After taking my 4 Runner to the dealer for a missing problem, he said he needed to do a whole list of things and if that didn't clear it up he would have to change the head gaskets.

My question is: Is there any way to pinpoint a blown head gasket from the start?

Note: No sign of oil in the coolant and no sign of coolant in the oil.

Thanks, Bruce
1995 4 Runner v6 75K miles

 

what problem led you to take it to the dealer in the first place?

 

I would think that a compression check would show the blown head gasket. A gasket blown between two cylinders would make both cyclinders down on comperession ( weak )
It is possible to blow a head gasket and yet keep the oil and water where it should be.

Just my two cents worth !

 

is it overheating or something?

 

Yep compression test should show a leak between two cylinders.

 

1) compression test
2) check for signs of oil in coolant and vice versa

 

the compression test could give you false hope, i would just have a leakdown test done.

 

There is a very neat tool sold a most car part stores it is a dye that you put in a in the tool ( looks almost like a turkey baster ) ant with they radiator cap off you pull the hot gases out of the radiator into the tool (not coolant) and if the dye changes color you have a blown head gasket or cracked head. what changes the dyes color is when you have combustion gas in the coolant and thats not good

 

Thanks, guys.