Losing coolant

I have been losing small amounts of coolant for several years. I have about 250k on the car. This month i lost about 2.5 cups in 500 miles. I've checked the hoses and don't find any leaks. Am i looking at a head gasket? Suggestions?

 

Have you checked the weep hole on the water pump?

 

This spot for reference

 

I have not! I did not know there was one. What's it for and is there an adjustment?

 

Not adjustable if it continues to leak it’s usually a sign of your water pump needing to be replaced.

 

So, since this has been happening for several years, i wonder if it could be a failing water pump, that it would have failed by now. In fact, i would think that most things would have become worse over several years, and maybe it has, but not by much.

 

Check if it is leaking from the weep hole. If it is it’s not like it’s going to hurt the engine to change it. If it’s not there then start looking elsewhere.

 

Yeah, check the weep hole and under the W/P. If thats clean I'd get a leakdown test done being its a 2005 V6. Might be the dreaded HG issue.

 

Dreaded indeed.

 

Check the lower left corner of your radiator near the drain plug. Just did mine a few weeks ago. Kept having to add coolant. Fairly common.

 

What's the fix?

 

New radiator. If youve never had the water pump done, its over due too. Just did mine at the same time. 133000 miles.

For HG you must do the pressure test 24 hours, have the dealer do it.

 

Ok. Thanks.

 

What was it?

 

Shouldn't our coolant be red? I would be cautious using any coolant not toyota approved. I use https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/zerex-asian-red-vehicle-antifreeze-coolant/ as recomended by the dealer. Using the wrong stuff can crack the case

 

Yeah that was on my 2007. I have since got a 2016. In my younger days I used non OEM Toyota coolant, however that is no longer the case.