VanceB87401

Ok I'm new here I think this is the right forum. So I have had my '87 4runner, known as the beast, for the last 2 years now and all I have had to do was change my clutch out, But the other night I was driving to my friends place and my truck over heated and I found out the she was out of coolant, when I went to fill it up I noticed there was some black stuff floating around my radiator. I think it is a blown head gasket, right now I dont have the time or the funds to replace it for a couple more weeks and it sucks.

Is there anything I can do in the meantime to try and halt any further damage to my 22RE motor. I already put some stop leak in my rad, would it help if I get some oil stop leak in her?

Turd Furgeson

Most of the time stop leak plugs up the radiator,which eventually leads to overheating. Stop leak should only be used as an emergency to get you home ,then replace/recore radiator.

Tim Steele

Do some testing before you rip it apart. Is the bottom part of your oil cap milky? Is there water in the oil or vise versa? Compression test helps too. The gasket is probably bad because let's be real here.. It's a 22r. Just trying to save you a little bit if trouble. The coolant could have leaked out of somewhere else. One trick I like to do on these trucks is buy a colder thermostat. I think stock is 190 and I always ask for a 180. It's all those little things that help.

VanceB87401

Well i think she has finally blown, the inside of the oil and radiator cap is milky looking, my oil dip stick is milky, my truck stalled 3 times on my 4 mile ride to work and when i restarted her there was a lot of smoke and she was sputtering a lot as well. sad day . So my next question is should i pull it all apart and replace the head my self? Or should i go look for a 22R-E in a junk yard around my town and swap it out?

VanceB87401

here are some pictures i took, this is the inside of my oil cap



this is inside my radiator



and this is my first rad flush

combatcarl

Does it have a pronounced rattle in the front of the engine? Has it ever had a timing chain replacement? Who said 22R/RE's eat head gaskets? I've never had that. Though I have seen numerous 22's die of timing chain guide failure due to poor maintenance. So do a compression test, if its ok, pull the valve cover, look down right (drivers) side of timing chain, and see if you have a guide present, and if not, if you have two grooves worn into the cover. Either way, likely to pull the head. It happens.

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