water stuck in the reservoir, help needed Options

[chacha]

just like the title...all the engine coolant and water is stuck in the reservoir....it is not cycling...i have replace the thermostat but it didn't help, could it be something else...any ideas? ....it's not cycling as it should

This post has been edited by chacha: Feb 7, 2010 - 1:09 PM

[Spider77]

radiator cap?

[chacha]

you mean the radiator cap is bad? i have changed the water pump when i changed the timing belt....the water is in the filling the reservoir, but not being sucked back. hope that makes sense

[Spider77]

Yeah, so the coolant is going into the reservoir, but not going back into the radiator? Here is my ref rad cap

[chacha]

thanks...ill definitely give that a go....i got nothing else to lose, except my engine if it doesn't get taken care of soon.

[chacha]

went to buy a new one, and it still failed...any other suggestion?

[Hanyo]

sounds like you have an air trapped in your cooling system.

with your engine running heater on and your car on an incline (front up on jack stands). Open the radiator cap and let the car get up to operating temperature. Slowly fill the radiator with coolant as it gets drawn into the engine. Once its full, you are done. replace the cap. You will notice your car spit out coolant into the reservoir because you overfilled it by bleeding the system. But when the engine cools off it will adjust itself and "suck" coolant back in.

If your not over heating dont worry too much about it.

[hurley97]

you mean the radiator cap is bad? i have changed the water pump when i changed the timing belt....the water is in the filling the reservoir, but not being sucked back. hope that makes sense

No, this doesn't make sense, not sure why you think there is an issue.

If there is too much coolant in the system, pressure builds up under the cap and pushes it out into the overflow reservoir. If you have an air pocket in the system the opposite effect will happen and it will suck back in what it needs. If the system is properly bled and there are not air pockets and no problems with the engine, you should be able to fill the overflow bottle to a certain level and it should stay just as you left it. The cooling system does not cycle the fluid from the overflow bottle during normal circulation.

[GriffGirl]

you mean the radiator cap is bad? i have changed the water pump when i changed the timing belt....the water is in the filling the reservoir, but not being sucked back. hope that makes sense

No, this doesn't make sense, not sure why you think there is an issue.

If there is too much coolant in the system, pressure builds up under the cap and pushes it out into the overflow reservoir. If you have an air pocket in the system the opposite effect will happen and it will suck back in what it needs. If the system is properly bled and there are not air pockets and no problems with the engine, you should be able to fill the overflow bottle to a certain level and it should stay just as you left it. The cooling system does not cycle the fluid from the overflow bottle during normal circulation.

Exactly what she said. It sounds like your coolant system is working properly. If you're not overheating, then you're fine.

[Spider77]

From what Im reading, the coolant is flowing into the overflow, which is fine under normal circumstances (pretty much what its designed for), temp raises, PSI increases, rad cap valves opens allowing excess coolant to travel to the overflow tank. When the radiator cools, the coolant is supposed to be "sucked" back in by the vac created in the rad system. From what it sounds like, the coolant is making its way to the overflow but not back into the radiator. Which is why I suggested the cap.
But I agree with the overheating thing. If its not doing that then you should be fine, and as long as you level in the radiator goes back to normal after it cools down.

This post has been edited by Spider77: Feb 8, 2010 - 6:36 PM

[chacha]

well, it does slightly gets hotter and then yes, sadly overheat....maybe it is the head gasket...ill try it again and repost what happens.

This post has been edited by chacha: Feb 8, 2010 - 10:10 PM

[GriffGirl]

try replacing your radiator cap, if it's not holding pressure it would cause pretty much the same issues you're experiencing.

[Spider77]

Nah, that was my suggestion and it was replaced and problem still came up.

[bmj67]

did you ever check the hose that goes to the bottom of the reserve tank if its broken or missing it cant suck it back up in to the radiator

This post has been edited by bmj67: Feb 18, 2010 - 9:36 PM

[chacha]

everything is intact....what's left really is to check the head gasket

[longgone]

everything is intact....what's left really is to check the head gasket

Hi there
I would say you need to do a hydracarbon test on your radiator
it takes less than 5 mins and will tell you if you have blown your head gasket
the theory behind this is that if the head gasket is blown from the cooling system and one of the cylinders
it will cause the coolant to react in this manner
get it checked soon before the head cracks as this will cost you alot more than this tester
check with your local motor store for a rad sniff tester or ebay

[OnAllFours]

By what you are describing, I wouldn't think head gasket. It sounds much more like a blockage to me. Did you put the T-stat in the right way? I know it sounds like a noob question to ask, but dumb stuff like that happens to everyone. Also could it be a possibility that when you had the system open you may have left a rag or something in one of the pipes.

What I'm getting at is not all overheating issues are head gaskets, in fact other than GM 3.1L V6 and 1.9L I4s we hardly ever have called a head gasket at my shop. I don't think I've ever seen a Toyota gasket go at all.

The 4 big signs of head gasket leaks are 1) coolant in the oil, a milky/pudding like mixture when you drain the oil. 2) oil in the coolant, the same pudding stuff in the overflow bucket/rad. 3) white smoke from the exhaust, this is burning coolant, you can tell if it's smoke instead of steam by how long it lingers in the air. 4) loss of coolant, but no visible sign of leak in the engine bay.

[longgone]

By what you are describing, I wouldn't think head gasket. It sounds much more like a blockage to me. Did you put the T-stat in the right way? I know it sounds like a noob question to ask, but dumb stuff like that happens to everyone. Also could it be a possibility that when you had the system open you may have left a rag or something in one of the pipes.

What I'm getting at is not all overheating issues are head gaskets, in fact other than GM 3.1L V6 and 1.9L I4s we hardly ever have called a head gasket at my shop. I don't think I've ever seen a Toyota gasket go at all.

The 4 big signs of head gasket leaks are 1) coolant in the oil, a milky/pudding like mixture when you drain the oil. 2) oil in the coolant, the same pudding stuff in the overflow bucket/rad. 3) white smoke from the exhaust, this is burning coolant, you can tell if it's smoke instead of steam by how long it lingers in the air. 4) loss of coolant, but no visible sign of leak in the engine bay.

You have a few good points there but I'm afraid you have'nt had the problems that I've had
with blown head gaskets
I've seen two cases were the head gasket had blown through from the cylinder to the cooling
system and believe me there is no steam or white smoke out the exhaust
the pressure from the cylinder was too much for the cooling to enter the cylinder and would only show up with the car over heating put a sniff tester on it and bingo the fluid in the tester went green/yellow in a matter of minutes
trust me it doesn't matter what car you have if it over heats enough it will blow the head gasket and not necessarily through the oil/coolant

[mjoslin1990]

My Car is doing the EXACT same thing, and its NOT the heads. I even bought a new cap... we pressure tested it, it was no good.... bought a new Thermostat, that ALSO was no good (the new parts). My dad was telling me that he heard that with Toyotas there is something about having to purchase an ACTUAL Toyota radiator cap.

If you ever figured out the problem I'd like to know what it was. If not, pressure check your cap