jaredbishop

I'm new to the forum and this is my first T4R
Purchased 1/19/10
Paid $500.
Miles-215k
1990 Stick 4WD

I love it but here are is the short list of engine problems:
Leaks Power Steering Fluid
Leaks Engine Oil
It did not pass emissions, A tech who owns one said he could tell is miss firing, told me to get Denso spark plugs use oem wires and a Denso rotor & cap. I'v pulled the old spark plugs and have new Denso to put in. No wires or rotor or cap yet.

I did a compression check (and a wet test for bad ones)here is what it come up with:

Numbered in order if looking at engine from the front of the truck

--------------130 psi / 75 psi (100 psi wet)

--------------140 psi / 135 psi

95 psi (140 psi wet) / 125 psi


So my big question is what do I do next? What has to be pulled off, checked, fixed, resurfaced, replaced?

CappyKD

check your exhaust valve clearances. I had no compression in one cylinder and it was because of an exhaust valve so tight that it couldn't close... just an idea.

toyotabull

Welcome to yotatech, and do you still have the old plugs to take a pic of? Might try Seafoam, but search it on here first. Good luck..

betelnut

Nice! Sounds like the price is right! Wish my wife were willing to drive a stick.

What does 'wet' mean here? Put oil into the spark plug hole? If that's it and it made a difference, sounds like it's the rings on those two cylinders.

The other cylinders are lower than they should be. Try to take it somewhere for a leakdown test; they should be able to tell you where the problem is with each cylinder. Better than ripping the thing apart before knowing what you're trying to fix.

tacho75

it looks nice for the price...hoe is the rest of the truck(not including motor)
cause for dat price i put a used motor..and go out and have fun

jaredbishop

For the wet test I borrowed my wife's turkey baster and add a bit of oil to the 2 low pressure valves. Several people have now told me I should try an additive to help clean the rings so they can seal properly. Now I need to find the right additive. If that works great. If not then I may move towards more drastic knuckle breaking measures.

jaredbishop

I used some Seafoam and did an oil change and change the spark plugs. I started it up and spat some black smoke out the tail pipe. The engine sounds ok. Listening to the tail pipe I could hear what I think is some hesitation. That sound may be due to a miss-firing. Also I played with the throttle a bit. If I slowly increase the throttle there is no problem. If I quickly increase the throttle a bit it will stall and die. I think this is also do to a miss-fire.

Next I'll check the distributor cap, rotor then cables.

I still think that the rings on at least 2 pistons are not sealing properly. I may take so time for the additives to work it's way in. Any ideas on how to help my ring problem?

betelnut

HA HA! You said TURKEY BASTER!

Ahem, sorry. I'd check for air leaks too.

jaredbishop

Ok I have new plugs, wires, cap and rotor. I added a whole can of Seafoam through a vacuum line and out pored black and gray smoke and oil from the tail pipe. It seems to idle a bit smother and there is no more hesitation or stalling when I increase the throttle. I also saw some smoke coming out of what seems to be a small crack in the exhaust about midway to the tail pipe. That stopped after a few seconds.

jaredbishop

I did not pass my emissions. Hydrocarbons were way too high.
I believe that oil is getting into the exhaust do to the cylinder #1 & #6 having low compression. Bad seal on the rings is my best bet. I've only put about 10 miles on it since adding Sea Foam I'm going to fill it up with premium fuel and run it down to about the last gallon and add a gallon of denatured alcohol. While it's hot I'll take it in to get tested again.

If that does not get me passed emissions I'll look at one of two options:

1 - Rebuild the engine, replace the rings along with a bunch of other things
2 - Find a used motor to swop.

A few people laughed at me when I said I wanted to basically rebuild the engin. They said a swop would be a lot easier. I agree with them but I kind of want the experience of doing it. Then again I'd like to add a 3.4L but I don't have that kind of money.

The plan for this 4Runner is jut driving it around locally. I don't see my self ever driving it any farther than maybe 200 miles from home. I need it to pull sail boats in and out the water at the near by lake (the boats with trailer only weigh about 600 lb.). In the future I'll add a lift kit & bigger tires and go have fun off road.

Any comments if I should swop or rebuild?

betelnut

If you want the experience, then rebuild. Whether the 3.0 is in fact such a bad engine or whether the 3.4 is worth the $$$ is a hotly contested issue around here. Rebuilding is cheap, educational and satisfying.

On the other hand, it can be a huge PITA and frustrating, but I think you can do it!

jaredbishop

I've been driving it around a bunch and I can already tell I'm getting very bad gas milage. I assume this this is due to the low compression. I think I can tell the power is low. I don't think the SeaFoam has done the trick.

I'll do a second compression check latter this week. Would a second round of Seafoam help?

I did find a used motor at a junk yard for $150, has 240k miles. That would make things easy but I won't know if it even runs till I get it in my 4Runner.

jaredbishop

Well I've called around and I found another engine for about $1000 with 114k miles. All I have to do is put new belts and water pump on. So I'd miss out on the experience but I'd save myselfselft a lot of time money and have a 30 day warranty. I've almost got the wife sold on it. I just have to buy her some new clothes.

After all is said and done I'de end up spending about $1800 in the 4Runner.