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2000 Avalon XLS low coolant level

3.6K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  OleAvalon  
#1 ·
Noticed the other day the temp gauge was slightly above the middle. Put my scanner on it, and the temp was 195.8. Sat in the Lowes parking lot and it slowly crept up at idle to 218. Drove it around and the temp dropped to 195 again.

Yesterday, with the engine cold, I checked and the reservoir was empty. Added a little over 1/2 gallon of antifreeze to the radiator and filled the reservoir to full. Retested and max temp after 8 mile drive is now 177.8.

I will keep an eye on it, but no leaks are evident. Thought you all might find this interesting. 177.8 seems a bit low, but I would rather have it low than 218 at idle.

 
#3 ·
Split radiator upper tanks are very common, they’ll use about the amount of coolant you described, I’ve already replaced mine. It went quickly without much warning. You’ll need an adapter to pressure test the system, look at the area along the top. Hopefully not the water pump, that usually leaks behind the timing cover or at the weep hole just outside the cover. When I pulled my radiator there was a big dry and crusty red dried out coolant stain.
 
#4 ·
Oil is clean and full. No leaking on the pavement, and I haven't seen steam. A pinhole leak somewhere is my guess. I have a radiator pressure test kit and I will test this sprng when it warms up. I have replaced a radiator on an Olds and on a Villager. Avalon looks similar. I will continue to monitor.
 
#5 ·
+1 on frankiemenz's idea - radiator tanks, plural, not just the top one. When I replaced my a/c compressor and condenser on my 01 last summer, the shop found that the bottom tank on mine had been seeping seriously. The bottom crimp area was enough out of sight that I never noticed it. I also didn't have anything dripping, steam, etc. The tanks are plastic, crimped to the aluminum heat exchanger portion and the plastic gets brittle or otherwise gives up.

(I had them change the radiator because the rad had to come out to swap out the condenser. I figured with 19 years, odds were good the plastic fittings wouldn't take the strain required get get ancient rubber hoses loose from them.)

Once you get the fan assembly unplugged and off (2 screws? maybe 4), it's only 2 bolts at top to remove the radiator. The bottom has just has pegs that fit into holes in the metal radiator support. Only sad thing is the original Denso radiator was made in the US. The new Denso from RockAuto is from China, so even Denso has been bitten by the Chinesium bug.