1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

How to bleed air out of radiator

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Cornflake, Dec 14, 2018.

  1. Dec 14, 2018 at 1:52 PM
    #1
    Cornflake

    Cornflake [OP] 95.5 Tacoma 2.7 4x4

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2018
    Member:
    #273195
    Messages:
    166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeremy
    West Georgia
    Vehicle:
    Tan 1995.5 Toyota Tacoma 2.7 4x4
    Clear Blinker lens 15x8 black American Racing wheels 31x10.50r15 Ironman all country
    Just recently found a crack In my radiator so I plan on changing it out ASAP. I am wondering if anyone knows if there’s a bleeding screw to bleed out the air on a 2.7 engine or of another way I can bleed the air out of it. Thanks
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2018
  2. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:03 PM
    #2
    ForumContributorsAreLife

    ForumContributorsAreLife Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2017
    Member:
    #219429
    Messages:
    45
    Theres a drain plug/pet cock(spellcheck) on the bottom passenger side of the radiator. Not sure if it’s the same radiator as the 3.4 but that’s where mine is on my v6.
     
    Cornflake[OP] likes this.
  3. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:05 PM
    #3
    Cornflake

    Cornflake [OP] 95.5 Tacoma 2.7 4x4

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2018
    Member:
    #273195
    Messages:
    166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeremy
    West Georgia
    Vehicle:
    Tan 1995.5 Toyota Tacoma 2.7 4x4
    Clear Blinker lens 15x8 black American Racing wheels 31x10.50r15 Ironman all country
    @ForumContributorsAreLife i apologize I fixed the post. I am looking for a way to bleed the air out of my radiator. I believe I have to do it after I replace the radiator.
     
  4. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:10 PM
    #4
    ForumContributorsAreLife

    ForumContributorsAreLife Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2017
    Member:
    #219429
    Messages:
    45
    OH, duhhh. Here’s how I do it.

    1. Engine off

    2. Fill radiator until full

    3. Engine on

    Coolant level should now go down.

    4. Pour more coolant into the radiator until full

    5. Squeeze upper radiator hose (engine still running)

    6. Refill as needed.

    Now close up shop and get ready for a short drive.

    7. Go for a drive to get up to temperature, and when it’s up to temp (for thermostat to open) drive a little bit more. Shouldn’t need but 3-5 miles at most.

    8. Top off radiator again as needed.

    Monitor coolant for a few trips after replacing radiator.

    I’m not a mechanic, but this is what I did when I did a coolant flush.
     
  5. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:12 PM
    #5
    Cornflake

    Cornflake [OP] 95.5 Tacoma 2.7 4x4

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2018
    Member:
    #273195
    Messages:
    166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeremy
    West Georgia
    Vehicle:
    Tan 1995.5 Toyota Tacoma 2.7 4x4
    Clear Blinker lens 15x8 black American Racing wheels 31x10.50r15 Ironman all country
  6. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:13 PM
    #6
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    I believe you just run it for a bit with the radiator cap off. Look for bubbles and refill as necessary. The cap is the highest thing on the system, so air will eventually work its way up there.

    I did it in TWO steps! :D
     
    Cornflake[OP] likes this.
  7. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:13 PM
    #7
    ForumContributorsAreLife

    ForumContributorsAreLife Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2017
    Member:
    #219429
    Messages:
    45
    Refresh the page I fixed a typo and added a comment between 6 and 7
     
    Cornflake[OP] likes this.
  8. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:14 PM
    #8
    TireFire

    TireFire Superunknown Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2016
    Member:
    #177349
    Messages:
    7,661
    Olympic Peninsula
    Cornflake[OP] likes this.
  9. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:15 PM
    #9
    TireFire

    TireFire Superunknown Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2016
    Member:
    #177349
    Messages:
    7,661
    Olympic Peninsula
    Realllllly important! OPEN CAP BEFORE STARTING ENGINE WHILE ITS STILL COLD
     
  10. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:17 PM
    #10
    Cornflake

    Cornflake [OP] 95.5 Tacoma 2.7 4x4

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2018
    Member:
    #273195
    Messages:
    166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeremy
    West Georgia
    Vehicle:
    Tan 1995.5 Toyota Tacoma 2.7 4x4
    Clear Blinker lens 15x8 black American Racing wheels 31x10.50r15 Ironman all country
    Thanks for all the help everyone!
     
  11. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:17 PM
    #11
    ForumContributorsAreLife

    ForumContributorsAreLife Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2017
    Member:
    #219429
    Messages:
    45
    Holy shit, yeah this guys onto it. That’s why multiple people should input.

    Sorry for not including this.
     
    Cornflake[OP] likes this.
  12. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:17 PM
    #12
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    haha

    Hopefully that's obvious, but yeah.

    As you said, you don't really need to "bleed" the cooling system like you do the brakes. It's more like "burping" it.
     
  13. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:19 PM
    #13
    zero4

    zero4 Metal Cutter

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2006
    Member:
    #31
    Messages:
    5,982
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    SFV, CA
    Vehicle:
    01' DCab 3.4L TRD
    Donahoe CO, Donahoe Rear Resi, Deaver J59, 16" Pro Comp, 33" BFG AT, Hayden Trans Oil Cooler, Oil Filter Relocator, FM 40, ES Bushings, Beefed CB Drop, Deckplate, K&N Drop-In, DO Bed Bar, Cobra 75 WXST, Firestik Firefly, Philips D1R, Clarion Remote Start, Husky Liners
    Most vehicles these days don't have a bleeders anymore unless the radiator cap or fill point is lower than the coolant inlet on the engine. Factory tstat has a jiggle valve to help bleed air while filling (if you orient it it the way it's supposed to be) but if you use an aftermarket tstat that doesn't have one you should still be able to get the air out of the system, just have to get it up to operating temp so that the tstat opens.
     
    Cornflake[OP] likes this.
  14. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:21 PM
    #14
    super_white

    super_white Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2012
    Member:
    #72230
    Messages:
    8,167
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Harry
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2012 Tacoma 4X4
  15. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:21 PM
    #15
    ForumContributorsAreLife

    ForumContributorsAreLife Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2017
    Member:
    #219429
    Messages:
    45
    Or, as I learned from ChrisFix; drill a hole on the tstat and put the hole on the high side of whatever it’s orientation.
     
  16. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:24 PM
    #16
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Member:
    #51038
    Messages:
    17,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC
    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    I hear if you drill holes in your radiator hoses, that improves cooling efficiency.
     
  17. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:25 PM
    #17
    zero4

    zero4 Metal Cutter

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2006
    Member:
    #31
    Messages:
    5,982
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    SFV, CA
    Vehicle:
    01' DCab 3.4L TRD
    Donahoe CO, Donahoe Rear Resi, Deaver J59, 16" Pro Comp, 33" BFG AT, Hayden Trans Oil Cooler, Oil Filter Relocator, FM 40, ES Bushings, Beefed CB Drop, Deckplate, K&N Drop-In, DO Bed Bar, Cobra 75 WXST, Firestik Firefly, Philips D1R, Clarion Remote Start, Husky Liners
    Depends on the engine. Most jiggle valves are oriented up but on the 5VZ-FE it's supposed to be oriented at 6'oclock. Doesn't really matter though if you have a hole or not, it's really only there to help initially bleed the air.
     
  18. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:28 PM
    #18
    RysiuM

    RysiuM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Member:
    #167004
    Messages:
    2,710
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rysiu
    Was Golden State, now Poland EU
    Vehicle:
    1995 4x4 LX Ext Cab, I4 2.7, MT, 335K miles
    DD Deck+backup camera, LED DRL, All LED except H4 Hella
    One note: before doing it make sure the cabin heater is turned on hot (vent does not need to run) - this way the valve between the engine and the heater core is open allowing the coolant (and air) to flow freely from the heater core to the engine where the air can be "burped" through radiator.

    Also I would not hurry up on the drive. Let the engine warm up to the operating temperature while you monitor the coolant level in open radiator - you will see how much air is burped out and if you need to add more coolant. For adding the coolant I made a simple funnel using soda bottle, and shop towels + masking tape for sealing the bottle neck to the radiator fill up. It is hard to drive like that :)

    upload_2018-12-14_14-22-32.jpg


    And while doing it make sure you cap the hose going from the radiator to overflow.

    upload_2018-12-14_14-23-16.jpg


    See the post in my "building" thread https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...k-or-rysium-build.457350/page-5#post-17477499

    Very important is to monitor the coolant level in overflow tank for a few days. The engine will still burp the air for few more days.
     
  19. Dec 14, 2018 at 3:11 PM
    #19
    Cornflake

    Cornflake [OP] 95.5 Tacoma 2.7 4x4

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2018
    Member:
    #273195
    Messages:
    166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeremy
    West Georgia
    Vehicle:
    Tan 1995.5 Toyota Tacoma 2.7 4x4
    Clear Blinker lens 15x8 black American Racing wheels 31x10.50r15 Ironman all country
    Anyone have a recommendation on a new radiator? Would like to purchase OEM but honestly can not afford it at the moment and need to fix the cracked radiator ASAP due to it being my DD.
     
  20. Dec 14, 2018 at 3:14 PM
    #20
    RysiuM

    RysiuM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Member:
    #167004
    Messages:
    2,710
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rysiu
    Was Golden State, now Poland EU
    Vehicle:
    1995 4x4 LX Ext Cab, I4 2.7, MT, 335K miles
    DD Deck+backup camera, LED DRL, All LED except H4 Hella
    Manual or auto? I think there is a difference in radiator and manual does not need to cool the ATF.
     
    Boatbldr likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top