Got truck and it got warm on me. Didn't over heat, but it was close. Added water to it and bled the system. Probably should do compression test.

 

Dont put any fix it crap in. Just make it harder to clean up when you do do it.

If you dont need to run it....dont till you do the gaskets.
You will just cause unnecessary damage.

 

That's kind of the thing. I'm not so sure I even want this motor. It looks like swapping is a way better option, so if this block gets destroyed, so be it.

 

I guess if you're going to do an engine swap anyway, just put some of that fix-a-leak crap in it and run it until it goes.

 

If you do mess up the motor you can do an engine swap like you mentioned. If you decide to keep the 3.0 there are plenty on the market from others doing swaps and parting trucks so you should be able to find one cheap. Either you might as well run what you have.

 

Hey tick, you don't know a guy who used to autocross up there named Loren, do you?

 

It doesn't ring a bell. What kind of car did they have?

 

Back then I haven't the foggiest. I don't doubt it was show though!

 

Ok, just wondering.

 

So I did some work to the truck today. I swapped the hubs, swapped an axle, and bled the coolant.

No issues at all. Love this truck!

 

Dumb question, but did you replace the radiator? That would probably completely solve your overheating issue unless you have a blown HG. If you install this specific radiator you should be good.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-1-QUALITY-RADIATOR-FITS-88-95-TOYOTA-PICKUP-4RUNNER-4WD-3-0-V6-3VZE-/170727081726?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27c02086fe&vxp=mtr
My truck had the same issue until I changed it out. I kept thinking it was the HG or the water pump or bleeding the coolant, but it wasn't any of that. And, it would always overheat after about 15 minutes every single time.

 

Nah its running fine now.

 

I don't know of a way to test it. I took my existing radiator out and filled it with muriatic acid to clean it. When I put it back in cleaned it STILL overheated. Only changing the radiator solved my overheating problem.

 

It's just a play truck. If it ever does it again I'll swap the radiator.

 

Why dont you actually do as suggested and run a compression test on it?

Time to stop guessing and do some real diagnostic work.

Dont have a tester? Try and borrow or rent one. Or go buy one. Every man should own one.

Another little test is to start it up....take of radiator cap....rev it up a few times. any bubbles or coolant shooting out radiator?

 

Are you always needing to add coolant??

Have you pressure tested the system ??

If it is the original radiator it bet it is just clogged.

to slow down the over heating you need to find the cause??

 

I saw some bubbles, but nothing crazy. More like a few in the hose. No stream like from the pump. I'm going to compression test it in the morning, cold, then hot, look for discrepancies.

 

I'm going to go pull the compression in a few minutes. I think I've only used it for a lawn mower, is there any specific way to pull the compression on this motor? I read somewhere that you're supposed to hold throttle WOT while trying the key?

 

This'll help: http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...66compress.pdf


If the compression check comes back clean, go get a pressure check. I had one done for $25 along with an oil change recently. It'll tell you immediately if you have any external leaks. If not, yeah it's your head gasket and not much you can do there.


I suppose if you really want it to last, you could remove the thermostat... but it might cause undesirable side effects like the engine never warming up completely. But if you are ok with that then give it a try. The thermostat is on the engine block at the end of the lower radiator hose.


By the way... is either the top or bottom radiator hose cold after it gets up to operating temperature?

 

Compression from passenger front to back, 150-145-X. Why X? because I couldn't get the compression tester inside the plug hole with all of the stuff in the way there. I did get the compression done on the drivers side. 150-140-140.

Looks like the block is good. Hasn't given me any more problems and I've used it a few times.