JoshLovesJeeps
New member
Figured there are enough guys here with 1st gen Tacos that someone may have experienced this before.
02 DC Tacoma, 4x4, V6 236k, 3.5" lift, ARB bull bar, winch, canopy, rack, Rocket box, etc.
Truck has been running hot according to my ultra guage since the weather started warming up. This only happens when driving on the interstate for extended periods of time, and is a slow creep. The truck runs pretty consistently around 185 - 190 around town, and if i get off the interstate or stop at a light the engine cools right back down to normal operating temp. Today while driving back from the outer banks heading up a hill the temp got as high as 215 and maintained, and as soon as I crested the hill it cooled down to around 200. It has not overheated and spewed forth the contents of the radiator, but the temp has gotten up into the high 220's when towing a 1100 lb trailer on relatively flat road at 55mph. My initial reaction was fan clutch/maybe my daylighters are blocking air flow through the rad. Took the lights off, and replaced the fan clutch (HD for towing clutch from Napa, Stealership only had the standard orange hub clutch), put in a 170 degree t-stat, and replaced all of the coolant before the outer banks trip and it did not seem to make much difference. The radiator in the truck is brand new as of feb. I installed an ATF cooler in line after the radiator to help keep ATF temps down while towing. It really seems that there is heat build up that the cooling system is just not quite able to keep up with when the temp is above 70 degrees outside. Other than that the truck seems to run really well.
I would appreciate any experience with similar problems/ideas from people. I've considered the water pump, and have not yet had it off or been able to check flow levels. My fear is a head gasket issue, but my coolant looks fine, and im not buring/using/spewing any oil, and the oil looks great even after 4k miles.
And for kicks, here is a pic of the truck on our recent beach trip.
02 DC Tacoma, 4x4, V6 236k, 3.5" lift, ARB bull bar, winch, canopy, rack, Rocket box, etc.
Truck has been running hot according to my ultra guage since the weather started warming up. This only happens when driving on the interstate for extended periods of time, and is a slow creep. The truck runs pretty consistently around 185 - 190 around town, and if i get off the interstate or stop at a light the engine cools right back down to normal operating temp. Today while driving back from the outer banks heading up a hill the temp got as high as 215 and maintained, and as soon as I crested the hill it cooled down to around 200. It has not overheated and spewed forth the contents of the radiator, but the temp has gotten up into the high 220's when towing a 1100 lb trailer on relatively flat road at 55mph. My initial reaction was fan clutch/maybe my daylighters are blocking air flow through the rad. Took the lights off, and replaced the fan clutch (HD for towing clutch from Napa, Stealership only had the standard orange hub clutch), put in a 170 degree t-stat, and replaced all of the coolant before the outer banks trip and it did not seem to make much difference. The radiator in the truck is brand new as of feb. I installed an ATF cooler in line after the radiator to help keep ATF temps down while towing. It really seems that there is heat build up that the cooling system is just not quite able to keep up with when the temp is above 70 degrees outside. Other than that the truck seems to run really well.
I would appreciate any experience with similar problems/ideas from people. I've considered the water pump, and have not yet had it off or been able to check flow levels. My fear is a head gasket issue, but my coolant looks fine, and im not buring/using/spewing any oil, and the oil looks great even after 4k miles.
And for kicks, here is a pic of the truck on our recent beach trip.