[rundrave]

Rainy day project today, was to replace the radiator in my 2008 Tundra with the 5.7 with 130k miles. Everything went well and didn't take too long but those 2 lower bolts are a PITA to get to and back on. I used the OEM replacement right from the stealership. Got everything back together and started to slowly add coolant. It takes roughly 10-11 liters or just under 3 gallons. I was only able to add about 1.5 gallons before it got full.

So I started truck up, squeezed top hose for bubbles and got some out but level never dropped. Let it run for 15 mins with heat on. I saw temp gauge on dash climb up to just below midway. Top hose felt warm to touch as I squeezed it but level never dropped enough to add anymore coolant.

So my question is does anyone know if OEM radiators come with any plastic plugs or anything that should be removed prior to install? I didn't even look, I just installed and hooked up each hose. I am wonder if there could me some sort of plastic plugs in the inlet or outlet that I should have removed first prior to install? I attached a pic and I dont see anything obvious that would need to be removed on the new one?

The lower hose of my radiator that goes from the bottom of the radiator up to the thermostat never got warm after running for that long. Its either plugged radiator or bad thermostat? Would just be really big coincidence to have thermostat go bad when I wasn't having any issues with it prior. And water pump was replaced at the dealer at 85k or so due to a leak so I don't suspect that is an issue either.

I have since let motor cool and saw some drop in the funnel but nothing significant. Any ideas what to do next?

 

[rundrave]

ok after letting everything cool down for a couple hours it has now completely drained from the funnel enough for me to get the radiator cap on. Going to let it sit over night and see if anything drips or leaks just to make sure I got the hoses and clamps back on good. Once I know I am good there I will take it for a drive tomorrow and get it under load and try to some burp more air out of it if I can.

 

[poopjuice]

I just changed my radiator, hoses and serpentine belt last week. I used a Koyorad unit, it filled nicely the first time with Toyota Pink coolant. There was virtually no air in the system after driving it a few times. You are overthinking it. Check it periodically for if it needs a top-off.

 

[rundrave]

You are overthinking it. Check it periodically for if it needs a top-off.

well I think you are right. I may have just been over thinking this all but hey with an aluminum motor you can never be too cautious especially when it comes to over heating lol. Everything was fine today, I let it warm up for 15 mins and no issues, and let it go for 15 more and monitored while squeezing the hose and giving a few revs here and there. Then went for a short drive down the highway and all was well. Temp stayed the same, never got hot. And after letting it cool down it purged some more fluid back into the radiator from the over flow. So I may check it periodically to see if it needs a top-off.

Did you drain the the heater core and engine block drains when you did yours? I opted to not do those as I didn't want to mess up that 10mm brass bolt up under the heat shield. How much coolant do you think gets left in the engine if you don't drain those 2?

Even after running for 45 mins the bottom hose never got warm but maybe that's just because the radiator is doing its job? The coolant coming out from the bottom back to the block had cooled off that much it doesn't feel warm any more?

Thanks for your advice

 

[cheapskate]

Where did you get the info that says it takes 3 gallons? Is that for the entire cooling system or just the volume the rad holds?

 

[chrisglaza]

While changing the coolant in my 08 Tundra, I just added back a little under 2 gallons, and that included the overflow bottle. Just remember that getting all of the coolant out of an engine is next to impossible and that you will always have some remaining. That is why when the truck is new you can go 5 years before having to change it and every subsequent change it is reduced to three years. Sounds like you did good to me.

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