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Went up to boston and came back (520 mile round trip) ... noticed my coolant overflow tank was completely empty. The water pump was recently replaced under warranty... i don't see any coolant residue except down the back of the radiator. It looks like it dripped from the radiator cap... logically this must be the source of my leak? its an authentic TRD radiator cap, and I haven't had any problems since I put it on nearly a year ago. anybody have any idea why its suddenly leaking?
thanks in advance!
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2005 Camry "LE"
TL HID Retrofit | OEM Fogs | SE Bumper | SE Grill | Factory Spoiler | Kosei K1 TS 18x7.5 | BC Racing Coilovers
TRD [RSB | Strut Tower Brace | Exhaust] || Rear Drum to Disc Swap
Was the cap installed properly? It probably was, otherwise coolant couldn't have been drawn into the radiator from the recovery tank. Test the cap and the system, you always start with the basics. Did you use/lose the much coolant on the trip or could it have taken longer?
When you dump all the coolant out like during a water pump change, your coolant needs a run to full warm uyp (so the thermostat will open) then a complete cool down. then remove the radiator cap and top it up (i usually use straight coolant no 50/50 crap) and top up the bottle. which is probably what your mechanic did not bother to do before he gave the car back to you.
I think its better to overfill at this point as the worse that will happen will be some coolant gets swilled out of the bottle. Beats underfilling coolant and maybe overheating the engine if you ask me.
Originally Posted by marc780/TRD_EarBanger/DressUpYourPet
When you dump all the coolant out like during a water pump change, your coolant needs a run to full warm uyp (so the thermostat will open) then a complete cool down. then remove the radiator cap and top it up (i usually use straight coolant no 50/50 crap) and top up the bottle. which is probably what your mechanic did not bother to do before he gave the car back to you.
I think its better to overfill at this point as the worse that will happen will be some coolant gets swilled out of the bottle. Beats underfilling coolant and maybe overheating the engine if you ask me.
The OP stated that he topped the fluid off after the water pump was replaced MONTHS AGO. Your theory is unlikely based on the information given marc780/TRD_EarBanger/DressUpYourPet.
checked the cap today, looks like some crud got onto it so it wasn't sealing completely. i'm thinking the extra heat + the long drive caused the coolant to boil over more than normal... therefore leaking coolant! i typically only drive 20 miles to work, so it didn't heat up enough to leak before i went on the trip. i think the mechanic that replaced the water pump must have rolled my cap in dirt there was so much crud on it... cleaned it off this morning and topped off the coolant... didn't lose a drop when I got back from work.
__________________
2005 Camry "LE"
TL HID Retrofit | OEM Fogs | SE Bumper | SE Grill | Factory Spoiler | Kosei K1 TS 18x7.5 | BC Racing Coilovers
TRD [RSB | Strut Tower Brace | Exhaust] || Rear Drum to Disc Swap
checked the cap today, looks like some crud got onto it so it wasn't sealing completely. i'm thinking the extra heat + the long drive caused the coolant to boil over more than normal... therefore leaking coolant! i typically only drive 20 miles to work, so it didn't heat up enough to leak before i went on the trip. i think the mechanic that replaced the water pump must have rolled my cap in dirt there was so much crud on it... cleaned it off this morning and topped off the coolant... didn't lose a drop when I got back from work.
That's good to hear.
Many times, a technician will use a dirty/oily funnel. The crud goes to the top and accumulates on the radiator cap and/or in the recovery tank.
When my waterpump was replaced there was oil residue in the funnel that was used. It ended up on my cap and in my recovery tank. I ran the car for a month, cleaned the radiator cap, cleaned the recovery tank hose, and the radiator cap. As the oil floats to the top that completely took care of it. Several months later, the tank and cap are still perfectly clean.
Good techs use separate coolant and oil funnels. That crud could come from the cooling system itself. Not having flushed or changed the coolant will cause it and it winds up at the cap. Also any head gasket leakage can cause it.
Good techs use separate coolant and oil funnels. That crud could come from the cooling system itself. Not having flushed or changed the coolant will cause it and it winds up at the cap. Also any head gasket leakage can cause it.
Funnels laying around get dirty.
The OP's car with 3X,000 miles isn't even close to needing a flush. I doubt that the head gasket is leaking either.
OK, if you say so, I guess. Just trying to help. I didn't say it actually pertained to his car tho. In general there are other causes for that crud than a dirty funnel. And I'm not going to get into a pissing contest like you did on that oil change thread.
OK, if you say so, I guess. Just trying to help. I didn't say it actually pertained to his car tho. In general there are other causes for that crud than a dirty funnel. And I'm not going to get into a pissing contest like you did on that oil change thread.
I didn't think that this was a pissing contest. I stuck to the topic at hand and the information that was provided...
Under different circumstances (very high mileage), I think that your theory would be very accurate.
The oil change thread isn't a pissing contest either. There's just one or two idiots trolling, name calling, and acting like fools.
Originally Posted by marc780/TRD_EarBanger/DressUpYourPet
When you dump all the coolant out like during a water pump change, your coolant needs a run to full warm uyp (so the thermostat will open) then a complete cool down. then remove the radiator cap and top it up (i usually use straight coolant no 50/50 crap) and top up the bottle. which is probably what your mechanic did not bother to do before he gave the car back to you.
I think its better to overfill at this point as the worse that will happen will be some coolant gets swilled out of the bottle. Beats underfilling coolant and maybe overheating the engine if you ask me.
The OP stated that he topped the fluid off after the water pump was replaced MONTHS AGO. Your theory is unlikely based on the information given marc780/TRD_EarBanger/DressUpYourPet.
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Coolant Leak?
cleaned it off this morning and topped off the coolant... didn't lose a drop when I got back from work.
That's good to hear.
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