So my 4Runners starts leaking coolant from some where behind the engine. I was praying it was a busted heater line, but I'm pretty sure it's a BHG. About 3 wks ago, the pwr wire on my fan wiggle loose, so the fan wasn't working. I didn't notice until I was heading up a small hill and the temp started rising. I stopped immediatel and found the problem. The guage rose but never in the red. I thought I might have prevented any damage.

I've got it a ProTrucks here in San Diego and they are doing some test before they give me the bad news. They've told me that a couple of cylinders have low compression which I knew.

I can't afford a full rebuild at this time, so I'm not sure what to do if the compression rings are really shot (I've known they (low comp cylinders) might have been suspect for a year)

The HG alone will be about $1100 w/valve job $1800. I don't know what the bottem-end will cost.

What can I get away with not doing to buy me some time?

We talked before hand about the 3.4 swap and they have done a few, but they are having problems passing Cali Smog.

 

compression test is rings (i think) a leakdown test is Head Gasket (i think)

Although not unheard of usually if your HG is leaking your going to be smoking like you have a James bond smoke screen system.

find an engine that someone pulled out put gaskets in it for $300 and bolt it in.

 

usually if the problem is your rings all the cylinders will be low. my money is on it most likely being a head gasket, though you'll have to pull the head anyway to re-ring the engine, in which case you're better off just rebuilding it.

 

couldn't the HG leak to the outside and not cause the 007 affect? I didn't find any coolent in the oil and the engine wasn't running bad, but a lot of coolant was leaking.

How much is it to rebuild the bottom end?

 

a head gasket can definitely leak outside the engine, i've had one seep coolant off the side of the block.

http://www.engnbldr.com/toyota3.0V-6.htm - master rebuild kit for a 3.0, $368. everything you need to rebuild the bottom end, as well as the rest of the engine.

 

update:

It ended up being a BHG and burnt valves (#5 and #6). Also, the heads had hairline cracks. Not sure which problem started first, but in the end it cost me $2,300.