Coolant Loss

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Date: Thu, 05 Feb 1998 13:13:59 -0800
From: James Brink 
Subject: Strange Happening?
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org

DGRM125@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I own a 1987 PU/4X4, X-Cab, 22RE w/118,000 mi.  I checked the fluids a few
> months ago and saw that the collant overflow was empty to the end of the hose
> that goes into it. I topped it off and thought nothing of it (by the way the
> radiator was full.) For the past few months I have been checking it and it
> keeps going down. It is not leaking it and It doesn't seem to be burning it.
> Any Ideas on what it could be?

One problem beginning to show up on higher-mileage 22Rs is coolant
seepage into the exhaust ports. Most common on vehicles running straight
water. The water jacket corrodes into the #1 cyl. exhaust port (most
commonly) and leaks into the exhaust. Sometimes the leak is so small, no
steam will appear in the exhaust.

One of the easiest ways I have found to diagnosise this particular
problem is to pressure test the cooling system with the exhaust manifold
removed. Coolant may appear in the exhaust ports, just inside the
manifold surface.

In most cases the crack can be pinned and welded by a competent machine
shop.

Sometimes these leaks will show up on the outside of the cylinder head
near the exhaust manifold in one of the many little casting holes and
recesses below and around the spark plug wells.

Change your coolant often!


- -- 

Jim Brink, Toyota/ASE Certified Technician	1986 Std. Bed 4x4
Manhattan Beach, CA				32x11.50/15 BFG M/Ts
ToyTech@Off-Road.com
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TLCA - Friends of the Mojave Road (FOMR) - CA4WDC

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Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 10:27:49 -0700
From: Jim Brink 
Subject: Re: 22RE blown head

Michael M Gerard wrote:
> 
> Aloha,
>     I finally pulled the head of my motor and found that I didn't blow
> the head gasket.  What happened was that the water port on the #2
> cylinder corroded into the chamber.  So water was getting into the
> cylinder via the hole between the water port and the chamber.  I was
> using 50/50 water and antifreeze but that didin't help.( wish I knew
> about Redline's water wetter earlier).  So I am going to take the head
> from the Celica and slap it on tommorow.
>    Is there anything I can do with the corroded head?( It's only got
> 8,000 miles on it)  Can i have some one fix it? ( The #4 chamber looks
> like it will do the same in the next few thousand miles or so).
> 
> Mike

The head may be repaired by a competent machine shop, depending on where
the leak is.

This is a common problem on 22Rs we are now beginning to see a lot of.
Poor maintenance when newer and infrequent coolant changes are the
cause.

As a rule, I pressure test every 22R and check the cylinder head,
especially in the exhaust ports, before I tear the motor down
completely.

- -- 

Jim Brink, Toyota/ASE Certified Technician      1986 Toyota Std. Bed 4WD

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