fade41

Alright first off, my ES300 began to to leak from water pump weep hole. I replaced the thermostat with a dealer one and a shop did the water pump and timing kit, crank cam seals, radiator cap .. after I got it back I noticed coolant dripping out of reservoir tube.. I have burped cooling system over and over...The shop is telling me they have a tool to get air out of the system. Seems to me air keeps getting into the system? Like the coolant that comes out is replaced by air..
Question: could a bad head gasket cause the water pump weep hole to leak in the first place and not out the reservoir ?
The coolant temperature never has gone past normal area. The reservoir overflow never leaked before the water pump was replaced... taking back to the shop this week. ..
Coolant drips out constantly after engine warms up and drips faster if I give it gas. Won't overheat, Oil looks fine and the engine runs great...
Any feedback would be grateful!

LeX2K

First thought is bad rad cap or cap not sealing in the radiator. What is the coolant level in the reservoir and does it drop when cold?

fade41

Still does it with new radiator cap from Advance Auto parts. I told the parts man at Toyota and he said the aftermarket cap should be fine.. I make sure the reservoir is at the line when engine is cold.

LeX2K

If you don't have one get a Lisle spill proof funnel and run the engine until hot and watch for bubbles. You should see only a few off and on. BTW I don't trust aftermarket radiator caps at all they are a waste of money IMO.

fade41

Same thing with toyota radiator cap..

mmatheny

I don't understand what you do with the Lisle funnel?


OK - I see now. You mean to use that to fill his radiator (I think!)

LeX2K

Use the funnel run the car from cold. Add coolant if needed so there is 2-3 inched in the funnel (engine hot) and look for bubbles.

Gabagule

Did you install the thermostat with the vent pointing up?

fade41

Yes... took it all apart and put a toyota thermostat with the vent up just to make sure that wasn't the problem..

Gabagule

Something doesn't seem right. Have you pressure tested the cooling system and cap?

fade41

The shop is telling me I have a slight blown head gasket.
Just hit 160,000 miles, very disappointed
.

PFB

Many garages, including radiator shops have a simple kit that they can use to determine if you have exhaust gases in your coolant.

This should either confirm, or exclude the possibility of a blown head gasket.

It's a cheap inexpensive test. You can also buy such kits and perform the test yourself.

fade41

So is it possible the blown head gasket caused the water pump to leak from the weep hole in the first place?
And not from the reservoir... and with the new water pump the coolant is forced out of the reservoir. ..?
Is it worth fixing?

PFB

At this point you are asking for guesses. Get an exhaust gas analysis of the coolant as I suggested in my reply to you.

The results, whatever they may be.will answer your questions without guessing, and put you on the right track to decide how to resolve your issue.

Much cheaper and less time consuming than guess work.

mmatheny

It DOES sound like a strange set of circumstances!