To anyone that has recurrent problems with coolant loss/ lack of refilling the rad on cooldown.
It has become aware that there is a specific rad. cap for the diesel Townie and Liteace. Toyota p/no 16401-64501. It IS different to the "small nissan" type that we are purchasing, and as I found, the Dealer will sell you (wrongly).
the specific type has a different refill valve (the little metal disc in the middle of the seal), havinh a plastic "float" rather than a metal disc with a spring holding it shut. The Rad will refill without having to draw a vacuum first, so in theory a slight coolant leak shouldn't reult in the system slowly filling up with air. It will also purgh air from the system on each warm up.
I'm testing one at the moment to see how it performs. £17 might be a small price to pay...

- (#2735) David Miller, 20 Apr 02

David, Thank you for this info, I have just replaced mine with the ADL part which they actually list for the 2CT engine in the Townie. Their part number is ADC49902. All ADl Blueprint numbers are prefixed with a 3 letter code, all starting with AD (Meaning Automotive Distributors) then the third letter denotes which vehicle manufacturer the part is usually meant for, ie T = Toyota, N = Nissan etc, in this case C = Colt, now known as Mitsubishi. So I investigated the one I just fitted to our Townie, & compared it with the old cap, it looks identical & appears to have the valve you describe, I will try to have a good look at the Nissan type we used to recommend when I return to work tomorrow, & see if that is different. So I hope that the one recommended by ADL Blueprint is correct & can confirm that it is a Mitsubishi type & different to the 'Nissan' Type. Regards Rob.

- (#2741) Rob Drinkwater, 21 Apr 02

rob, just read your post concerning ADL rad cap. i think my cap needs replacing, coolant loss, no sign of leak, doesn't have head gasket symptomsand seal on cap is breaking up! is the ADL one suitable? where can i get one, (liverpool area)?
regards.

- (#3129) eddie arrowsmith, 26 May 02

Eddie

I'm sure Rob will correct me if I'm wrong but ADL only operate in the south. I recently paid £11.80 inc. VAT for a Toyota rad cap (Sheffield dealer) part number above, they got it me within 2 days. I don't think it is that much more than the ADL variant and shouldn't break the bank.
Ian

- (#3139) Ian Dunse, 27 May 02

thanks ian, i'll get the genuine part! just thought i do work for a toyota dealer, may even get staff discount :-)

- (#3161) eddie arrowsmith, 27 May 02

Sorry I stand corrected. Blueprint ADL can be found throughout the UK. See their website at www.blueprint-adl.co.uk for a map showing stockists. Sorry Rob!

Ian

- (#3173) Ian Dunse, 28 May 02

Hi

I had an unexplainable overheating exp last year on holiday in s.wales. which carried on until I accidentally lost the rad cap!! Bought new rad cap from toyota dealer part no:T16401-63010 and it has been fine since, even on long hilly journeys fullen laden. I do still feel nervous though esp now it's getting warmer!

- (#3301) tim, 10 Jun 02

I bought a new cap for halfords and after fitting developed a leak in the Rad.
Had it recored and all ok.
After a week or so checked the level cold and found I had to topup.
Filled the neck up to the cap all ok.
Checked a week later cold, level down again in the neck but expansion bottle getting fuller.
Anyway the moral of the story is halfords cap is not the same build as a genuine toyota one.
The spring assembly is different and the cooling system would not draw the water back from the expansion tank.
Fitted the toyota one part number T16401-63010.
Cured the fault, so avoid the cheapest it's not always as good.
On the downside the cap is £17.51.
PS The system has never needed topping up since fitting the genuine part.

- (#3303) Phil Cook, 10 Jun 02

Because I have done everything else on the cooling system of my Masterace, the new "Nissan" type radiator cap which I fitted six months ago, seems to work well.
However, I don't want to take any chances and David & Phils postings indicate that the Toyota (or ADL pattern if available)is the correct part for the 2C-T engine. I notice that David and Phil's Toyota part number differs. Are David or Phil able to clarify this for us please ? Also, David, has your test of the new cap been succesful and, is there an improvement in water capacity retention ? Any comments much appreciated. Thanks

- (#3304) John Davis, 11 Jun 02

Yes John, Ian Dunse, myself, and one or two others are having success with the revised item. The part number I posted is unique to diesel liteaces and townaces, and is the latest revision of the part. It seems to make a better job of keeping the air out of the system, and we all know that means a better chance of not boiling off it's contents.

- (#3305) david miller, 11 Jun 02

Yes John the part number for my cap was matched for the townace 1990 2ct td from toyota main agent in taunton som.
The parts chap came out to take a note of vin plate details and has now entered my details and name in the computer system.
It means as I live about 10 miles away I only have to call give my name and he can check if the replacement part are in stock.
This number T16401-63010 is Identical to the one replaced. Like David said the the little metal disc in the middle of the seal is different than the nissan type cap or the halfords type. I can only say that my cap has been in for about 4 weeks 1000 miles and I have not loss any water at all.
The level in the expansion tank varies ie hot to cold but always correct level. Hope this helps. Phil

- (#3313) Phil Cook, 11 Jun 02

John

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that David and I were comparing notes on the Nissan type v the new Toyota cap which we both bought at about the same time. While David was enjoying a trouble free coolant system with the Toyota cap, mine was hit and miss as to whether it would drag the coolant over from the bottle. I since replaced the Nissan cap (£11.80, 2 days from dealer) and have been trouble free since. You may be lucky with yours and so may want to consider the old addage "If it ain't broke don't fix it!"

Ian

- (#3321) Ian Dunse, 12 Jun 02

Thanks David & Ian. Yes, since doing my "head job", thermostat, radiator removal & flush etc, I have had absolutely no problem with cooling or water loss. The "small Nissan" cap has been fitted for around 10,000 miles and the water level, in the system, is always up to the filler neck. Any losses are the natural, ie, evaporation etc, from the expansion tank but, even that only requires topping up very infrequently. I did take a lot of trouble over the integrity of all coolant jonts, hoses etc, and it seems to have paid off. However, I should think that the "new type" of cap would be beneficial where there might be very small coolant leaks aropund the sytem.

- (#3337) John Davis, 12 Jun 02

Attn Phil. Your dealer has supplied the wrong cap. The later one 64501 is a substitution- an improved version.

- (#3377) david miller, 16 Jun 02

Thanks for the info David. I will check with dealer.
You say it is an improved version. Could you give any details of that. Thanks again Phil.

- (#3389) Phil, 16 Jun 02

I don't know wat yours is like, but the central return valve is black plastic and loose, whereas on most other caps it's a small spring-loaded brass disc. Opening pressure is 0.9bar. The difference might be also in materials used, the first cap I was given by the dealer("oh yes, small cap, same one fits all" NOT)
died after a fortnight or so, the spring weakened from 0.9 to 0.6 bar or so, with the attendant discharge of coolant.

- (#3392) david miller, 17 Jun 02

I took this picture a while ago. It should be possible to make out the difference between the small Nissan type cap on the left and the new Toyota pattern with the extra plastic seal, on the right.

this Ace Answers website

Ian

- (#3424) Ian Dunse, 18 Jun 02

my Toyota dealer says that my chassis number has the older type cap (88-90) listed, and the one listed as 64501 is for newer models from 1990 on

he quoted part number 16401-63010

can I still use the newer cap? Is this just an improvment? Toyota don't have it listed as an improvement or superseeded
- (#3426) skippy, 18 Jun 02

I understand it to be an improvement over the original cap supplied by Toyota. IIRC my original Toyota cap was the same as the small jap format. No reason why it shouldn't fit an earlier model. Mine's a May 1990.

- (#3427) Ian Dunse, 18 Jun 02

I'll give the new one a go

- (#3428) skippy, 18 Jun 02