Coolant leak

Today my 2015 started to over heat, and it had no coolant. I refilled and few hours later I went to go check and it’s leaked out and also took radiator cap to check if see if it had any coolant in the radiator, and the cap came apart. The spring and everything else wasn’t attached to the cap.

There’s coolant on the hose but can’t tell where it’s coming from or where it’s going. There only a few drops on the driveway but may be because when I topped it off, i didn’t have a funnel so it I got some on other engine parts.

Where could it be leaking into? after I topped it off, I was only able to drive 5 minutes before it told me it was heating up again.

What could be the problem?

 

If the cap came apart, I would suspect the radiator itself. Have you always used the correct coolant? A different coolant might affect the chemistry of the plastic and make the radiator brittle before its time.

 

Is it in your oil?

 

I’ve always used the Asian car with pink liquid.

 

I don’t know, not that knowledgeable about all of that. Hope not, I had just done an oil change two weeks ago.

 

Probably should check the dipstick.

 

What would it look like?
I’m assuming the oil should still be golden since it’s only couple weeks old

 

Probably a milk shake. Check the engine block just behind the oil filter for residue. Check tye skid plate if yoi have it for residue as well..

 

If your cap fell apart, you'll need to pull the top radiator hose and look for pieces from the top outlet of the radiator to the thermostat. There are threads on here about that aspect.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/overheating-issues-w-towing.90700/

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2008-tundra-5-7-temp-issue.59514/

Head gasket would be unfortunate, so hopefully it is a failed cap that caused boiling over and your refill just got pulled back into the system as designed. You'll see pink/white splatter around everything near the overflow drain tube if that's what is happening. It'll almost look like hard water spots if that makes sense.

 

Remove the oil filler cap. Take a picture of the underside (the engine side) and post it here.

 

This^
Without that rubber seal and the spring, the necessary pressure can't build up and you'll get boilover. I think one owner even had that rubber debris flow to their thermostat and interfere with it's opening/closing.

 

Mine was in the radiator, both of them. I pulled the radiator because it was damaged and flipped it on it's head and both spilled out. If it's not in that tube it will be in the radiator, unfortunately you will need to pull it out and flip it to see if it comes out.

 

Simple enough at least it wasn’t anything major

 

Do you think it was just the cap?

 

It’s possible, if your cap is in that bad of shape it could not be holding pressure and just pushing coolant out of the overflow once it warms up.

 

Your cap is a pressure relief valve. It is broken in half. Yeah, that is probably the issue.

 

I replaced it, still running hot. I’m going try to replace the thermostat

 

Don't forget to compare the new cap and all of the old cap components you could find so you can confirm there isn't a piece missing and possibly causing a blockage (as previously mentioned). Thermostat is a cheap and easy next step.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2008-tundra-5-7-temp-issue.59514/page-2#post-1823583

This fella found parts of the old red cap in the by pass hose fore the thermostat.

 

Well at least you don't have to do what I'm doing - replace a water pump that I replaced barely 8-9 mos ago.

 

if some parts went down the radiator, is this where they will end up?
And is the bypass bolted onto the water pump?

 

I think it's part of the thermostat assembly from the pictures. I'm not sure if it is part of the water pump, you'd have to have someone else confirm that.

 

It was the thermostat, works fine now.
Last time I started it, it got to operating temp, then went down, some. thanks everyone

 

Anyone know many qts or gallons do I need to fill the radiator and plastic reservoir?

 

Probably 2 gallons

 

Thanks

 

It's 1.5-1.75gal IIRC. Surprisingly little

 

How would I know when’s it’s been enough? Will I just see the radiator get full?

 

You need to carefully fill it to the brim. Then fill the overflow. Do your best to not let coolant get on your belt.