Radiator Smoking

[Hanscraft]

My 1994 Camry has about 191700 miles on her. Today, I drove her about 12 miles and when idling at a red light noticed white smoking was pouring out from under the hood. I managed to get her home and popped the hood.

If you are standing immediately in front of the center of the car looking down into the engine, the smoke is coming from about a two inch crack on top of the radiator. I'm sorry I don't have a photo right now, but the crack is on the top "bar" (I'm not an expert) and then slight down on the backside. The crack is very smooth with the edges still pressed together.

When I looked behind and under at the uh...body/cage of the car, I noticed that all of it is soaked with fluids. A bit of green fluid was on the front of the radiator.

My dad suggested getting someone else to bring me some stop fluid to pour into the transmission. What do you think the likelihood is that this would help? Do you have any other suggestions?

[BMR]

Originally Posted by Hanscraft

...the smoke is coming from about a two inch crack on top of the radiator. I'm sorry I don't have a photo right now, but the crack is on the top "bar" (I'm not an expert) and then slight down on the backside. The crack is very smooth with the edges still pressed together.

The radiator is broken. This is the most common way for them to go; with a crack along the mold parting line of the plastic upper cap. This is not repairable. The radiator must be replaced. They're not terribly expensive. Around $100 to $150 for the part. If you're inclined to do it yourself, here is a link to a DIY thread.

Originally Posted by Hanscraft

My dad suggested getting someone else to bring me some stop fluid to pour into the transmission. What do you think the likelihood is that this would help? Do you have any other suggestions?

This won't help. Not unless you also have a transmission leak. But that would be an unrelated problem.

[rusty9]

welp, I for one suggest getting a new radiator installed.

My dad suggested getting someone else to bring me some stop fluid to pour into the transmission.

I hope you meant radiator there. anyways, stop leak stuff rarely works at all, and if it does its only meant to be temporary.

[Hanscraft]

Thanks. I'm feeling a little fazzled right now.

I think the nearest place would be about 10 miles away. Do you think my car can make it that far?

[ycartf]

+1 on needing a new radiator.

Both radiators I have had to fail on me (1990 V6 Camry and 1997 L4 Camry) had that same leak in the same area. It ended up being a crack in the plastic tank that you could hardly see while it was in the car. Stop leak "may" stop up a leak but it also may stop up vital areas you want fluid to pass too, and is not worth much IMHO.

1-800-RADIATOR has always beaten any price I could find and they ship overnight with a lifetime warranty. Find the lowest price you can find anywhere and call them - they'll beat it (or they did with me both times). Swapping one out is not hard at all. You can just about do it without any instructions, just remembering where everything goes and replacing it.

[fenixus]

get Koyorad radiator, most people here used it and are happy with it, check price on rockauto.com and compare with 1-800-radiator

[Hanscraft]

Thanks. I got around and it looks like the cheapest someone will do the job is $275. I'll need to go out and buy some tools but the DIY directions seem to be easy enough to follow.

[BMR]

If you've not done much work on cars, replacing the radiator on your Camry isn't a bad way to start. It's not terribly difficult & doesn't require much for tools; basic stuff, & no special tools that I can think of.

By the way, that DIY is for a 4 cylinder Camry. If you've got a V6 it's a little bit different, but still reasonably easy.

[ricamryman]

My radiator went after I owned mine for two months! Same crack that you experienced! My mechanic replaced it for $300.00.....

[Hanscraft]

This is a 4 cylinder Camry. There are videos (shaky cam warning!) on Youtube of a guy discussing the process on his 1993 step by step.