2018 drinking coolant like a drunk

When we changed the oil a few weeks back, noticed coolant was basically empty. Filled it up, thought nothing about it. Open the hood to hook up the air pump this weekend and notice the coolant is empty again. Fill it up, short drive and back, some is down. I think it’s blowing out the radiator cap, and now have one on order. There looks to be some red crusty on two spots on the cap, like where it’s decided to relieve pressure.
Wife drove to work and back today, 20 miles total, empty again today.

so, if it the radiator cap, what may have caused this. What else should I check that may have been effected?

if it’s not the radiator cap, what do I check next?

 

Hey hey matey! Make sure that there are no hairline cracks on both sides (reservoirs) of the radiator...

Cheers,

Sean

 

It's either leaking (hopefully that's it) or you got a bigger issue that you don't want. I haven't heard of any head gasket issues with late 5th gens and I assume you would have noticed if there was AF in the oil that you just changed, so that's good.

If you aren't seeing obvious leakage from the radiator, hoses or connection points / hose clamps, then I'd also guess it's your cap. At the risk of asking a dumb question, it is completely on, right? Can you top of the overflow and then let the truck idle until the radiator fan kicks on, and watch the components and especially the cap?

 

If it was blowing out the cap, there would be coolant everywhere, no? Especially at that volume you're loosing it.

Do you see evidence of coolant anywhere at all?

 

Honest answer, I didn’t actually try to turn it, but it looked closed, lined up as it should be. The runner was warm and didn’t want to open it.

I have not done anymore diagnosis, but I will.

 

Did find what looks to be some on the front of the engine. Which I think is from the spray coming off the fan.
When we changed the oil, we did find some pink residue on the skid plate.

 

I wonder if you have a water pump leak.

 

I'd just take it down to an auto parts store and see if they can pressure test the system.

Should be fast and most probably do it for free.

 

Wonder the same thing.

 

I’ll have to look into this.

 

What year is your truck? How many miles?

 

2018 it looks like... but has a S/C!

I feel like you'd know if the water pump was leaking because there'd be a puddle or at least drips. If it's blowing a small amount under pressure out the cap it's probably burning off the engine and manifold before it can even make a puddle, the explanation of seeing a spray type residue on stuff kind of helps corroborate that IMO. Then when you park it pressure subsides fast so it wouldn't still be blowing out to make a puddle. Maybe?

Plus 3 years old is kind of premature for a 4Runner water pump to fail.

 

2018, 40k

 

Yes has SC, installed at the dealership while owned by Toyota Service Advisor.

We have not found any puddles.

 

Back to the SC, I was excited when we bought it, but now I’m concerned it may cause other issues. If it was up to me, I’d already be working a deal with yota to get a new runner and getting top dollar for trading this one in. But the wife likes this one, so I’ll keep worrying about the SC

 

Well to me that is good news. Maybe a leak from a hose down below. Its better than losing the coolant out of the tailpipe. If you have time take all the skid plates off and take a ride and look underneath after its hot to see any obvious leaks.

 

put a coolant leak dye in the radiator .. then use the UV tool to see where the leak is..
could be on new vehicles the cabin heater core can leak or hoses leaking on the clamps.
old engines do have head gasket leaks or water pump ..

 

Another possibility... anyone bothered to check the drain valve down at the bottom of the radiator? Anything coming out of there, especially at speed, wind would kick coolant back towards the fan which would then kick it anywhere around the engine bay, and would also explain seeing drops on the skid plate. If you don't know, looking at your truck from the front, should be a small quarter turn valve at the bottom right corner of the radiator.

Just a thought

 

Your losing a ton to not see it "dripping" anywhere that's strange. Check back when figured out I have a '18 too. Definitely not mixing in the oil going through that much you would of seized the engine by now.

 

I've not seen this question asked, so I'll throw it out there - when you say 'empty', is that the coolant overflow reservoir, or the radiator itself?

 

Overflow

edit, haven’t checked radiator or seen any lights telling me something is wrong.

 

That would be my next step! Let us know what you find, hopefully it was just low on coolant.

 

Lots of sound advice here. If you end up at the auto parts for a system pressure test be sure you have them pressure test the radiator cap also - could be something as simple as a radiator cap blowing off pressure below cap specs.

 

Today’s update:

checked the over flow that was filled to the full line last night


I’ll take that, it was empty yesterday when I checked, makes me believe we were very low. Wife said she heard some gurgling when she got to work this morning. The new radiator cap should be here Thursday, and tomorrow is a remote work day, so I am not going to stress.
Did take a few more Picts




that’s where it has been going, but why? Is that we where low on coolant and it was boiling and blowing out the radiator cap?

 

That looks kinda suspicious - right below the water pump? That looks more of a cumulation of seepage - not a full flowing leak.

 

I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news. But, if your head gasket went it will blow pressure into the coolant passages and you will loose antifreeze and or get that gurgling sound after a drive...

 

Any other reason one might hear that sound...please say yes. Or if not, I’m looking to trade ASAP.

 

Ya, I’m thinking we were just wicked low and now we got it filled back up and will see a little loss every day.

 

looks like the water pump has a leak ... water pumps have a drain hole under the pump shaft pulley.. I did not read any comments on a coolant leak on the front of the engine ..
many had leaks on the rear of the engine ..
On my old GM engines I had this water pump leak .. when the engine runs the coolant will drip out ..

 

Perhaps the supercharger has caused some excessive strain on the water pump pulley, which has lead to some leaking?

I wouldn't worry about the gurgling. Your radiator was low and it was just drinking fluid from the reservoir.