boiling overflow tank

[kewlcoconut]

this was pretty weird tonight when i came home from school. i pulled up into my driveway and parked and shut the car off. when i got out, i heard weird noises, and i noticed some steam coming out of the hood.....I was like "omg what now!"

i popped the hood and the radiator overflow tank was boiling over like crazy. i lost a lot of fluid from the radiator. it was just pouring out and spitting all over the front of the radiator. I dont know what happened. this was such a spur of the moment thing.
my temp sensor hasnt worked for a few weeks but the car hasnt had any issues. Im getting my temp sensor replaced tomorrow, along with a bunch of tests run.

it is odd though, because this has never ever happened. and i dont know what could have caused this. I noticed though that my heater wasnt really working, it usually heats up way before i am home. could it have gotten clogged or something? and pushed the excess coolant back? i dont know, im just thinking of random stuff.........some input would be nice. thanks guys

[mrnickleye]

I've been there, done that. It boils over like that when the coolant level in the engine (not the bottle) is too low to keep the engine properly cooled.

When you shut the engine off, the coolant then touches very hot spots inside the engine and boils rapidly. This creates a sudden large amount of pressure, thus pushing coolant into the bottle.

Mine turned out to be a BHG. Very tiny (I found it when I looked the gasket over closely) hole at #6 cyl was allowing combustion gasses into the cooling system, and pressurizing it so much that I was losing coolant into, and out of, the bottle, while I drove.

The gauge read normal while I was driving. Then, as I slowed down for traffic, the gauge shot up a bit, then went back down as I was able to speed back up. This happens because the hotter coolant touched the sending unit and made the gauge jump up.

In the morning, fill your radiator up, and bottle 1/2 way. If it starts and seems to run ok, take it by a shop After school to have a 'block test' performed to see if you have a BHG.

[kewlcoconut]

well tomorrow i have a day off. i already set up an appointment at a shop the other day to get some stuff fixed. now im going to get them to do a block test. i am in head gasket denial. but i think coolant is leaking into the engine.....because i have noticed lately an excess of exhaust, like the coolant is being burned off......ugh.......i know a lot of people here have had new HG's put in....

so i ask this, what is the best metal head gasket to get? the hks one?
and also what cost am I looking at if i take it somewhere to get it repaired, because I honestly have no idea how to do it.

[mrnickleye]

To use a metal gasket, you must have the block surfaced, which cost a whole bunch more. They need a really smooth surface to seal.

For a street car, I would have the head done, valve job, milled slightly, and not try to use a metal gasket. ARP studs or bolts, torque to 72lb ft instead of 58.

Try a search, because I know there were several threads on this last summer.

[stumpjumper]

DO IT YOURSELF!! Much cheaper, good experience. Total: $500 at most w/out going metal HG. If you don't plan on running massive amounts of boost a MHG is not necessary. Just toyota HG and ARP bolts or studs, torqued correctly. Want to take it to a shop? At least $1200 plus parts.

Good luck!!

[kewlcoconut]

damn....well the shop couldnt do a test...i dunno why. but i ordered one from napa, so im gonna test it tomorrow......hopefully everythinng goes in my favour.

i would love to do it myself, but im such a newbie. i only know the basic things. when it gets down to the tough things like taking out the block and everything, i have no idea what to do.....i would be scared to mess it up....but $1200 is damn expensive for the HG.....i guess its all the labour.

[stumpjumper]

Ya labor charges will get you. It is a lot of work but if you just keep track of everything and have some patience it will be a good experience. You'll be suprised how much you will learn by doing this HG. Find a friend who has interest and knowledge and get at it. I did my hg when I had no experience but I got it done, and now the car runs flawless.

[j3pz]

if you do it, the more experience you get, the better you get, the better the car runs, the happier you are. its all a timeless fairytale. sorry drunk messege, its my bday lol and it was hard to type lol

[kewlcoconut]

well, i will look into doing the HG myself, or with a friend. thanks for the input. and happy bday j3pz

[j3pz]

thanks and thanks to all those that thought it