94 5S-FE Pours coolant after driving. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Nebbuchanezzar · 07-16-2010, 01:03 AM

My GF's car has many issues, one of which is suspected blown head-gasket amongst other problems...it definitely consumes coolant, but at a slow rate...what I am concerned about is now that it's summer, we drive the car, it shows normal temperature [barely below halfway on the temp gauge] and it does cool off when it cruises at good speed, but when we park, you can hear a LOUD bubbling noise and can see the car literally POUR water/coolant out...

I know these have a pressurized reservoir, so I am guessing that the reservoir fills up when the engine gets hot, but for SOME reason cannot re-enter the radiator, so must go through the overflow tube...

any ideas why this may happen, and even better...what to do to fix it? would I maybe just need a new radiator cap? (hopefully...lol!) Also, I do make sure the radiator is just topped off and the reservoir is right at the "Minimum" line while it is cool...

This car is on its' last leg, and she will be getting a new car soon, but she needs this car for a little bit more, and it gets to be a pain to fill it up so often, and I want to be the one to do it so she doesn't have to...which is getting annoying! lol

The thing needs an oil change this weekend anyways, so while I am messing with it I will try and look around...anything I should look for, or tests to do to help narrow down why it is happening and what needs to be done to fix it??

***fenixus*** · 07-16-2010, 01:46 AM

make sure that both fans on radiator kick in when coolant is getting hotter (e.g. engine idling after highway driving). if they don't then coolant boils. also the fact it boils may mean there is low pressure in system (change rad cap for starters and check for any coolant leaks under car).

fans may not kick in for several reasons:
a) fan temperature switch (5s-fe should have in bottom of radiator, when disconnected it engages fans all the time)
b) fan relays in Main Relay box under hood by battery

also use proper mixture (50/50 preferably) of coolant concentrate and distilled water (depending on whatever you have in there, red or green color ?).

also improper coolant flow/pressure may mean water pump is weak or radiator may be restricting flow at idle when pressure is lower.

you may try flushing cooling system through radiator, but that will require using distilled water and coolant concentrate (not 50/50 mixture) to refill afterward.

check this thread for proper flushing through rad:
Coolant flush: Do you remove engine block drain plug?

redtigerrocks · 07-16-2010, 08:12 AM

You might have a leak in your water pump. Try a pressure test

Nebbuchanezzar · 07-17-2010, 12:41 PM

Thanks! I will check all of that out! How would I pressure test the system? I know I have seen those rad caps with a hand pump...pretty much use one of those, or something similar?

I haven't really gone under the hood while it is running too much...so I will check to make sure both fans are running, and pull out my volt-meter I guess...lol...

Also, I know her fuel-send unit shows iffy levels of gas at best, so I was concerned about her temp sensor not being accurate as well, would it be worth testing that and the thermometer also? would it help to get a lower temp thermometer?

When it comes out, there are definitely two distinct puddles, RIGHT next to eachother and the bubbling is from the right side of the engine bay [from sitting down, from outside looking under the hood it would be the left]

All of this actually started after I flushed the radiator because it was RUSTY! the fluid that came out was orange and chunky... :-/ what I did was:

warm up car, then drain whats in there
fill with hose water, run for 20 minutes with heater on max
let cool, drain
fill with Prestone Anti-Rust Cleaner and water run same as before <- Did this x2
Fill with Prestone Flush and water, run same
Drain
Run 2-3 times with just water to get all chemicals out
Fill with Prestone 50/50

A little after this, the car actually overheated waiting to turn left, started pouring steam and fluid. and it has had heat issues ever since. One local shop owner said maybe I flushed out some sealer someone else put in the car, IDK...

Like I said though, I KNOW that this car has a blown head gasket and other problems, and it DOES consume fluid slowly, but when it pours it out, that's what I hate! Because I almost always have to go and pour a half bottle of coolant in there [although they are all now filled with water because this is too frequent to keep buying coolant...so the mixture is WAY wrong by now...probably almost all water]

carsrus · 07-17-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebbuchanezzar

I KNOW that this car has a blown head gasket and other problems, and it DOES consume fluid slowly, but when it pours it out, that's what I hate!

Fix it. Theres nothing else to diagnose.

New waterpump,thermostat and rad hoses are in order when you replace the head gasket.

Nebbuchanezzar · 07-17-2010, 01:32 PM

That's a little out of the question, if you read the OP, this car is only needed temporarily while she gets her new car...I/she/we will not be spending that kind of money to fix this car...if worst comes to worst, we both have experience making sure we drive around with plenty of water, and I already have 3 coolant containers in the trunk all filled with water just in case...

If this car was worth it, and being kept I would just start replacing what's needed...but at this point, that is everything...it would need a full rebuilt engine, all new hoses and wires, brand new radiator, new entire transmission setup, most likely from engine back...new suspension, new brakes...just to be worth keeping and still driving it around and not worrying...and I know there is more I am forgetting...

it is in REALLY poor condition and wasn't ever really properly cared for...her and I have only been together for 8 months...and since I met her I have tried my best to keep the car in at least the condition it is in and not getting worse, but its all too little, too late...

so, at this point, I am looking for cheap fixes and just looking to fix the coolant pouring out...I am not going to be tearing apart the upper engine assembly and replacing gaskets or much of anything else...

carsrus · 07-17-2010, 02:02 PM

Look up Blue Devil then. Its your only real shot in getting mroe then a couple days outta the fix. Its expensive but well worth it. Cheaper then buying a few bottles of the cheapo stuff.

Nebbuchanezzar · 07-17-2010, 06:02 PM

Yeah, I have looked into Blue Devil...I know that may be a solution to the gasket, but I am trying to find out more why all of a sudden it started pouring through the reservoir, like it can't get back into the radiator...that's all, thank you for the help however, it is appreciated!

I guess I will just hop under the hood a little when I get a chance and try and pinpoint exactly what is causing these new things...

***eyeball96*** · 07-17-2010, 06:27 PM

Could be a cracked radiator. Look on the top front for signs of coolant leakage.

Quote:

This car is on its' last leg,

Camrys do not have a "last leg" their all, repairable

.......if you have the money

Nebbuchanezzar · 07-18-2010, 12:58 AM

Yeah, but that's true of ANY car...lol

and I did notice a small very little bit of coolant did seem to come out from the top of the radiator, though I noticed it while pouring and thought maybe I just spilled some...but it was through the bends...how there are tons on little parts bent over the top to keep it all connected...from there...so that is possible as well...

I am actually considering driving this car when she gets her own and try small stuff to fix it, though IDK...so I have looked into most of the problems it has...that is why I am hesitant...because there are so many...but at the same time, I would LOVE to have a project like this one...lol...and it DOES drive...hahaha

where would be good places to look into parts for this car? with the stuff that I mentioned, what would you safely assume I may be looking at spending minimum to get this thing running WELL...and if I do get it running well, I would likely do some small performance mods/tweaks to it just for fun as well, but that's after the fact...

***eyeball96*** · 07-18-2010, 05:50 AM

I did a quick search for ya.

Gen 3 I4 Radiator Change/ Thermostat Change

My 96 5sfe I use to have had the same symptoms as your gf car, It was the rad that was causing it. I HAD it replaced by a mechanic, and IIRC, it cost me in the neighborhood of 300 bucks. My Daughter is still driving the car today.

What makes you think it has a blown head gasket you mentioned?

Nebbuchanezzar · 07-18-2010, 02:48 PM

just all the symptoms I have seen, and it is ALSO definitely consuming fluid, because it had times before it poured coolant it would still need more coolant every so often, but there was never a leak under the car...I took the car to Toyota and they agreed, and a few more local smaller mom and pop shops and mechanics also agree all on their own...so w/e it is, it is showing signs of being a blown gasket, although I guess we wont know 100% unless i tear it apart...

although for me, I would do a rad replacement and take this car from her, it does definitely need more work than just that...

one thing I noticed, that I still am not 100% where it came from, but her "scratch plate"? the plastic underbody coverings up front...they got damaged bad hiting a dip, and would scrape over everything...so I took them off and noticed they are soaked in oil... :-/ but the oil level looks the same it usually does...

so, IDK...this car is just a piece of work, one reason I may like having it as a project...lol

Nebbuchanezzar · 07-23-2010, 05:03 PM

I was LUCKY!!! It seems as though it may have simply been my radiator cap...I replaced the cap and the car now runs much cooler, no bubbling sound after and so far no pouring coolant! after seeing the new cap, I realized just how terrible the old one was! O.o haha...but yeah, for $8...I am happy this APPEARS to have solved my biggest issues ATM.

Once again, thanks to everyone who offered assistance! It is much appreciated!!

***eyeball96*** · 07-23-2010, 05:57 PM

Congrats on getting it fixed!

93celicaconv · 07-23-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebbuchanezzar

I was LUCKY!!! It seems as though it may have simply been my radiator cap...I replaced the cap and the car now runs much cooler, no bubbling sound after and so far no pouring coolant! after seeing the new cap, I realized just how terrible the old one was! O.o haha...but yeah, for $8...I am happy this APPEARS to have solved my biggest issues ATM.

Once again, thanks to everyone who offered assistance! It is much appreciated!!

Just out of curiosity, what did the old cap look like, based on the highlighted comment?

I'm wondering if you aren't in the early stages of pushing engine oil into the cooling system. Did the cap have a light brown, gooey substance all over it?

If so, that is oil separating out from your coolant. And it will cause your rubber washers on your radiator cap to expand and no longer seal. If this is the case, the new radiator cap you just bought will only last a short time. I have experience with this kind of headgasket failure. It just won't last much longer. If you want to keep this car, get the headgasket fixed.