Coolant/Overheating problem

[TheKevin]

My Camry is overheating and I don't know what to do. It's been having this problem for a long time now. Here's a list of what's been replaced:
-Thermostat & gasket
-radiator & cap
-water pump & timing belt
-fan sensor

It'll overheat while I'm on the freeway or at a stoplight. When I pull over to look under the hood, the coolant in the overflow tank is bubbling and boiling with steam. I also noticed the coolant is now a brownish/orange/rust color instead of the green mixture.

What could be the problem(s)?

[renmike]

First I'd check to make sure you're not mixing any oil in with the coolant. Second, after getting it warmed up, make sure of two things:

1) make sure both hoses are warm/hot; that'll tell you that your thermostat is opening up and coolant is flowing correctly. if one doesn't feel as warm as the other, you might have air blocking flow in your system, or your thermostat isn't opening up like it should.

2) run it long enough to make sure the cooling fans kick on as needed. yours might have a hydraulic fan, i'm not sure what years those were in the v6's

Since you've seemed to replace everything except the hoses (and fluid), that's where I'd start.

[touringcamry]

Do you change your own oil? If yes, have you seen milky stuff in the oil?

Have you had a compression test done?

[TheKevin]

I did buy the car used, so I dont know about the previous owner. Yes, I do my own oil changes. The oil looks normal everytime I change the oil. My main concern is the coolant going from green to the brownish/orange/rust color. Like renmike said, I think the oil and coolant are somehow mixing. I havent done a compression test yet. What will that tell me?

[touringcamry]

A compression test could tell you if you have a blown head gasket which can allow coolant and oil to mix. But hopefully it's something else because that's not a cheap fix.

[RningOnFumes]

I have a cheap replacement 5sfe for you.....

[GrkBallaG]

SOUNDS like an HG, get a compression test done.

[TheKevin]

I won't be able to have the car looked at until Sunday or Monday. I suspected it's a blown head gasket since the coolant was changing color. Also, when I took the radiator cap off I saw a "chocolate" like substance. Usually, how long does a HG job take?

[Axel Kain]

check your oil..if its foamy after driving, its prolly HG.

[GaryS]

You didn't say if you have ever replaced the coolant. If you have and then it turned brown you may have major issues such as BHG. Rust in the coolant and age can also turn it brown. The other thing you don't mention is the age of your radiator. If it original, it may be paritally blocked, causing heating issues. You need to do some major investigation to check out these issues. Last, how old are your radiator hoses? if the suction hose collapses it can lead to overheating.

Gary

[TheKevin]

the radiator is 2 1/2 yrs old.

[TheKevin]

Just took a look at the oil and it is 'milky' now. I checked the spark plugs in the back and they arent wet. Since I didnt have much daylight left, I wasn't able to check the plugs in the front.

[Dave's]

By your description it sounds like the head gasket. It doesn't always leak into a cylinder. There are passages for both oil and coolant so if it only starts leaking between them then you'll only see coolant in the oil. (Assume this is because hot coolant has higher pressure than the oil.)

[Sniperdude]

Expect to pay upwards of 600 bucks to get it replaced, unless you know how to do it.

[TheKevin]

Yea, I know someone that is in the Navy that works on cars and has access to the Navy's "garage". He said he'll charge me just the cost of parts. But I can't let him do that so I'll pay for the parts and give him some extra $ since he's going through a rough divorce and is gonna be deployed to Iraq in a month or so.