Overheating 94 Camry LE

[94CamryMan]

Hey guys, my 94 camry LE is overheating after about 10 minutes of driving. The temp gauge sits at normal operating temperature but starts to heat up pretty quickly after 10 minutes. If I rev the engine to about 2k RPMs then the temp goes back down to normal. But when I let it idle the temperature shoots back up. Does this sound like a themostat problem or something more serious?

[hooRAH]

Its not a thermostat problem, its a flow problem. With only the information you gave, its hard to pinpoint a solution, you'd need to diagnose it further to be sure.

I can say that USUALLY your condition is a symptom of low coolant level. Have you checked the coolant level?

[BoostologyRAV4.]

I agree with hooRAH, I had a similar problem with my 98 RAV4. Cruising down the road it was fine, but at lower rpms or at a stop the temp would climb back up. The coolant was low and there was a air pocket in the system. I topped off the coolant (at the radiator AND the overflow bottle) and let it idle with the cap off the radiator untill i was content that the air bubbles had burped out.

[94CamryMan]

Thanks guys I'll try topping off the coolant levels today. The overflow tank has a good amount of coolant in it but I'm not sure about the radiator itself. I'll keep you posted.

[liensalebuyer]

I had a similar problem 1993 Camry 4 cyl and my co worker touches the bottom half of the radiator and it was cool. He said the radiator was clogged, which it was. Bought an after market, quoted $120- wholesale $79. Less than an hour, everything was working. I bought the red coolant and make sure the fan comes on after 5 to 10 minutes of running. It's in the DIY section, looked the same as how my co worker did it.

[chronoti]

make sure you bleed out the system all the way, have the heat set on high and run the engine with the cap open topping it off.

[94CamryMan]

If I top up the system with distilled water and run it until the air bubbles are gone should that show me if the problem was just a low coolant level? I only as because I have the green stuff in there right now and I just put down 30 on a bottle of Toyota Red coolant. I'd like to know it was the coolant before I flush the whole system and put the new red coolant in.

[chronoti]

yup well. make sure after it is filled still not over heating.

[Mike Gerber]

First make sure the 2 electric cooling fans are coming on when the car get's hot. If not, that is your problem.

If the coolant level is actually low you have another problem. You have a leak somewhere. Coolant is not normally consumed by the system. You can use a bit of distilled water to top if off, and then bleed the system of all air. Then find your leak and repair it. Then use the Toyota red when you are refilling the entire system. Don't drive the car indefinitely with too much distilled water in there. Although you don't have to worry about freezing temperatures in your area, the water pump is lubricated by some of the properties in the coolant/antifreeze.

If you do not find you are low on coolant, then I would agree with liensalebuyer, your radiator could be clogged and you may need a new one. How many miles are on this car?

Mike

[94CamryMan]

well it drank up about half a gallon of distilled water and I ran it for about 20 minutes without it overheating. however the radiator fans never came on. I looked under the car and saw a few drops of coolant pooling below the engine so I'm guessing this is where I'm losing coolant. Also when I rev the engine I hear a buzzing sound. This car has about 160k miles on it so I'm not expecting great things from it. THANK YOU GUYS for helping a total car noob out.

[lee777]

Is leak and noise coming from water pump? If you can't tell...
Disconnect negative battery lead.
Remove serpentine belt.
Grasp water pump pulley. Is pulley and water pump shaft showing play?

[Mike Gerber]

"well it drank up about half a gallon of distilled water and I ran it for about 20 minutes without it overheating. however the radiator fans never came on. I looked under the car and saw a few drops of coolant pooling below the engine so I'm guessing this is where I'm losing coolant."

If you have the 4 cylinder 5SFE engine (the most common engine for this car) the cooling system capacity is 6.7 quarts. You said you poored in about 4 quarts. You were very low on coolant. You said you saw coolant pooling below the engine, so you obviuosly have a leak. Locate the source of the leak and repair it. I wouldn't worry about the fans not coming on; the temperature probably never got high enough for them to turn on. Repair what is leaking and refill with coolant and distilled water at a 50/50 mix and then bleed the system.

Mike

[mazdaverx7]

are you mixing the Toyota red and the standard green coolant?