Hi, I'm new to these forums & to the 1UZFE, picked up a 1993 Celsior for a price I couldn't resist, drives like a dream, all electrics work, body, interior all mint but it is overheating majorly.
Just gave it a 10 minute bleed, crap load of bubbling & surging & it eventually begun boiling though temp wasn't too high at this point I turned the car off & let it cool for 30 minutes.
I have then taken it for a 5 minute drive & the temp gauge went way up then dropped to around 3/4. Radiator was extremely hot (brushed my finger against it & it burnt me)
It also seems as if the water I'm putting in just vanishes I havn't noticed any leakage unless I lost a good 1L or so from that small drive.
There is no smoke what so ever, I have even just given the car another start up & not a puff nor does it smell like it's burning. Oil dipstick looks fine, under neath oil cap looks fine,

It's really got me mind boggled right now, could really do with some suggestions it doesn't seem like a blown head gasket though perhaps water pump? Or hopefully something more simple. May aswel add that it has noisey lifters though have been told it's quite normal.
I appreciate any help given.

Cheers

 

I would change the thermostat first. It's alot cheaper to try that then to change the water pump, especially if it's not bad. There's a 17mm bolt on top of the t-stat housing you can take out and see if the coolant is flowing. The way your gauge goes all the way up and comes back down sounds like you have air in the system. Check the flow before you fill it or coolant will spit out that bolt on the housing when loosened. That bolt is also where ya fill and bleed the system. Dont let the coolant run down and get in the timing covers. Mine got inside and on the T-belt and jumped a tooth.

 

Toyota makes a special red coolant that most folks on here swear by. I have a gallon at home for emergencies. $30 from Amazon. Once you fix the issue go with the red coolant vs water. Good luck

 

What is the condition of the radiator? Could be a leak from the upper or lower tank seals or possibly a crack.

 

Thermostat, rad cap & a bleed seems to have fixed it. 40 minute drive and temp gauge didn't go above half way. I'm over the moon thank you for the answers really appreciate it.

....but the next issue that I've now come across is the traction control not turning off, had a muck around with it gave the accelerator a few boots then as I was driving home I have noticed a clapping sound in the rear of the car, progresses with revs, though can't hear it in reverse any ideas on this? ����