What is the maximum coolant temperature for this car?

Tiny
YAZIDAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 258,000 MILES
Hi,
What is the maximum coolant temperature that the car can have?
When I was going uphill with the A/C on. The temperature went to 216 F. The temperature was 199 F with A/C on when driving on the freeway.
FYI weather was 100 F. The radiator cap is 0.9 bar aka 13 psi. And 180 F thermostat.
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 AT 6:50 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,796 POSTS
Most modern cars run at a high temperature normally. Yours for instance doesn't activate the fans on low speed until it reaches 199F degrees. High speed should be around 212 F. With the cooling system filled with a 50-50 mix and the 13 PSI cap it should be able to go to 265F without boiling.
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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 AT 3:55 AM
Tiny
YAZIDAN
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At idle the fan engages at 205 F and stops around 199 F. The coolant did not boil when it reached 216 F.
So is 216F normal?
How to test the fan for low and high speed? Do you have an electrical diagram?
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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 AT 7:43 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,796 POSTS
Totally normal. They run hotter to improve the emissions. About the only item to keep any eye on it the hoses and the plastic components. The higher heat tends to wear on those more. The factory test is to run the engine and watch the coolant temperatures, do the fans operate as they should - yes - they are okay. From your description yours are fine. Some run hotter than that, my Journey runs 220 the F150 my FIL drives runs 218. Some of the newer ones run even hotter. The warning about not opening the system when it's hot really means something now! Yours runs a simple two relay system that is self-testing really, If you run the car and it heats up and the fans come on the test is done because it's a single fan with a resistor that gets put in line to slow the fan down. Both relays have to work for the fan to operate at all.
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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 AT 9:15 AM
Tiny
YAZIDAN
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  • 132 POSTS
Thank you, Steve.
Just I want to know what are the signs that a car is overheating. I am asking because I am planning to do a long trip driving.
I know one of the signs is when coolant is boiling any others?
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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 AT 12:22 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Nope, that is about the only one. If it was newer it might go into limp mode if it gets too hot but an 07 is almost "vintage" these days and most will only show as boiling over. However, it sounds like yours is operating normally. Especially as you actually watch the temperature.
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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 AT 4:06 PM
Tiny
YAZIDAN
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Thank you Steve.
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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 AT 4:16 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,796 POSTS
Just watch it if you are driving the mountain passes, those can stress even "perfect" vehicles. Oh, and if this is a really long trip you might do an oil change prior to the start. Oil acts as a lube and as a coolant. If you are really worried you could replace your coolant with a 60% mix. That would bump the boil temperature up to 280. I doubt you need it though as it sounds like the car is doing just fine.
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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
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Yes, it will be mountains, and it will be a long trip. I just replaced the timing chain. That is why I was worried about the temperature. I thought I did something wrong that made the car " overheat". The old chain was not stretched. The exhaust sprocket and the crank sprocket were like new. The only problem I found is the chain guides have deep grooves. These are some pics.
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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 AT 5:41 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Yeah the Rockies can be interesting. Temperature wise you should be fine. You pay attention, unlike the folks who check the oil after the engine seizes.
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Thursday, July 10th, 2025 AT 2:34 AM
Tiny
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Checking oil level after the engine seizes is not wise
I will travel in September. It will be cooler.
In your opinion what to do in case the car overheats?
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Sunday, July 13th, 2025 AT 7:26 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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I doubt it will. However if it looks like it's getting hot, just pull over and let it cool down.
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Sunday, July 13th, 2025 AT 6:54 PM

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