Constantly refilling coolant reservoir

[capinoy]

Hi guys,

I recently noticed that I have to constantly refill the coolant reservoir in my 1994 toy p/u. For example I filled it up between the full and low level yesterday and today I checked it an it is now below empty. I saw a little leak on the ground but I believe that was from me spilling some of the coolant as I poured it into the reservoir. What is going on with it an has anyone dealt with this and what did you do to fix. I also noticed that I have a little bit of coolant build up around the top of the radiator in the creases some of it is still fresh meaning that I can see the color of the coolant. That may be the problem right there but I dont understand how all of the coolant that I put in yesterday can just about disapear from the possible cracks at the top.

Please help. I love my toy!!!

Capinoy.

[Gear Dog]

Have you checked your oil, does it look like chocolate milkshake? Could be a bad head gasket. Also check the hoses could be coming out when it is under pressure.I would say clean the engine compartment so that all of the old coolant is gone, this way if there is a leak it is easier to spot.

[toytruck86]

Originally Posted by capinoy

Hi guys,

I recently noticed that I have to constantly refill the coolant reservoir in my 1994 toy p/u. For example I filled it up between the full and low level yesterday and today I checked it an it is now below empty. I saw a little leak on the ground but I believe that was from me spilling some of the coolant as I poured it into the reservoir. What is going on with it an has anyone dealt with this and what did you do to fix. I also noticed that I have a little bit of coolant build up around the top of the radiator in the creases some of it is still fresh meaning that I can see the color of the coolant. That may be the problem right there but I dont understand how all of the coolant that I put in yesterday can just about disapear from the possible cracks at the top.

Please help. I love my toy!!!

Capinoy.

Sounds like you need your radiator repaired or replaced. Should not be any coolant on the radiator.

[80toy]

check to make sure your radiator tanks are not cracked. also, check your temp as you drive. sometimes when cars overheat the pressure of the coolant goes up and it spills out of the overflow. are you mixing it with water. 50/50 mix. fill up your coolant resevoir and have a friend drive behind you for a while to see if lots of coolant is leaking as you drive.

[EngineerBoo]

Coolant leaks can be a beeeytch to find....could be coming from any of a number of locations.

If you have access to a lift, get the vehicle up to operating temperature and then lift it. With a light, inspect ALL the hoses starting from the heater (near the firewal) all the way to the radiator. Look for ANY signs of moisture or even little streams of coolant shooting out.

It could be something simple like replacing a hose or something big like replacing your radiator. Either way, don't wait too long because an overheated engine will NOT last for long!

Good luck!

Boo

[slacker]

I too have this problem ...

my engine has just been rebuilt , and I replaced all the hoses ... It had the problem before I rebuilt it as well , so I made sure the machine shop checked the head and block for cracks .

The head gasket was questionable when I took it apart , so i figured i covered all the baces .

all back together , and low and behold .. coolant loss .

It seems to be getting better for some reason .. less loss, the more miles i put on it I duno ... Oh ... I had also replaced the rad ... There are NO leaks .. NO coolant in the oil .. its just going some where and i dont know where .

Heater core is not leaking .. I'm at a loss here ......

[Geius Maniacal]

if its not leaking then it shouldnt be the head gasket. i just had that problem, i had to refill my coolent VERY often because of the head gasket. so if its not leaking, it is not the head gasket

[capinoy]

Thanks guys for your help.

I took it to a shop and they put some pressure to the radiator and found that at the top there was a leak (the best that I can describe was it was at top of the tank and it looks like where the top of the tank and the comes together with the rest of the tank). But he said that it was still holding pressure. Everytime he did the test about half an eye drop would come out of that area. I also noticed behind the radiator near the bottom of the fan there was coolant there also. So my guess was that the majority of collant was coming from there. But would that cause the resivour to go empty in less than a day? Anyways the truck is in the shop now after $290 for a radiator, thermostat and labor I hope the problem will go away. Did I mention that the radiator was the original since 1994?

Thanks Guys

CApinoy.

[EngineerBoo]

Originally Posted by capinoy

Thanks guys for your help.

I took it to a shop and they put some pressure to the radiator and found that at the top there was a leak (the best that I can describe was it was at top of the tank and it looks like where the top of the tank and the comes together with the rest of the tank). But he said that it was still holding pressure. Everytime he did the test about half an eye drop would come out of that area. I also noticed behind the radiator near the bottom of the fan there was coolant there also. So my guess was that the majority of collant was coming from there. But would that cause the resivour to go empty in less than a day? Anyways the truck is in the shop now after $290 for a radiator, thermostat and labor I hope the problem will go away. Did I mention that the radiator was the original since 1994?

Thanks Guys

CApinoy.

Wow, only $290 is an excellent price for that much work. My friend just had similar work done on his 94 Camry and it was over $400! (His radiator was, also, bad...I wonder if there were problems for them on Toys in 94??)

Boo

[Rycam]

You can check the "weep hole" leading from the waterpump body. A leaky one will usually show some sort of dripping around the front of the oil pan. The heater core in the cab is another area that can be checked by pulling up the carpet on the passenger side/smelling a sweet odor in the cab/noticing the cabs windows fogging inside way too easily.

If one were to be a Toyota head, like I have learned to be...switching the coolant to Toyota Red is a plus. The Green Stuff disappears from sight too easily as it evaporates. Toyota Red displays an obvious leak pattern when a leak appears. The pink crusty residue is far easier to see.

Just for curiosity: Ask the fella at the shop if he has ever seen Toyota Red clog a radiator. The Green Stuff does because of jelly-like silicates. The Green Stuff also turns cloudy because it does not counteract "solder bloom" (lead solder oxidation...holding the metal top and bottom halves of the radiator to the finned core). Toyota Red has no silicates and stays clear like red fruit punch, even at two years. Toyota was not happy with The Green Stuff...this is why they came out with their kick ass "Red" in the mid 1980's.

WHATEVER YOU DO...MAKE SURE THE COOLANT IS MIXED WITH DISTILLED WATER, SO THERE WILL BE NO MINERALS THAT WILL BOIL OUT ONTO THE NEW RADIATOR. IF YOU HAVE TO, WALMART HAS GALLONS OF DISTILLED WATER FOR AROUND 75 CENTS A GALLON. MIX AND REFILL IT YOURSELF IF YOU FEEL CAPABLE. sorry for yelling.

[O.G.]

You should have just bought a new radiator cap if it is old and cant hold the presure it will go into your resevoir and will over fill and spill out while driving Good luck with it

[Bakemono]

Also make sure you dont use DEX-COOL coolant. GM used in for a few years and had LOTS of problems with radiators and heater cores.
Cap'n

[black93DX]

The reservoir rots on the bottom. I also had to have mine replaced.