Temperature skyrocketing out of nowhere - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Camry LE 94 · 08-15-2009, 10:02 PM

After I changed my oil yesterday, I noticed my temperature gauge went above normal for the first time in over a year since I got the thing. Later on last night, I added some coolant to the overflow tank, between the Max and Low level. I ran the car afterwards and the temp once again remained in the middle. I drove it today all day delivering pizza and it was fine up until a couple hours ago the temperature started skyrocketing again, this time even a bit worse. I tried adding more coolant to the overflow tank, but to no avail.

Can anyone help me out on this? Would using the wrong grade of oil (10W 40) damage the head gasket?

carsrus · 08-15-2009, 10:16 PM

So there's enough coolant and its overheating?

The wrong oil wouldn't do anything wrong.

Has the timing belt and waterpump ever been replaced?

***fenixus*** · 08-15-2009, 10:18 PM

not sure if you like my answer, but i think (if you have no leaks of any kind and no head gasket problem) you may have a water pump problem.

have no idea what it has to do with an oil change (to higher viscosity), but maybe engine is getting warmer now and your current coolant is not enough to dissipate the heat? or maybe water pump starts failing ?

any signs of HG problem? any leaks? when did you flush the cooling system for the last time?

Camry LE 94 · 08-15-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carsrus

So there's enough coolant and its overheating?

The wrong oil wouldn't do anything wrong.

Has the timing belt and waterpump ever been replaced?

Yes when I added more coolant last night, there was none in the overflow tank. So basically theres enough coolant now.

Thats good to hear about the whole oil thing however.

As for the timing belt and water pump, I'm not exactly sure. I've only had the car for a year and 4 months.

Camry LE 94 · 08-15-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

not sure if you like my answer, but i think (if you have no leaks of any kind and no head gasket problem) you may have a water pump problem.

have no idea what it has to do with an oil change (to higher viscosity), but maybe engine is getting warmer now and your current coolant is not enough to dissipate the heat? or maybe water pump starts failing ?

any signs of HG problem? any leaks? when did you flush the cooling system for the last time?

No signs of a HG problem.. yet (God forbid). The cooling system was last flushed about 7/8 months ago about the time I got my tranny fluid exchanged.

Camry LE 94 · 08-15-2009, 10:27 PM

oh yea and when my car runs hot, it's during city driving. when im at a constant cruise the temperature stays at the normal range.

***fenixus*** · 08-15-2009, 10:47 PM

coolant reserve tank being bone dry is disturbing and slightly pointing towards HG problem. how was the old oil looking like? just dark and clear or anything like milk chocolate shake?

in city driving engine is under extreme stress, so it may be actually your water pump giving up. if you decide to change it, you can change timings belt at same time (both are close to each other, you will save on labor) - that's what i did when water pump was dying 10k miles ago - it was rattling though.

Camry LE 94 · 08-15-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

coolant reserve tank being bone dry is disturbing and slightly pointing towards HG problem. how was the old oil looking like? just dark and clear or anything like milk chocolate shake?

in city driving engine is under extreme stress, so it may be actually your water pump giving up. if you decide to change it, you can change timings belt at same time (both are close to each other, you will save on labor) - that's what i did when water pump was dying 10k miles ago - it was rattling though.

See thats the thing... The oil looks fine. It's looked fine before this problem occured, and it still looks fine after changing it. But yeah thats a good idea. How much do you think ill be spending to get both of those done?

***fenixus*** · 08-15-2009, 11:37 PM

yeah, then its not the HG most likely.
in Dec'07 i paid $600 even for parts & labor at local shop in Wallington,NJ for the timing belt, water pump and new seals (crankshaft, camshaft).

i think i actually even paid less than $600, because the owner agreed to beat the price down a little and i paid cash.

Retrospekt · 08-15-2009, 11:38 PM

The car has 205K miles? I'm assuming the timing belt wasn't replaced a second time.

Same guess as above...bad water pump.

Jimnist · 08-15-2009, 11:50 PM

Did you check the radiator? It's possible for the radiator to be empty while the overflow is full and vice versa.

This was happening on my Camry(1/2 to all the water was out of the overflow after city driving) and it was as simple as the old radiator cap not sealing and holding pressure. A new one for $10 solved it. Try squeezing the top heater hose, if it's easy to squeeze, nearly with your fingers together, then it's not holding pressure.

Edit: did you put the correct amount of oil in it? Oil helps cool the engine to some degree(no pun intended)

***fenixus*** · 08-15-2009, 11:56 PM

good point Jimnist! OP should try easiest/cheapest things first. Camry LE 94, keeping my fingers crossed. good luck man!

Mike Gerber · 08-16-2009, 09:38 AM

"coolant reserve tank being bone dry is disturbing and slightly pointing towards HG problem."

Not necessarily, but the fact that it's needed to be refilled twice in 2 days does point to some kind of a leak. Coolant is not consumed by the cooling system, unless there is a leak. (OK, you my have to add a bit once or twice a year due to some evaporation in the overflow tank.) Don't automatically go to the worst case scenario. Start by taking a visual look at all cooling system components. Radiator, all hoses, bottom of the water pump, heater core, around the head area, etc. If you can't find the leak yourself take it to a professional who can pressure test the cooling system or uses a kit with an ultraviolet dye to test it. Also check to make sure the cooling fans are coming on when the car get's hot.

Mike

***eyeball96*** · 08-16-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimnist

Did you check the radiator? It's possible for the radiator to be empty while the overflow is full and vice versa.

This was happening on my Camry(1/2 to most water of water out of overflow after city driving) and it was as simple as the old radiator cap not sealing and holding pressure. A new one for $10 solved it. Try squeezing the top heater hose, if it's easy to squeeze, nearly with your fingers together, then it's not holding pressure.

Edit: did you put the correct amount of oil in it? Oil helps cool the engine to some degree(no pun intended)

Good Advise right there!!^^^^

cruisn76 · 08-16-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camry LE 94

oh yea and when my car runs hot, it's during city driving. when im at a constant cruise the temperature stays at the normal range.

Also check your fan. Since city driving is stop and go, air flow is restricted, but on the highway and constant speeds there is good air flow to help cool the engine. That might explain the temp gauge going mid-high, and high-high in the city.

Just a suggestion.