OK, I hope its not a blown head gasket, or a cracked head but here are my symptoms... Please help me out.

The last times Ive driven my 4Runner (85 EFI 22RE 5spd) its been getting progressively hotter. Today it got hot fast and I finally checked the radiator. It was near empty. Bad sign, so I filled it up. As soon as I filled it up, the engine began to run VERY rough, in fact dieing at idle at stoplights.

I thought I may have blown a head gasket, but the oil is completely free of water and NO steam is coming out of the exhaust. The engine is no longer over-heating... but of course I cant drive it.

This morning it would start and idle, but slightly rough. Its not my DD, just a toy.

What should I check? Should I dump some Bar's Leaks into it?

 

My 91 pickup 22re is doing the same thing.Im hoping its just a bad plug or wire.but its most likely a gonna need a valve job.

 

All the times I have had blown HGs, never had oil/water mixing and only one time had stem out the exhaust (due to a cracked head). Always it has been the case of exhaust gas leaking into the cooling system and blowing the coolant out the overflow. Once enough coolant is gone, engine gets hot. To test, try this:
http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/hea..._leak_test.htm
or have the cooling system pressure tested. What you are looking for is that the pressure gauge put on the radiator rises and falls with varying engine revs.