Leaking coolant?

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:56 pm

I'm honestly at my wits end here. I just spent $1k repairing the bushes, fitting new brakes and new tailpipe. This morning my truck is leaking coolant. Honestly I don't know what to do anymore, the problems are coming faster than I can get cash.

I'm not so sure what's going on but it's been leaking quite a bit of coolant. Possibly about 20ml since last night. I looked it up on google and to my despair everything seems to say it's a blown gasket.

How much am I looking at if I need to replace the gasket?

Henry · Post by **Henry** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:31 pm

Hi

What is the truck?
What is the engine?
Where is the leak?
Was the engine hot ? Cooling down?
have you added coolant lately?
Are you using antifreeze?
Why are you saying head gasket?

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:37 pm

Sorry forgot to mention the details.

It's a 1994 Toyota Prado KZJ78. It has the 1-KZ TE engine in it.

The leak is somewhere below the glove box, or in between the driver and passenger seat. It leaks on to the ground.

It's leaking yesterday night where it was cool. It's also leaking after I drove it today.

Yup I just added the red Toyota coolant about 10 days ago.

I'm not sure if it's the head gasket or what, but I had a look up on google and everything seem to point towards blown head.

Henry · Post by **Henry** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:40 pm

You do realize the air conditioning drain runs out there?

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:43 pm

But the leaked liquid is red in colour. That's why I thought it was the coolant.

Henry · Post by **Henry** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:48 pm

So going back to the Cracked head thing.
Are you loosing coolant?
is there oil in the coolant?
Is there water in the oil?

However you really need to find the source of the leak. underneath with a torch is the place you need to be...

It could be a heater hose as well...

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:03 pm

I'm still waiting for the engine to cool down before opening the radiator. But there was a decrease in coolant from the overflow tank.

I'm not so sure how to check if there's oil in the coolant or water in the oil.

I had a look underneath just now but I'm not even sure what am I looking for. Most of the pipes seem to be wet, so I really don't know which one is leaking. And it's stopped leaking now making things even harder to check.

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:14 pm

Just checked the radiator, yeah the coolant has gone down quite a bit.

Henry · Post by **Henry** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:22 pm

So do it the other way. Wait till it is dry and refill radiator and start looking again.

badnuz · Post by **badnuz** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:33 pm

if its on the ground its not in the engine where it shouldnt be (ie in the oil) then my thoughts is a heater hose somewhere.....

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:43 pm

badnuz you reckon it's not the head? If it's a blown head or cracked head, will coolant leak to the ground or will it go straight into the engine?

Will the heater hose be cheap to fix?

sibainmud · Post by **sibainmud** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:02 pm

I'm thinking heater hose or the heater coil if the coolant is ending up on the floor pan. Correct me if I'm wrong, do those prados have a rear heater? Could be the tubes/hoses back to that heater also. If it was the engine, then coolant would be on the groung under enginebay.

Cheers,

badnuz · Post by **badnuz** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:17 pm

crazydragon wrote:badnuz you reckon it's not the head? If it's a blown head or cracked head, will coolant leak to the ground or will it go straight into the engine?

Will the heater hose be cheap to fix?

a heater hose is a cheaper and eaiser place to start looking at.... :mrgreen:

it could still be a head related issue but look to eliminate the easy less expensive stuff 1st

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:43 pm

How much am I looking at if I only want the heater hose replaced? I'll go talk to a mechanic tomorrow and see if they can fix it. Just roughly how much? Will it be over $300?

badnuz · Post by **badnuz** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:54 pm

that will depend entirely on which heater hose and where it is! 9and assuming its not the heater core leaking... are the inside carpets wet?

kbushnz · Post by **kbushnz** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:59 pm

The heater hoses are right at the top center of fire wall, right behind the head.
The hoses there could be leaking...
Also there is a hose and pipe which run under the truck to the heater for the rear passengers.. Its in the console between front drivers seat and passenger...
I would give the truck a good clean let it dry and then go for a drive on dusty road and look for the wet patch... :mrgreen:

kbushnz · Post by **kbushnz** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:01 pm

Hey crazydragon can you update your profile and put in your location.
A local ORE member might be able to help you and take a look etc etc...

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 4:25 pm

Calvin you were right again. Turns out the pipe going into the heater from engine bay was leaking. Had it fixed and did a pressure test so everything is okay for now. Midas also apologized and had my tailpipe replaced.

Truth be told I'm in a dilemma right now. I really liked this truck and I've spent quite a bit of money so far fixing a lot of stuff. By a small part of me want to sell it right now while everything's still holding together. Then again if I sell it, I will need to look for another second hand car which may have as many problems as my current truck.

Too bad I'm leaving Auckland to Palmy for studies tomorrow. But one day I would like to meet some of you guys. Especially Calvin, the KZJ78 expert.

Thanks everyone for all your input. Really appreciate all the help and advice.

kbushnz · Post by **kbushnz** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 4:32 pm

crazydragon wrote:Too bad I'm leaving Auckland to Palmy for studies tomorrow. But one day I would like to meet some of you guys. Especially Calvin, the KZJ78 expert.

Thanks everyone for all your input. Really appreciate all the help and advice.

No problems there, Enjoy Palmy.... Ginzu8 hangs out down there and has a KZJ78 also....
As for the expert......nah just like tinkering and listening / reading what others have had issues with....Then its just a matter of remembering.... :lol:

Ginzu8 · Post by **Ginzu8** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:46 pm

You r the guru when it comes to kzj78 Calvin. Crazydragon, keep the truck. A mate of mine also have one in palmy.

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:28 pm

Managed to drive down to Palmy. Stopped every 2 hours to let the engine rest for 30 mins. Not sure if that works but I was being paranoid. So far so good. Nothing's leaking yet. But when start up it blows a lot a lot of smoke for a good 10 seconds before settling down to no smoke. Any idea what's causing this? It's only when I start it. Happens every time now since 5 days ago..

kbushnz · Post by **kbushnz** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:37 pm

I think if you were going to have issues they would have shown themselves in the first 10 to 20 mins....
Apart from a sudden failure...
As for the smoke... what colour is it... White, black, grey...
Smell oily or hot water or diesel fume smell.

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:08 pm

has it just started smoking or have you only just noticed it?, my 78 coughs a bit of smoke on startup (and when on a hill) my 90 series the the later 1kz did it as well.

If you are in palmy now go and see euan (badnuz) at ARB hq (autokraft) .. hes usually got free stuff .... coffee, stickers ... jackets :lol:

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:52 pm

I know it's always had a little smoke during start up but the last 5 days it suddenly had a lot of smoke and would always continue for around 5-10 seconds. It's white smoke, not sure how to describe the smell though. But 2 out of 5 times it would start normally without smoke blowing.

Thanks Jerry I'll definitely visit his shop one day.

kbushnz · Post by **kbushnz** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:40 pm

It could be unburnt fuel....
With this cold spell you may want to turn the key on twice.....Before kicking over the starter..
To make the glow plugs work a little longer...

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:58 pm

If there's something wrong with the head gasket, what will a pressure test of the cooling system/radiator show? Apparently the guys at Midas did a pressure test for free and said that nothing's leaking and everything seems fine.

The blowing smoke thing happened even after I droved it for 2 hours. Then again I did take a 30 mins break so I'm not sure if the engine has cooled down that much. I will try your method for this whole week Calvin and see if that still happens.

kbushnz · Post by **kbushnz** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 10:30 pm

When my head cracked it used to puff white smoke / steam for a few seconds after a hot start only... Ran like a bag of bolts for a few seconds while it cleared its throat like a petrol car with a miss...
Then with the radiator cap off (let it cool off a bit so you don't get splashed with hot coolant) with engine running it would puff out bubbles of diesel fumes out the radiator....

However you could have a leaky injector which is putting fuel into engine while at rest?

What say you diesel guru's

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:15 pm

Just checked the radiator and overflow tank. Looked dried up but 2 days ago it was still quite full! No signs of coolant leaking on the floor. This doesn't look good at all. I didn't drive it since 2 days ago when I checked. Any idea where did the coolant went?

Ginzu8 · Post by **Ginzu8** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:23 pm

Hey mate. go to Tim Buys in Palmy North if you need work done. He can be an ass at times but generally him and his guys knows what they doing.. I guess if you dont see any leaks on the ground it would mean its going into the engine.. :cry:

I would top the radiator back up and leave the car there for half a day . and if the radiator is dry or has gone down there has to be a leak but if the level stays the same i think its bad news

crazydragon · Post by **crazydragon** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 6:53 pm

So the coolant will only leak into the gasket when I drive it? What will pressure test on the radiator say if there's a cracked head?

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