V8 Radiator

Hi,
I have a 2002 Tundra V8 bought new in 2001.
Would it make sense to replace the radiator given its age? It’s not leaking, but I worry about a rupture in the transmission cooler
Sending coolant into the transmission and causing major damage.
Currently it has 163,000 miles on it, and it’s been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. It’s always had the best of care and I would hate to have a coolant leak ruin my transmission.
Thanks for any advise.

 

Best proactive maintenance you can do is the timing belt, if not done already - should've been done the 1st time about 80-100k miles ago. and you'd be due for 2nd change in the next 20-30.

That said, I'm curious to hear how your question is answered by others. "Pink milkshake" is real, and the design of the radiator seems flawed. I've been thinking about the same knowing fittings go bad with time, not even necessarily w/miles.

I'd expect age in years would be a bigger reason for proactive replacement than mileage.

 

I would, and I did. I replaced mine in my 2000 this year because I bought it used a few years ago and didn't know if it had ever been replaced. I had an ATF cooler fail in my last vehicle -- 2002 4Runner, which has the same style radiator and ATF cooler. Don't want to do that again.

It's about $120 for the part and it's really easy. There's very little reason not to do it.

 

Personally. I haven't seen any galvanic corrosion on mine. I'm attributing it to changing the coolant every 30k though.

My radiator was changed out around 200k miles only because the top seal on the radiator started leaking.

Why not change the coolant and inspect the junction that causes issues?

 

Have you disassemble the connections where the ATF cooler enters/exits the radiator to inspect them?

 

I did on the one I threw out and didn't see any corrosion.

 

I've had two Toyota radiators fail. My 97 T100 and my old 2001 tundra, they both cracked right at the top where it goes from metal to plastic. Neither was catastrophic and I got home then replaced the radiator and both were right around 220k miles.

So, if I were you, I'd go ahead and replace it because it's cheap and easy.

 

Thanks
Timing bet and water pump were replaced at 92k.
As far as a new radiator, the exact Toyota
Replacement part #16400-0F020 is on national back order like everything else today.
The Toyota “value line” radiator part #16410-AZ018 is available and is 1/2 the cost of the original radiator but I wonder if it’s 1/2 the quality. Also can Toyota pink coolant be used in a 2002 or should I stick with Toyota red coolant.

Thanks!!

 

Personally, I'd go with Denso for an OE replacement and you can't buy Toyota red anymore. It's been a while since you've changed it? lol

 

I would replace it. The plastic is the problem on these. One of the signs you need to change it out is the radiator plastic will be a brown/yellowish color instead of black. Easy to see in good light against other black plastic like the shroud and airbox. Also, do yourself a favor and order a new radiator cap from toyota. When you do your next timing belt job, I would replace the fan bracket as well. Denso is at least partially owned by Toyota and the exact same part at a much lower cost. You can find threads showing the Denso markings and part number on the OEM Toyota radiators.

Buy this one: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinf...cPhXACqaf9he7SDcOQWpg9qR/JhJ/8R3zhwotAFB5fhln

 

Would like to add, don't buy your stuff from eBay or Amazon IMO.

Radiator cap: https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-radiator-cap-1640120353
Antifreeze: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ZRX...yFLs17KtCJP9BjKWzYaAj6pEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&

 

Great
Thank you. My Toyota dealer still has Toyota red or pink coolant available and I was a little hesitant with the pink even though it was longer life. Not sure if there would be any adverse affect on a 2002 engine with the pink.
Thanks

 

Go with the red and distilled water if you can still get it to save money. I thought most Toyota dealers sold off or got rid of their stock years back.

 

Honestly, you're less than 20k miles away from your next TB replacement ... you may just want to hold off and do both at the same time. You need to do a lot of the same things to replace the radiator.

I know we tend to be "I need to do this, what should I do in the process since it's convenient?" but in this case, you may just want to wait until next TB/WP swap and do the radiator at same time.

 

This makes the most sense to me right here.

I did mine while swapping out an original timing belt, original radiator, and original water pump — low mileage 2000 v8 — did the work this year around 70,000 miles and 21 years of service

 

Mine cracked at the top just shy of 320K. Replaced with a denso that came beat to hell from bad packaging. Hopefully they have figured out how to pack them better.

 

The Denso is the OEM radiator. Go for it!

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=4723065&cc=1375365&pt=2172&jsn=404

 

I bought a Tundra new as well, in 2001. It gets regular maintenance at the proper intervals and so far I'm still on the original radiator. It all looks good and I usually only repair what's needed, no preemptive repairs. The only real repair it's gotten is both O2 sensors at the ex manifolds on both sides, done by Toyota under a recall. Too much time and money just replacing parts because they might fail, stay on top of the service and just drive it. The starter will fail one day, but I'm not going to pull the manifold off to replace it until then. I'll just deal with it at that time.

 

My 2000 radiator failed a few years ago where the tank is crimped. The replacement I got at NAPA has been doing just fine

 

The problem with your strategy as it relates to the radiator, is that if the radiator's internal ATF cooler fails it takes out the transmission. There are no warning signs that it is near failure, and no immediate symptom(s) when it does fail. So by not preemptively replacing the radiator every 15 years (at a cost of $120 for the part and 1 hour labor), you run the risk of having to replace those same parts, along with spending several thousands of dollars for a rebuild (or rebuilt) transmission plus the labor associated with swapping it.

Your nickle, your choice.

 

Yes, of course, and my choice serves me well.

 

Best of luck to you!

 

Autozone has Peak red coolant on the shelf.

 

I havent heard a lot of chatter about people going with aftermarket coolant. Is it popular with the 2+ gens?

 

I didn't even know coolant could be OEM.....when I got my truck it had the usual green in it. Which is what I put back in it when I had to replace the radiator.

 

Honestly IDK, but I do know Peak red is suitable to replace or mix with OEM red.

 

You may want to look further into what people have to say about using the green coolant over the red.

Supposedly the green has silicates and a lot of people speak of premature water pump failures due to using it. Not specifically with Tundras, but of most Toyotas in general.

 

I can't believe people are so frugal they won't replace a 20 year old radiator.

 

Says the guy with a 20 year old truck! Lol.

 

I need to pull the trigger on my rockauto cart. I've been putting mine off. Need to get it done before I regret it.