93 Camry LE V6 Overheating question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dgoode01 · 07-18-2008, 10:24 PM

Let me start out by saying I'm new to the forum and new to Toyota's.

I just purchased my first Toyota a 93 Camry LE V6 with 133K miles. The car appears to be in good mechanical condition and has been well maintained with regular work done on it. The car drives and runs good with no apparent issues.

The day after I purchased the car I took it to a mechanic to have the timing belt and water pump changed (new water pump not a remf'd one) as the last time it was done was at 60K miles. Plus all of the seals and gaskets were replaced..Also had the Valve clearance checked and it was good.. The mechanic said it appears as if the car was well taken care of.

So, as I drove the car home it ran perfectly, no power loss, shaking, etc.. When I parked it at home I notice the engine seemed like it was overheating, I could hear popping/crackeling from under the hood. But the temp. gauge in the car never moved above the midpoint, actually it was a little below it. I checked the oil and it was at the proper level (FWIW..the dipstick was extremely hot to the touch), checked the radiator and it was full of coolant, and so was the reserve tank. The hose on top of the radiator was hot and so was the hose at the bottom. The fan was on, but didn't seem like it was going that fast until I turned on the AC then it spun faster.

I'm wanting to know if this is normal??? am I over reacting,,etc..etc??? I've done some searches on the forum, but couldn't locate anything that was similiar.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Kep · 07-18-2008, 11:03 PM

I'm not positive just what popping you're describing but I notice a similar popping and crackling when I turn my 5SFE off. I believe that it is mainly the cat cooling off.

If you're not comfortable with the temp gauge you could check the engine with a separate temp gauge but I suspect it is OK.

Kep

DFBonnett · 07-19-2008, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgoode01

I could hear popping/crackeling from under the hood

I bought our '93 V6 new in '93. It has always done that.

***toyomoho*** · 07-19-2008, 12:55 PM

Appears normal.

Normal coolant temp is very hot at 180-195F.

The AC radiator fan will turn on whenever the AC compressor is working, this is normal.

If the radiator fans turn on with AC off the coolant is at around 199F, again normal.

Would be concerned if the temp gauge started climbing up past "normal" or varied up and down as you drove.

dgoode01 · 07-19-2008, 09:46 PM

Thanks for all of the replys.

One additional thing I failed to mention, not sure if it really matters or not. The coolant that is currently in the radiator and the reserve tank is the green stuff. I read in another thread that it should be the red coolant as the green coolant is not that good. Will this make a difference?