Radiator Flush

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Date: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 12:27:22 -0700
From: daves8@juno.com (DAVE SCHOENBERG)
Subject: Thermostat Prob.?
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org

Several steps:


1) If you haven't flushed the system in the last couple of years,
do it now and then add new coolant.  Install a flush connection
in the heater hose close to the firewall (at the highest point of the
system), then flush with hot water. Leave the radiator cap off
while you flush it so you don't overpressurize the radiator. I'm not
really sure if the radiator would take 50-80 psi of city water
pressure but I've been careful over the years and haven't had a
problem yet.
2) Make sure the cooling system is full of coolant, somewhere
between 50% and 66%- no thicker.  Start the engine and crack the
flush connection slightly to vent air out of the system-- when it 
starts to leak coolant, tighten it up.
3) As long as you have it apart, you may as well go ahead and
replace the thermostat, but if the first two steps don't fix the
problem without replacing the thermostat then DO replace it.

Most likely this will l fix the problem, short of major problems with
engine or radiator (like being FULLY clogged and won't flush out.)

Incidentally, using your heater for the first time should have nothing
to do with overheating, unless possibly the heater core somehow went
dry while you had the temp valve shut off all summer and now you have 
an airlock in the system.

Airlock symptoms:
 Heater often doesn't put out heat at an idle, but does when you
rev the engine.  Impossible to park and neck with the wife or
girlfriend (or either one) 'cause she gets too cold.
 Temp gage often reads high, making you unwilling to park and neck
for fear of blowing the engine. (Even I won't 	touch THAT straight
line!!!)


Dave Schoenberg--------Who else gives advice like this???
Arvada, Colorado
'81 Toy/'86 EFI engine/5-spd/xfer--an' I did it all myself, with NO
Liquid Nails!!
Brakes and Heater both work exceedingly well.

On Thu, 6 Nov 1997 11:43:58 -0600 pmadden@sulzerorthousa.com (Paul
Madden) writes:
>
>   Morning all,
>
>        I've had to use my heater a couple of times already this fall 
>and have noticed that my temp. gage quickly rises into the red. I have 
>a feeling that the   thermostat is not functioning properly. Is this a 
>pretty good guess? 
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Paul Madden
>'85 4Runner (190,000mi)
>

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Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 23:46:34 -0700
From: Scott Muir 
Subject: overheating

Ben wrote:
>In return to Jim Brink's question of when it overheats it has overheated
>on the highway and in town.  The radiator has alsobeen recently rebuilt,
>and when driving it smells like boiling or burning coolant.

I have forgotten which engine we are talking about here, but...
Pull your thermostat and throw it into a pot of boiling water to see if it 
opens.. (if you haven't explored this already)

Give your block a good flush.  I have found that you can get a nice pile of 
sediment in the block back near the block drain.  on the 22r/re it is at 
the back of the block, drivers side, just above 3 inches above the top of 
the oil pan.

Drain your rad of coolant, unbolt the plug, and try and dig out all the 
sediment you can with an opened up coat hanger or something like that.  IF 
there is lots of stuff in there, put the hose back into the rad and do what 
you can to flush it out.


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