Leaking Radiator, Need a Second Opinion.

Hey all,

My 99 2.7L 5spd started leaking radiator fluid the other day and I was hoping someone could confirm that it is in fact the radiator that needs to be replaced. I removed the skid plate, unbolted the plastic guard, and it appears that radiator fluid is pooling up where the bottom of the plastic fan guard meets the radiator on the engine side (not grill side) of the radiator. I'm not sure where it's leaking since the fluid is running along the bottom of the plastic cover and dripping where the drain plug and lower hose are. I checked all the normal hoses and around the water pump and it seems to be dry. Is it just time for a new radiator?

Thanks!!

 

Really hard to tell by the pics, honestly you could pry make a more accurate assessment even not being super savy to vehicle issues.

However from what i can see it does kinda look like it would be the rad...its gettin old at this point too and they arent the most robust component on the truck...

 

Thanks for the reply. The rad appears to be dry everywhere else besides the bottom, though it's hard to see every surface. Any suggestions on how I could be more accurate?

Thanks again!

 

Well....i guess just really keep an eye on things. Theres not too many places where water would be coming out of. Just try and pay attention where its typically pooling and try and follow it up. Surely its the radiator. Ya got 3 possibilities, radiator, lower hose or pump. Pump should be fairly easy to rule out and if water is above the lower hose its the radiator with a pin hole or hairline crack somewhere...

 

Gotcha. Yeah, pump is bone dry. The lower hose does have fluid on it but it seems to be an end point for the dripping up higher. I'm not sure if fluid coming out of the hose could collect in the bottom of the fan guard but maybe it could...

 

Maybe you can hold the camera down by the lower radiator and snap some pictures or use an inspection mirror and flashlight to find the leak.

P.S. You should call the "radiator fluid" coolant or people might think you're a weirdo.

 

Yeah... Thanks for enlightening me....


The surface of the radiator appears to be dry. I only see dripping back behind the side supports and I'm not sure that I could look behind them without taking the radiator out. Never had to trouble shoot a radiator leak before, so thanks for your help and patience.

 

I sounds like it's leaking from somewhere on the radiator and pooling on the bottom area. If you've inspected the underside of the hoses to be sure it's not leaking from there and it's not leaking from the cap, then I'd say get a new radiator. Once you have it out you'll probably see where the leak was. If by some chance when it's removed you find a leak from somewhere else, you could return the radiator.

You should replace the cap if it's as old as the radiator too. New radiators usually don't come with the cap.

 

Just how much coolant have you needed to add??

It is for sure coolant not ATF from the power steering

Auto or Manual Transmission ??

 

Yeah can you get a white napkin or something like that and dab the fluid up and determine its color? That'll atleast define what it is fur sure...

 

His profile says 5-speed trans, so no ATF in the built in cooler under the radiator. Maybe ATF from the power steering cooler tube near the radiator. Unlikely, but worth checking just to be sure. Good point.

 

The radiator takes like 45-60min total to do. Yours would be cheaper since there in no A/T cooler, say around $100, another $20 for Toyota coolant.

Just replace it and be done with it.

 

Thanks for the replies. Ended up pulling the radiator today and installing a new one. There was a hairline crack just out of view that was causing the coolant leak. Cost 150 total to swap it out.

FWIW.. The radiator I bought from Napa ended up being just a touch too wide at the bottom to fit between the frame.. The OEM radiator actually measured a 1/2" shorter width wise on the bottom than on the top where NAPA's was the same top and bottom. The other two options available had core sizes that were about 2 inches too small or large, so I ended up just slightly bending back the bottom of the side support brackets to get it to fit. Not an ideal solution but it seemed to work and everything lined up almost perfectly. The radiator I picked up is part # NR 2823 in case someone else is searching for a replacement and is wondering about compatibility.

Thanks again for the help!