Overheated - Fixed :)

Remember when installing the thermostat the circled part goes on top. Is that what you did? Maybe you got a faulty "new" thermostat? Stranger things have happened.

 

Yep. Double checked the little nipple thingy was on the top. I also used a Toyota t-stat. I had also purchased a duralast or whatever brand Autozone sold me and it did not have the little nipple. And the OEM was only a few $ more via Amazon.

 

Did you idle the truck with the rad cap off to get the air out? Should see the coolant start flowing when up to Temp as thermostats open.

 

If your heater is blowing cold it means you have an air pocket. The radiator needs to be the highest part of the cooling system. If you have an angled driveway park with the front of the vehicle facing up it. Or put some blocks under the front tires or you could buy a special funnel set up that fits inplace of the radiator cap to raise the effective level of the radiator. This information I learned from my son who is a Toyota technician.

 

If it ends up not being an air bubble in your system. It’s probably the water pump

 

Water pumps will leak water when a seal fails but they won't stop circulating water.

 

He’s already replaced everything else. What else could it be if it’s not an air pocket. Possibly a bad thermostat staying closed?
That lower hose should be getting warm. I noticed quite a few people said the lower hose should be cool. But it should not, it should be warm at least if the engine is up to temperature. The returning water will never be cold LOL. I would do as you said and try the bleeding process again on a slope. Squeezing the upper radiator hose, you should feel a rush of water if the pump is working properly when you release the hose.

 

Headgasket. Which is why I strongly recommended testing for that before doing any work.

 

Squeeze your hose...lol. Has anyone mentioned coolant temperature sensor yet? I'd remove thermostat and run the engine. Get a $20 IR thermometer from Home depot and tell us the temperature of the upper hose and lower hose. The heater temp is a red herring, heater core can be clogged, heater feed or return lines clogged, heater control valve could be kaput also which is why you have cool heater sensation. I know green antifreeze plus dex-cool in GM created a nasty mush that overheated many a GM in the late 90's early 2000's. Anyone know if Toyota pink plus green creates a similar abomination?

 

I'm embarrassed to say, but I cant find the block bleeder
Is it blocked by the transfer case?

 

Are you talking about the drain plugs I referenced in my picture? If so, there are two. One on each side of the engine, towards the back. Look closer at the picture and you'll notice they are above the oil pan. That should help you narrow it down. The driver side was harder to reach for some reason.

Here is a zoomed out picture that might help for the passenger side.

 

Thank you to everyone who pointed me in the right direction and gave me tips.
Must've been air-bound. I jacked up the front, plus it was already on an incline, and it she took 1 and 1/3 more of the pink stuff. I also suspect the T-stat was the culprit.
I will tackle the water pump and timing belt later this year. Just wanted to get her back on her feet.
Thanks again!