ok so I did my research and think I know whats wrong but I just want to make sure and here from ppl with experience... I noticed that the other day when I start my truck it blows light white smoke out my exhaust and as it warms up it clears up but is still there as I drive and stop but still idling... all my research keeps pointing back to bad head gasket... what other things could it be or am I right on the head gasket... if so what gasket do you recommend... the truck is a 1981 Toyota 4x4 but the previous owner claims the engine is out of an 87... my next question is the head gasket the same or do I need to know for sure if its 87 or 81 and how do I tell...

 

are you loosing coolant ?

white smoke usually suggests coolant leaking into the cylinders , and most commonly head gasket is the culprit .. hate to say , but a cracked head is also possable .

 

yeah my radiator is low but I also have a leak else were Im tracking down...

 

where can I get a new head for cheap I am on a real tight budget

 

i would say diagnose it first make sure you dont have to buy anything you dont need. your head may still be good.

 

Unless you overheated it real bad (like seizing the motor), or have done it a lot (speaking from experience), you'll just need a new gasket kit (assuming it's a blown head gasket).

 

you'll have to pull the head off anyway ... so take it to a "qualified" machine shop .. and have them pressure check the head (tell them your having this problem) .. they will find a leak if its there !!

also have them resurface the head and hot tank it ..

 

After you pull the valve cover off if it has a double row timing chain than it's the 81 engine, if it has a single row chain then it's a newer engine.

 

ok thanks for all the advice guys I appreciate it I am gonna go ahead and replace the gasket I went and got one today and am gonna start on friday and I dont think it is the head because its not that bad and I caught it early enough before it got worst but I am gonna look into rebuilding the engine this summer anyways but I need the truck for work it is my DDI cant count on other ppl or my wife for a ride all the time

 

When you pull the head don't forget the bolt that under the distrubutor drive gear. It's small and usually covered in oil, so feel for it. When you get the head off take a flash light and check the timing chain guides down in the front cover. These have a way of breaking and the chain will move around and eat a channel in to the timing cover. The bad thing is the cover has a water passage in it that causes it to dump in the oil pan. DO a quick check of the valve seating area also. Turn the head upside down and put water in the dome area where the valves seat. If they are not seating properly you should have water coming down the intake or exhaust ports, look for drops or a trickle. The reason I say this is, you already have the head off, you might as well check to see if you need addition work done and it will save you from getting another head gasket. Just a thought, good luck.

 

4X4yota Have you seen the pictures of my truck? Do a search on my user name and look at the picture. Man the truck you have on your avitar is a twin to mine.

 

Before you jump to the head gasket conclusion, don't forget that it's winter, and white smoke will come out of your exhaust when it's cold. Does the exhaust continue to blow white once the truck is warmed up? Does it smell like coolant, or gas? Is there white residue building up in your oil fill cap, or in the entire valve cover for that matter? Have you lost compression? The head gasket job isn't that costly ($40 for the gasket by itself, and if you do it carefully you can remove the entire top half of the engine including the exhaust and intake manifolds, thus not needing to replace those gaskets) but it does take some time and patience.

 

yes there is foam/residue on my cap and I alraedy did the head gasket no problem and there was coolant in my oil now I just need to fill up my oil and coolant and im good to go

cost...
head gasket $25
intake manifold $5
RTV $5
oil $13
oil filter $4
coolant $10
total $47

 

I hope you used a factory Toyota gasket. $25 sounds a bit on the cheap side. I just paid $40 from a reputable mechanic who usually hooks me up, but maybe he was making back some coin for other deals he has given me in the past.

 

you can get a head from someone here on this site. go to the classifieds and look for one. I'm doing my head right now, and it was relatively inexpensive. x2 for the cheap gasket. I'd go ahead and get the full set(head, valve cover, valve stem seals etc.) it only cost me 60 or so, and no matter how careful I was, virtually every gasket was wrecked.

 

spend the money now, or spend the money later with twice the time, that's how i look at it.

Oldgold, you should let me know if you ever want to hit up some trails since we're both in fort fun

 

for now I just wanted to get the truck up and running again I need it for work and daily driving... but after doing the head gasket I do notice a big increase in performance, response, and it definately runs better/smoother... I am very happy with it and am not worried... and the reason I got it all for so cheap is I am friends with the local college shop teacher and I get a discount on my parts...

 

you dont mess around lol. done in like under 24hrs from when you said you might do it haha nice! how long did it take?

 

took me 5hrs start to finish... but I have been working on these 22Rs since I was a kid with my dad...

 

good to hear it's running right. and damn that was quick. I'm on day three of my head job but we're not working straight through. Let us know how it continues to work