Toyota Lucida - Water Comming Out Of Header Tank Overflow When Engin O

[Stokester UK]

HI, had my Toyota Estima Lucida 2.2 TD Auto “N” Registration now for 2 years.

I joined this web site a year ago but for some reason account not working so started a new one.

I purchased it as have large family and needed a large vehicle to go on holiday to Brixham in South Devon etc. When I first had it kept getting hot into the red on long runs so was advised to drain the water from the system and added new Antifreeze coolant, water and got air out of system. It was running well. Set off on holiday few weeks later heading for Devon from Romford Essex when suddenly a few miles or just outside Exeter going up a big hill the temperature shot up in red so stopped, pulled over then when I did stop the top rad hose blew off shooting out water. The temperature only ever went up to ¾ before it happened but mainly kept just below half way. I have AA Roadside cover so they came out gave a good checking over and said no damage to anything lucky just blew top hose off so filled with coolant/water bled up system, running okay the guy followed me for 5 miles told me to pull over to checked again all working fine temp just under half and heaters blowing out hot air. I set off again he followed me again for 10 miles pulled over checked said all very good no damage. It went great and has been for the past 2 years or so and suddenly it has been mucking about again in the way when you turn the engine off you can hear a loudish boiling sound think from header expansion tank I know it did this a bit anyway as so do other vehicles when engine stops but this lasts a bit longer around a minuet and then trickles of water about a cup full comes out of the header tank overflow pipe by the cap. When I first bought it, it had a new thermostat in glove compartment so I thought I will change it, did that last week and discovered the bottom of the thermostat that was in it was missing so it was open all the time probably why there was a new one in the glove compartment. I put the new thermostat in filled with coolant and water. Had header cap off run to temperature just under half way and water was slowly rising from top of tank, must be air, got air lock out and level went down heaters pumping hot air so took for a run about 5 miles come back topped up levels when cooled down all working fine, great. After 3 days water started trickling out of header tank overflow when turning off engine just doing a 10 mile run to work the temperature stays just below half, only ever goes up half or just over when weather really hot or doing a longer run which is normal. I check levels when cool and lose about a cup full or the amount between the low and full mark checked the heater blowing hot air.

I have asked a few mechanics I know and they said could be the rad and is the fan working okay or an air lock is in the system again.

Can anyone help or have an idea what it is.

[PaulinhoT]

Hi Matthew, welcome in to the Toyota Owners Club, it maybe an idea to flush the system ?

[acetip]

You dont say if the fan is working ok.

[Stokester UK]

Hi and thanks for the replies, think I will get another radiator as just seen a new one going for £48.00 from a rad web site and give it a good flush out as Paul said as what water is coming out is a very brown rusty colour. As for the fan it is spinning when I start it up but I never seem to hear it speed up or lock in when on the road as some people say you should hear it roar, all I hear is Turbo whistling and the noise from the road. Is there any way of testing it and when it does speed up can it be heard from drivers seat.

One other thing should these vehicles be flushed out regularly,say a few times a year?