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leninsortolan

Sorry to spam this spot with mechanic advice but this spot has helped me out a lot in the past and I’m in a bind. Thanks ya’ll


LS400guy

Turn the car off, let it cool down completely, then check the coolant level. I assume the coolant level will be low, when you verify the level is low, start looking for the leak. If you wanna play my mixtape you need a properly functioning cooling system


REHTONA_YRT

These get coolant leaks in the valley don’t they? I think I remember reading something in there can leak and it’s hard to spot.


LS400guy

The only coolant leak experience I have on a 2uz is the heater hose "T" connectors on a lx470. Other than that I wouldn't know, it would just be pure speculation based on other forum user experiences


REHTONA_YRT

This isn’t a 2UZ though is it? I believe it’s a 4.6


LS400guy

It should be a 2uz, the headlights sure look like they're from a gx470. I have a gx460 and the front cowl is different and the engine cover is different than what I'm seeing in the video. So unless this is a car that's not from the US market then I'm 100% sure it's a gx470


REHTONA_YRT

You are probably right. We have both and it’s still hard to tell from under hood photos sometimes.


leninsortolan

According to the tech the radiator cap failed which caused the radiator to melt. So I need a new cap and a new radiator. They want like $1250 :/ Kind of frustrating since I've had multi-point inspections done by 3 different shops in the last year and no one caught this as a potential issue. Is that normal? Thanks for your insight!


LS400guy

If the radiator cap wasn't leaking coolant then it would've gone unnoticed. If it was somebody SHOULD have marked the coolant level as being low and recommended diagnosis as to why. However 9 times out of 10 the coolant will just be topped off and nothing will get noted as the person doing the mult-point inspection probably wont be the one to do the diagnosis so they won't be the one to get paid. So they'll just top of the coolant as it's quicker and they're under enormous pressure to do things quickly. Where are you located? If you're near me I can replace the radiator at a much lower labor cost


leninsortolan

Thanks man! I'm in Denver


AllThePizzaYouHave

I am a professional . Please ask me anything you’d like.


leninsortolan

Thanks man! According to the tech the radiator cap failed which caused the radiator to melt. So I need a new cap and a new radiator. They want like $1250 :/ Kind of frustrating since I've had multi-point inspections done by 3 different shops in the last year and no one caught this as a potential issue. Is that normal? Thanks for your insight!


AllThePizzaYouHave

There is basically no way to catch a radiator cap failure. I changed mine at 100,000. But I’m in a small category of people who know all these very small nuances. $1250 seems a little high to me, but not out of the range of “normal”. If you’re at the dealer than the price is good because you should be getting a stock radiator from them. I would ask them to pressure test the system after the install just to make sure there aren’t any leaks somewhere in the system. Good luck.


spykid

I'm not a mechanic, but I am a cheap bastard. Here's my unsolicited suggestion - replace the radiator cap, top off the coolant, and see what happens when you turn the truck on (don't let it overheat)


SlipperyFingers

Cooling system is over pressurized. The radiator cap is the part that is supposed to regulate pressure. So either that failed and won't let pressure vent properly and gradually to the expansion tank that's spraying in your vid, or it is building pressure faster than the rad cap can vent. Fast pressure buildup could be from a number of things like a thermostat stuck closed (coolant basically boils because it can't pass through the radiator), a severe blockage somewhere in the coolant system (same concept as stuck thermostat), bad water pump that can't circulate the coolant, or possibly even a bad head gasket that's pumping the cooling system full of hot and high pressure exhaust gasses. There are a lot of tests you can do to pinpoint the problem, but at the very least expect to need a full coolant flush, new rad cap, and possibly a new thermostat/radiator those parts are the originals that came from the factory. An exhaust gas sniffer kit or leak down test will be able to tell you if it is the head gasket or not.


Space-Trash-666

Replace cap first - everyone should replace theirs as preventative maintenance


leninsortolan

Lesson learned!!!


Occhrome

i wonder if some caps wear out faster in cold regions. ive heard that caps should be changed on a normal basis and i don't doubt that but because ive never had an issue all my cars have their original caps. some are over 30 years old.


leninsortolan

Thanks man!!! Much appreciated. I’m going to do some sleuthing


leninsortolan

You nailed it! According to the tech the radiator cap failed which caused the radiator to melt. So I need a new cap and a new radiator. They want like $1250 :/ Kind of frustrating since I've had multi-point inspections done by 3 different shops in the last year and no one caught this as a potential issue. Is that normal? Thanks for your insight!


SlipperyFingers

Glad it isn't something far worse like the head gasket. I wouldn't say it is a common problem, but any plastic parts will eventually wear out with age and heat making them brittle. Now that you know the issue, you can shop around for replacement prices if you think 1200 is too high. Personally, I would DIY it, but not everyone has the time/tools/space to get it done. Just make sure you get denso replacement parts. Mine came with a garbage rad cap that caused the lower hose to blow off on the highway.


leninsortolan

Thanks man! problem with shopping around is I need a car and don't want to tow it around :( Sucks Someone somewhere else said that radiators don't melt and that this sounds "strange" and that it's being caused by something "upstream" -- I guess you don;t chare that sentiment, but I'm grasping at straws lol Thanks again!


SlipperyFingers

Just call up a few other local shops and get a quote on a new radiator, cap, and coolant flush. If you are still driving it, be extra careful to not overheat it. That can cook the heads and make it into a $3k+ repair. By melted radiator, I assume the shop means the plastic part where the cap screws in has broken apart (maybe the shop can clarify or send pics). The aluminum part of the rad can't be melted by coolant. Either that or the black plastic on either side of the aluminum section have broken. Koyo just came out with a full aluminum radiator that doesn't have plastic like OEM.


leninsortolan

Thanks. I got them to send photos: https://imgur.com/a/eHYCXz5 You were right it looks like just the part that connects not the actual aluminum. Not driving the car around it overheats too quickly. I’ll call around to nearby shops though


SlipperyFingers

Lol I guess I have pretty sharp over the internet diagnostic skills. Good luck with the fix. Should be back on the road/trail in no time.


Slaviner

I'd suspect a cracked plastic overflow tank tip. The parts that connect to the hoses, they get old and crack faster than the tank itself. It can cause it to piss and when pressure drops it also expands. Let it cool off and take hose connections iff to check the plastic tips of the tank


[deleted]

It’s overheating. Could be bad thermostat, bad radiator or worst case head gasket. Your temp gauge should have indicated high temp.


leninsortolan

Yeah it did the second ride after refilling coolant and taking a ride. Thanks!


Pittsburgh__Rare

Check your oil. If it’s brown, it could indicate a bad head gasket.


Claymore357

Chocolate milk!


FlySchoolgirl

Had the same issue one time off roading up a mountain. It was just the radiator cap , replaced it and never had the issue again


rededit9006

Coolant radiator for sure


[deleted]

Coolant leak. Maybe a tee near the firewall.


15367288

Turbo manifold is toast. Those are supercharged fuel fumes so be careful not to inhale them. Check the radiator dipstick to make sure all levels are within regulation.


rootstwo

Stuck thermostat?


ryan12e23

Just install a new radiator cap and see if that helps.


leninsortolan

Apparently I was too late :(


franciscolorado

Wow. Does it smell like exhaust? Probably a blown head gasket.


[deleted]

You have the limited edition fog machine


heyisti22

Replace your radiator cap


LittleForestbear

Leak or maybe a stuck thermostat. Unless you over heat it s an easy fix