I have a 97 ext cab Tacoma 4x4 V6 3.4 It just turned 100k and for about a year now, ive been flushing out the radiator since i noticed really nasty looking brown dirty coolant. I dont know if a previous garage that worked on it put recycled brown coolant in it? Anyway, ive used prestone radiator cleaner and flush twice in the last year and than good coolant, and it still comes back brownish at each oil change. Anyone familiar with this problem? Heater core maybe going bad? I figure ill just keep draining/flushing and refilling the radiator at each oil change till it comes up cleaner. Thanks for your replies!
Sidney® ™
Repairs tv's,vcr's,home/car audio out of my home
Dartmouth,Nova Scotia
Canada
1985 Toyota 4-Runner,solid front straight axle,factory cruise control,sunroof,22R-E,W56,RN60LV-MSEK,rusted rear step/towing chrome bumper with 244 000 KM
Sidney speaks in "Link" mode. I think what he is trying to say is that you may be getting oil in your water from a head gasket leak. If it is not that, something is rusting bad and you WILL find out sooner or later in a bad kind of way.
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'86 4runner, 22RE, auto, 4" ProComp lift, 33x12.5 BFG All-Terrains on 15" A/R rims, clear lens front & rear, 260,000+ miles. Wanting 4.88 gears and soft-top. '88 4runner, V6, 5spd, sunroof, power everything, 185,000+ miles.
Often when you drain the coolant, you dont get all of it out. I had to recently replace the coolant on my F-150 because it looked like coffee.
Its possible that you have a bad headgasket but unless your oil looks milky, I dont think thats the case.
Usually when coolant turns brown, thas a sign that it is essentially worn-out and should be replaced. You are supposed to replace coolant every year.
Just make sure you arent using DEX-COOL engine coolant because that will rust-out a heater core and radiator in no time!
A friend of mine recently bought a new Chevy Cavalier. It came with DEX-COOL so thats what he used when he replaced the coolant. The car has less than 50,000 miles on it and he recently had to replace the heater core because it was plugged with rust. Even the mechanic at the GM shop told him not to use DEX-COOL, no matter what GM or his owner's manual says.
Cap'n
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Sidney - most of your links show the HG recall for the 3.0L. I believe WillBHomesoon has the 3.4L V6.
The bottom half of the recall links are for the 3.4 as shown by the link addresses.
Sidney® ™
Repairs tv's,vcr's,home/car audio out of my home
Dartmouth,Nova Scotia
Canada
1985 Toyota 4-Runner,solid front straight axle,factory cruise control,sunroof,22R-E,W56,RN60LV-MSEK,rusted rear step/towing chrome bumper with 244 000 KM
Texas12 you are right about Sidney speaking in "LINKS".......Thats not a bad thing, But to some people who dont undestand the lingo or are beginners in fixing their rides....... some advice would be helpful besides just the links....Awesome links though Sidney
Thanks for the help guys.. i hope it doesnt turn out to be a major deal for me.
Sidney, i went thru all those "so called" recall links for the 3.4 and neither my Toyota dealer in Burlington NJ or the National toyota 800 # i called will back up any kind of claim that there was a HG or "engine sludge" recall on my 97 Taco. Im not sure who's telling the truth at this point but it does bother me ALOT that that info is out there and Toyota claims to know nothing of it! Ill still take any inside information that anyone knows of this continual dirty coolant problem. I cant afford $$ to have the dealer look at it at this point not to mention leaving it with them for a day.
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