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Thermostat

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by Anthonyz85, Jul 23, 2020.

?

Can I run without a thermostat?

  1. Yes

    2 vote(s)
    66.7%
  2. No

    1 vote(s)
    33.3%
  1. Jul 23, 2020 at 3:17 AM
    #1
    Anthonyz85

    Anthonyz85 [OP] New Member

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    Will it mess up my computer?
     
  2. Jul 23, 2020 at 4:03 AM
    #2
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

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    Can you? Yes.
    Will it mess up your computer? No.
    Would I? No.

    Your coolant will continually cycle causing it to run cooler than it should. That'll cause it to run rich and lead to bad mpg and burnt up cats and O2 sensors.
     
  3. Jul 23, 2020 at 4:33 AM
    #3
    Festerw

    Festerw New Member

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    And if you're considering it because it's overheating running without a thermostat won't help (unless the thermostat is stuck closed).
     
  4. Aug 8, 2020 at 10:04 PM
    #4
    Cody06tundra

    Cody06tundra New Member

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    I replaced my thermostat when i did my timing belt kit and sitting in a drive thru the temp gauge peaked at full hot. The hose leading from the thermostat to the radiator was cold and the other hose had boiling coolant in it. Took out the thermostat and put the heat gun to it and it opened. Not sure why the engine overheated. Almost like the new water pump turned in the opposite direction? (I used an aisin kit.) Took out the thermostat and sealed it back up and it runs in the 1/3 to 1/2 range on the temp gauge. Sometimes the check engine light comes on due to coolant temp below thermostat operating temperature. I'm thinking about ripping out the thermostat's guts so it's basically a giant washer to restrict the flow a little to keep the operating temp closer to the ecm desired temp.
     
  5. Aug 9, 2020 at 6:37 AM
    #5
    TX-TRD1stGEN

    TX-TRD1stGEN Privileged

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    I don't think it's a good idea to self engineer what Toyota engineers already designed perfectly. Obviously there is something wrong with the install it parts used to do the water pump and thermostat.

    Get the right parts and make sure you install them correctly.

    Don't rig it.
     
  6. Aug 9, 2020 at 6:40 AM
    #6
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Did your problem exist prior to your Timing Belt Job? Might be that you put something on incorrectly?
     
  7. Aug 9, 2020 at 6:40 AM
    #7
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Or, a bad part which happens sometimes...
     
    TX-TRD1stGEN likes this.
  8. Aug 9, 2020 at 6:42 AM
    #8
    N84434

    N84434 In the Frozen Tundra

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    Air in the system? Was it properly bled after the TB install?
     
  9. Aug 9, 2020 at 8:13 AM
    #9
    Festerw

    Festerw New Member

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    This will gain you nothing over what you have now.
    If your pump was spinning the wrong direction even what you have would lead to overheating.
    A properly functioning thermostat doesn't limit flow enough to cause an issue or every vehicle would be on the brink of overheating. Put a new one it, put the vent pointing up, purge all the air, and you'll be running good.
     
  10. Aug 9, 2020 at 9:11 AM
    #10
    Cody06tundra

    Cody06tundra New Member

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    No it didn't start until a few thousand miles after I replaced the timing belt kit, both houses, the coolant, the thermostat, and the radiator. I think the thermostat just probably failed.

    No I don't think there's any air in the system. However the thermostat didn't have a vent so there might have been some air. Not really sure.



    All right, so I just looked at the thermostat that I have and it's an aftermarket Stant brand and it did not have a little vent in it so I just ordered the Toyota factory thermostat and I will be replacing it with that next week when it gets here. Thanks for everybody's input.
     
  11. Aug 9, 2020 at 9:34 AM
    #11
    N84434

    N84434 In the Frozen Tundra

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    Keep us posted ...
     
  12. Aug 10, 2020 at 8:20 AM
    #12
    SouthPaw

    SouthPaw The headlight guy

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    Sounds like the system needs to be burped.
     
    Tundra2 likes this.
  13. Aug 21, 2020 at 7:42 PM
    #13
    Cody06tundra

    Cody06tundra New Member

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    So I got the Toyota factory original thermostat and installed it and went ahead and drained coolant from the two engine block drains to remove any bit of sand or sediment that was in there before I refilled it and burped it. I ran the truck for about a half an hour and had a thermometer in the top of the radiator and it never got over a hundred and eighty-five degrees. However, the heater never blew hot air into the truck. So after letting it idle for another 15 minutes and reading about burping it, I realized what I was missing!! Duh! So I increased the RPM to about 2,500 for about 30 seconds and voila! the heat came on full blast. So the original problem was that the heater core was completely full of air and once I got that out of there the truck runs exactly like it should.

    Now. To drain this beer can and burp myself!!!
     
  14. Aug 22, 2020 at 5:25 AM
    #14
    N84434

    N84434 In the Frozen Tundra

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  15. Aug 22, 2020 at 6:00 AM
    #15
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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