Losing Water

[chilli86 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close chilli86]

Hey all.

Vehicle is a 2003 120 series. Has 275000km on clock.

Did a trip from Gladstone to bundaberg last Wednesday, around 2hrs.
Went to leave bundy to come home and noticed temp guage rising, pulled into servo and added probably 1.5ltrs of water to radiator.
Started driving again, temp went back up so I went to first mechanics I found. They told me it was thermostat, so it was replaced then and there. Drove back to Gladstone that night with no problems.

Thursday, we drive Gladstone to rockhampton, car was sitting in maccas carpark for half hour or so idling and temp went up again, not as high as it did day before though. Started driving and temp came down. Drove through to yeppoon and temp didnt move again.
Didnt drive car again until Friday arvo, added 3ltrs of water to radiator while it was cold, no leaks under car or in car, overflow box was full. Went for a drive up beach for hour or so, no temp issues.
Saturday, same again, added 3ltrs to radiator, no obvious leaks. Went up to 5rocks & 9 mile beach, no issues.
Sunday, same again, add 3ltrs of water and drive back to Gladstone.
Since sunday ive only driven to and from work, 15mins each way and ive had to less than half ltr of water each day.

Now, theres no water in the oil or oil in water, nothing is coming through the exhaust and no white smoke.

Im no mechanic but ive always worked on cars. Im guessing its a head gasket and water is vaporising in exhaust when at normal operating temp - longer the drive the more water that is lost.

I was going to get a compression test kit and check that.

Anyone else got any thoughts?

Cheers
Dan.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

It could be a head gasket, but more likely a cracked head which happens from time to time on the 1KZ.

There are a few threads on the subject if you have a search around.

Cheers Andrew

[chilli86 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close chilli86]

Yeah ive done some reading......symptoms look like its the head.

Going to get a mechanics opinion before I start spending.

Ive done a few petrol engine heads so im going to give this one a go myself.

[chilli86 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close chilli86]

so, i had the prado at mechanics through the week, they couldnt find a head issue - he did however find a minor blockage in the radiator. fixed that($550) and was fine for 2 days. Yesterday i did a 250km trip and temp went up 3/4 of way, after about 200km. Got home to find overflow full and overflowing. Bubbling in radiator now as well.
So, looks like my original theory was right, Cracked Head.

Now, i dont have another car and dont have the funds right now to do the job.
Was thinking about a bottle of chemiweld for the time being, just to get me around town. Hopefully ill have funds together to do the head in the next 4-6 weeks.
the last car i used chemiweld on was a commodore, obviously very different to the prado. Anyone got any helpful thoughts on using Chemiweld?

Cheers

[outbackswine Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close outbackswine]

Chemiweld is magic in a bottle in many cases. If it's a nasty crack, or multiple cracks, it may not work, but in any case it is worth a try given the alternative. I know people who have thrown Chemiweld in and driven on for years without further issue, but I also know many who have either had no luck with it, or short lived luck.

[Shroomy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Shroomy]

Hi Dan, I've had all the same issues as you have mentioned. I also have a 2003 120 series. Over the last year I have replaced the thermostat 3 times, radiator cap twice, water pump and viscous fan oil. The radiator has also been replaced by the previous owner. The water pump and fan oil stopped the overheating but I was still getting major coolant loss and bubbles in the overflow tank. Pressure test said it was fine. Last week took the head off and there were cracks above all 4 cylinders. I've decided to put a new head on. I can't comment on the Chemiweld but it sounds much cheaper than a new head. Hope it works out for you as it can be so frustrating.