!

 

If water wasn't circulating both hoses would be hot. When was the timing belt done last?

 

Hi, not sure when timing belt was done, I have had the truck a little over 1 1/2 years, truck runs great, starts first time an lots of power, if you didn't know this truck had over 230.000 miles you would think it had 50,000 the way it sounds an runs. Doesn't burn a drop of oil, or leak, any, I have been a mechanic for military for 35 years an never saw a engine with this amount of miles sound an run so good, not even the diesels. But again I don't know the history of the truck engine could have been replaced or work done on engine that i don't know about, like I said it was a southern truck from Florida an Carolina's. Thanks for your help, have a awesome day.

 

Probably should try to narrow down the leak location. They generally don't repair themselves and will only get worse. Water/coolant leak locations can be deceptive as the fluid can run along surfaces before dropping to the ground.

The top hose carries the hot water from the engine block to the radiator for cooling. It would be normal that the lower hose be cooler as it is the return line from the radiator.

On the v6, Toyota recommends replacing the timing belt every 90K. When this is done it is typical to replace the water pump as it is right there, exposed, when the TB is off. Most shops and certainly a Toyota dealership who does the timing belt will put a sticker somewhere indicating the mileage that the swap was done. At 237K I'm fairly certain this job has been done at least once on your truck, possibly twice.

 

If it turns out to be water pump, just do it all at once and know for the future.....yea, should be a sticker saying the belt was done, even if you cant read it any longer.

 

Thanks for the info, i will be checking for leaks next few days, I drove it probably 25 miles or so not a leak after replacing radiator cap, which was the wrong size an tighten up on clamps on top radiator hose were I WAS GETTING WHITE SPOTS AFTER THEY Dried, thinking maybe that hose was leaking a little at connection to radiator. Spots were spread OUT LIKE THE FAN WAS PUSHING COOLANT AROUND. I,m thinking like you this truck had to have some work on it for the miles on it now an how well this truck runs an performs, i SURELY WISH i could find the owner before me an find out what he did to the truck. Again thanks For YOUR HELP ALWAYS APPRECIATED, HAVE A AWESOME DAY GUYS. one MORE QUESTION i PULLED THE PLUGS OUT OF THIS TRUCK THEY WERE DESCENT GAP A LITTLE BIG RESET GAP AN WHAT A DIFFERENCE BUT SHOULD I USE TN DOUBLE TIP PLUGS LIKE IT SAY IN THE TRUCK MANUAL, RIGHT NOW WHO EVER HAS IT HAS THE NORMAL NGK PLUG IN THERE. THANKS AGAIN HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!

 

Are you sure the radiator is good? The plastic tanks tend to get hairline cracks in them. Mine got one on the top tank close to the radiator cap. Same white spots of coolant being sprayed by the fan. Could barely see the crack. I'm betting that's it. Check the top tank very close. Preferably while it's running and at temp. Then Check the bottom. But I bet it's got a crack in the top tank.

 

Yes, the v6 requires dual electrode spark plugs.