need help 87 4runner running hot
 

I have been chasing this gremlin for months now and I'm at the end of my rope.

It's an 87 4runner 22re 5speed. It can idle and drive in city traffic all day without issues it will run at 195-200 (has a new 195 tstat). As soon as I get on the freeway it starts to warm up. Doesn't matter if its flat, uphill, downhill. I have an aftermarket autometer gauge that is accurate. It will run at anywhere from 210-230 on the freeway. Air temp doesnt matter either it was 75 yesterday and it got up to 210 on the freeway.

I have installed a new OEM fan clutch, new heavy duty 3 core radiator, new radiator hoses and cap, new tstat. The water pump is not that old and when the radiator cap is off I can rev the motor up and see coolant flowing through the radiator so I know its working also. Theres no oil in coolant or coolant in the oil and it runs fine so I dont think the head gaskets the issue either.

I adjusted the valves yesterday and they were all very tight (fairly new motor). I adjusted them to 7 & 11 cold. Seems to run and idle better/smoother. I also installed a new OEM TPS sensor a couple months ago cause I could not get the old one into proper adjustment. I got the new one installed and properly adjusted but when I jump out the T & E1 terminals the check engine light flashes but the timing/engine speed does not change. I set the timing to 13 without the jumper in.

Any ideas what would cause the timing issue?

Any suggestions for the running hot issue?

Thanks, John

And just cause everyone likes pics...

https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/...e/img_0288.jpg

With the jumper in, your timing should be at 5 degrees. Also with the jumper in and no codes, it should flash steady 1's. Running to far advanced can cause a Cherry manifold. Looks like you coverd all of your bases that I can think of. Maybe someone else sees something that was missed. Are you sure you guage is acurate?

The gauge is accurate the 4runner had an aftermarket mechanical gauge in it when I bought it. I suspected a bad gauge and bought the auto meter that's in it now. Both read the same temp.

With the jumper in I get a flash every 5-6 seconds. No change in engine speed or ignition timing.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

What else would keep me from being able to set base timing besides a faulty tps?

I would check to see if any coolant is coming out of the exhaust. Are you consuming coolant? I would also try retarding the timing. Can you ever hear any pinging?

It's not using coolant and the exhaust is dry with no smoke of any kind.

It did ping a little under load before I adjusted the valves. When I test drove it last weekend after valve adjustment i didn't hear any pinging.

I set the timing at 13 degrees with no jumper because I read that would be about the same as 5 with jumper in. I can try retarding it more this weekend and see what happens.

First off pinging is very bad for aluminum so avoid it. I would expect pinging and heating to be caused by advanced timing and so I would retard it a degree or two.

*UPDATE*

I have finally found some time to work on the 4runner again. I installed a oem tstat and reset my tps, didn't help at all. I ohm tested the knock sensor wire from the plug to the computer and its good. I have discovered that not only can I not set base timing but the timing does not advance when the engine is reved up (no jumper). My 85 rec does advance timing when its reved up like its supposed to. I think this would possibly explain why its running hot on the freeway if the timing wont advance. I did some work on google and found a guy that had the same problem and replaced the igniter and fixed it. I swapped the igniter from my 85 to the 4runner and still no difference. I ohm tested the wires from the igniter back to the computer and they were all good.

Any ideas on what would cause the timing to not advance? I'm think possibly knock sensor or computer.

I'm ready to burn this sob to the ground!