What Causes High Temperature in Toyota Prado?
4 Answers
Toyota Prado's dashboard water temperature gauge typically shows around 90 degrees Celsius, which is the most normal and healthy temperature. If it overheats, there is a possibility of boiling, commonly referred to as "boiling over." The reasons for high engine coolant temperature include: 1. Insufficient coolant: Coolant leakage can cause the temperature to rise, requiring identification and replacement of the leaking component. 2. Faulty radiator fan: When the vehicle operates at high speeds, heat cannot be effectively transferred to the antifreeze, affecting cooling and leading to increased antifreeze temperature, resulting in boiling over. 3. Faulty water pump: If the water pump malfunctions, the water circulation on the engine's heat conduction side cannot function properly. This causes the engine cooling system to fail, leading to the "boiling over" phenomenon.
Last time I drove my Prado on National Highway 318, the temperature gauge shot up while climbing. I immediately pulled over to check and found the coolant reservoir empty, with the hose joint leaking. Later at the repair shop, after disassembling for inspection, it turned out the water pump impeller was corroded, with three plastic blades broken. The mechanic said the Prado's cast iron engine is particularly sensitive to overheating, and prolonged coolant leakage could blow the head gasket. He recommended focusing on checking the radiator and pipeline seals, as the radiator cap's spring pressure on older cars might be insufficient, leading to boiling. Now, every three months, I pop the hood and use a flashlight to check for leaks at hose connections, and I always keep two bottles of distilled water in the spare tire compartment for emergencies.
With 20 years of auto repair experience, I've encountered several common causes of overheating in the Land Cruiser Prado. First, failure of the silicone fluid fan clutch - if you don't hear the high-speed wind noise, it's dangerous, especially during desert driving. Second, chain reactions from transmission overheating - the frame-mounted radiators easily get clogged with willow catkins. One customer's vehicle had a 5cm-thick layer of dead insects removed. Third, modification mistakes - some people blindly switch to low-boiling-point coolant only to experience earlier boiling. A classic case: an owner replaced the thermostat three times but still had overheating, eventually discovering cylinder head gasket cracks allowing exhaust gases into the coolant passages. For such large-displacement vehicles, regularly scanning the engine bay with an infrared thermometer for hot spots is essential.
Don't panic when encountering Prado's coolant temperature warning during plateau self-driving. First, turn off AC and switch to internal circulation, maintain 2500 RPM to boost water pump pressure. Seen herders pouring snow water on radiators for emergency cooling, but it's risky and may burst the tank. Safer solution: install an aftermarket electric fan parallel to original cooling system. Convoy tip: keep an OBD scanner handy to monitor real-time coolant temp - when factory gauge shows 90°C, actual temp may exceed 105°C. Must replace thermostat before expedition - the plastic valve in older Prados fails reliably after 5 years.
