I have a 1990 4Runner with the 3vze in it. A few years ago I had the engine rebuilt, but for a lot of reason, I kept some of the parts on it that should have been replaced. When I got the engine back, I put those old parts on, then I got sick and progress slowed down dramatically and it took me a few years to get things together. Now I'm well (or at least more well than before) and for the last year or so I've been trying to catch up, including finishing this 4Runner. I finally got it to pass the CA smog test and was out driving it when it started running like crap and I smelled antifreeze. I'm automatically thinking it's a blown head gasket and I'll be doing a compression test this weekend if I have time. One of my family suggested it might just be sucking water in from somewhere else, or I might actually have two separate problems together, and I'm just ignorant enough to have doubts now. So the question I have is whether or not I can have symptoms like a blown gasket with a vacuum module sucking in coolant, or something else I haven't considered, or is it probably still more likely a head gasket?

I know this sounds like one of those stupid "I hope it isn't what I'm sure it is" questions, but I've forgotten so much about this kind of thing that any more I have more doubts than answers. I'm bummed about this truck giving me grief like this, but it's got to last me a few more months before I'll be willing to take on car payments again. And it's got a new-ish engine, though it took a few years to get it installed and had some intermittent drive time on it. All told, it probably has less than 10k miles on it, but I have no way of knowing because it also disintegrates speedo cables.

Anyway, thanX in advance for any suggestions or comments.

 

Hey Doc,
I dont think theres enough info here for anyone to diagnose your problems. Have you tried doing a pressure test on your coolant system?
help us help you, as they say. And stay away from that creosote!

 

A chemical block test, along with a compression test, will answer many questions. Definitely narrow the focus considerably.

Thanx in advance for follow-up posting what you find, or don't find.