Are my headgaskets going?
 

I have searched high and low..

But no one seems to touch the symptom I have...

Maybe I am just being parinoid...

But I noticed my coolant level to be a little low..

It is about an inch or so above the L line...

But with recent head gasket issues on an older car I am just slightly scared...

I don't get anysweet smelling sound from under the engine or out of the tail pipe, which I know is one Symptom..

The engine feels like it's running just fine
I don't feel like I have lost compression in a piston or something...
Another symptom I have known....

The Temp gauge is fine, rises to the middle maybe ever so slightly above liek it has done since last november...

I don't see any leaks in any of the hoses and there is no collant laying in a puddle where the car sits after it has run...

Heat works perfectly fine...
another symptom I have know...

But I just don't want to be beating this think to s*^ and having to replace the entire head...

Again I might just parinoid, but rather find problem first before it happens again...

Should I maybe add more coolant just in case?

Any thoughts would be greatly appriciated...

Even if it is to make fun of moi for being parnoid....

b4 jumping to headgasket conclusion, id check the heater hoses, in the bay and in the cabin. for now, just add more coolant.

btw, the needle suppose to be slightly under half at all time.

I will go add coolant later when i get a car to go out and get it...

(currently the Runner is sitting on Jackstands cause in needs major brake work...)

I am goign to go outside now thoguh and see if the needle is in middle above or below....

Now it's all shaddy to mee since it has been over a week since i have drivin it....

Poor baby....

Another major sympton is water in the oil. Do an oil change and take a look at the oil.

I did an oil change about 2k ago and it seemed fine then.....

Update:
Car is warm and need is just below mid way like it shoud (relief one complete)

Checked Oil, still looks good to me...

Heater is on and putting out good heat so....

Maybe I should just add coolant and stop being so paranoid...

But the last time the head gaskets went on a car I had...

It was $1k repair so....

The car has just under 100k on it, but had the belt replaced at 60K like scheduled, but i have now way of knowing if the gaskets were worked on too....

Here is a pick....

To me this is low, espeacially after it ing closer to full about a month or two ago...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...f/DSC01982.jpg

I am just really paranoid I think....

But I need to be able to sleep at night....

If you are adding coolant, and it is disappering in your overflow resevoir, you are losing coolant somewhere. Do a coolant compressiong test. All dealerships have tools to do this....It might cost you 50 bucks or so but at least you'll be able to sleep at night, knowing your truck as a good hg.

Since I wont be drivng it till arond Next friday (when I will be driving it to go get the axel seals and bearings done)

I will have him check it for me....

Like I said, just haven't had to much luck with coolant systems in cars so yeah....

I just put a new freeze plug in a friends 1/2 ton chevy. He thought he had a bad hg....nope just a simple freeze plug.....these are little things that go unnoticed....freeze plugs, heater hoses, thermostat gasket leak(which I hope you would notice) etc etc....

well when it's not raining

I will be getting under and over and with a every where I can get to see that engine and see if there is leaks anywhere....

I had my heater hose leak as well as a line you cant see from looking at the engine. Its behind it. Do a search on coolant leaks on 3rd gens.

BTW, flush and switch to toyota red.

I noticed that my coolant is green yet moms is red and so is stepdads....

Is Toyota red better?

Just curious....

I will try to find every freakin hose And seal I can and check....

I dont know if its "better" but its recommended to use Toyota Red.

Well if recommended...

It shall be done!!

Just a suggestion, and others may correct me if I am wrong, but just look for the coolant leak some place and not worry about the HG. If the HG is going T/U then there is not much you can do about it. There is no "fix" short of replacing it. But seeing how is you have the 3.4, if it were me, I would not be too concerned with it. When it goes there will be no doubt. The only sucky part is being stranded someplace.....That is why my wife insisted on getting AAA for when our HG blew out.

Well thats what happen when my head gasket blew the last time....

I wasn't really stranded...

I just made it to the repair shop...

But I found out there are people out there that actually ride around with there headgaskets blown....

But of course those stupid people require and entirely new engine after that....

Toyota Red is better.

Sensus Shows Ladies and Gents...

Toyota Red Is Better!!

Now Is This Something I Will Have To Have The Dealer Do?