I have an 89 4Runner with a 22RE. It was rebuilt 40,000km ago (new gaskets, pistons, timing chain, oil pump, etc). The shop that rebuilt the engine is a Toyota specialist & has rebuilt many engines. It has been running stellar since the rebuild.

On the drive home today it began to belch heavy white smoke, sweet smelling. Searching the boards on this site say this is typical of a shot head gasket.

The vehicle has not been overheating & it did not overheat after I noticed the heavy smoke. It was running a little rough at idle once the smoke started, but still had good power while driving. The oil looks good (not cloudy, dark but transparent). Is this still typical of a head gasket, or could it be something else? Or is this just the inital stages of the head gasket?

The rad is still full, but there is no coolant in the reservoir tank adjacent to the rad.

Any comments or opinions would be appreciated.

 

I'd check two things to start with. The t-chain guide on the driver's side which will cause the cover to get eaten. Also check the coolant in the radiator for oil. If it smells sweet and it's heavy white smoke it should be overheating Atleast mine was. My HG was on it's way for a little while though because it would slowly spew more and more white smoke, then one day it just let go.

 

yep it sounds like your hg went, did the shop you have rebuild it have some kind of warranty? because thats awful low mileage for a hg to die if you haven't overheated it.

 

No oil in the rad......not yet anyway.

The warranty was 30,00km/1yr. So I'm pretty much SOL. I've talked with the shop already, they are going to look at it in a couple of days.