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Hi all,
I have an older Toyota vehicle that's having cooling problems and a check engine light came on. Don't know if they're related.
I add coolant and it disappears. Not leaking visibly no puddle or anything and doesn't appear in the oil. Can it be burnt with out getting into the oil and passed out through the exhaust, thus causing the check engine light to come on?
I like working on guitars a lot better than cars!
I'm thinking this is bad.    Jim_W38993.8946990741

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Oops, put this in the wrong spot, meant it to be in the off topic. Sorry about that. Maybe Lance can move it or something.Jim_W38993.8950810185

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I guess if you transport guitars this could be luthiery topic

I'm not a mechanic, but methinks this is bad. I'm just guessing here... but it sounds like you either have a blown head gasket or possibly cracked head. That would allow the coolant to leak into the block. If that's the case i'm surprised it hasn't acted strange (other than the light). Actually, I'm surprised it runs at all. But that's a worse case scenario guess.

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nay

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Look on the oil dip stick to see if there is any foam. If water is getting into the block, you will see it here. Good luck, it doesn't sound too good.

--Jim

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Have a look in the radiator while the engine is running, if you see bubbles (lots of them, more when you rev) you've blown a head gasket.

Are you runing the engine while you add coolant? Once the thermostat opens the fluid level will drop, that's normal. You need to run the engine till it warms up enough for the thermostat to open, then top up the coolant level and all should be well. - unless there's bubbles.PaulB38993.9085763889

There doesn't appear to any coolant in the oil, It would be opaque and foamy right?

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

it sounds as though it is getting into the compression chamber. Then it just goes out the exhaust.. One check i have seen work, if you can get enough pressure in the radiator is too run the car till its hot and you have good pressure. Then with mitts or some way to protect your hands, remove the spark plugs. Let the car sit for 5 minutes or so and then crank it over. WARNING WARNING WARNING,,   do not let anyone stand in line with the plug holes... The water can blast out pretty far and it will be hot.
and to answer your question, yes the water oil would be a grey opaque color if it gets water in it.
And by the way,, i just read an article about the combination of anti freeze and oil in th ecrank creating a compound that eats bearing up very quickly,, like a few miles. So figure out the problem before it cost you quite a bit more..
Mike

Jim, are you near an autozone? You can go rent a code scanner for $200
bucks. Walk out to your car, put it in the socket under your steering
wheel, the tool will tell you what's wrong, walk back in to get your deposit
back.

My new radiator should be here tomorrow morning according to UPS.

Just went to Autozone yesterday-they checked my van with a computer for FREE and wrote down my trouble codes so a friend could advise of next step....

Thanks Guys,
I didn't know about the Autozone thing. This is an older 91 Toyota Previa, which I've had since it was new. Recently a guy with one of these huge trucks backed into me and shoved a long trailer hitch through the grill.
I have an isurance check and was planing on getting the body work done, but now with this I may just call it a lost cause and get a new vehicle.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

[QUOTE=Jim_W] Can it be burnt with out getting into the oil and passed out through the exhaust, thus causing the check engine light to come on? [/QUOTE] Yes,
The head gasket can have a leak that will allow coolant to pass directly into the cylinder head without mixing with the oil. It would just go out the exhaust. Do not try any of the leak fix products. This can only be fixed by replacing the gasket.
The gasket might not be working because of to much warp in the head or block. The gasket might have failed because the engine overheated or was not installed properly.
A good mechanic can check for exhaust gasses in the coolant to verify if this is the problem. If coolant is leaking into the cylinder, you can be sure that exhaust is leaking into the coolant.SteveS38994.6096064815

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

[QUOTE=Jim_W]Recently a guy with one of these huge trucks backed into me and shoved a long trailer hitch through the grill.[/QUOTE]

I'm betting that's part of the problem......

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Gotta love the cooling system woes, don`t ya?
Although vehicles are getting more complicated each year, (making it pretty tough for the shade tree mechanic to keep up I might add) go for the basic and obvious things before you get worked up and worry about a major tear-down. Alot of the time, a loose or deteriorated hose could be the culprit.
My gut feeling is the heater core. If you have coolant that is seemingly disappearing, there is a good chance that it will show up inside your heater plenum if not all over the floorboards.
Feel free to PM me on your problem, and I`ll help you out with the diagnosis if I can.
Coe

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,