ok there is no topic on this particular question for my generation runner

i drive a 1986 4runner with a 22-re engine. i took it to a mechanic and got a full engine check. and car check.


i ran 180 across all 4 cylinders and no real signs of a bhg. i flushed and replaced the coolant and noticed that my car was drinking about 1/4 tank (in overflow) of coolant every day. so i thought it was the heater core because my mechanic stated that there was a coolant sound coming from it. this morning i started it up after it sitting for about a week. started fine but sputtered a little every now and then. so i held the accel. at around 2000 rpm and noticed a white smoke again which i thought to be condensation from the week of sitting. but i got a wiff of the exhaust smoke and it was sweet. before this smell i didnt know what the "sweet smell" smelled like but i KNEW when i smelled this. i took 3 good wiffs and it was sweet. so i know i dont have a leak, i know i dont have a bhg and i dont THINK the heater core has much to do with the exhaust (hoping im wrong) so i THINk a crack in the engine that is to small to affect a compression test.


so my question is, i need to find out what the hell is going on with out having to tear my engine down just to check. and i want a second opinion from the only ppl i really trust with yota's (you guys) thanks alll


(sorry if i sound angry but this is the 2nd yota ive bought that turned out to have a possible ˟˟˟˟box engine) and im a poor college kid that really feels a $1700 kick to the ass.

 

I had the same problem with my '85 22RE. The problem with my engine was that there was a crack in the head that leaked water into the #4 exhaust port which caused my truck to steam and consume water. Since the crack was in the exhaust port, all 4 cylinders had good compression. I found this out by pulling the exhaust manifold off and I could see the water in the exhaust port. I'm a poor college student too, and it cost me about $250 for a rebuilt head and a weekend to change it. I don't know if this is your problem....but I hope it helps.

 

thanks man

that is probably the situation and i will be doing everything myself to save money and gain experience

when you rebuilt your head how did they go about repairing the crack? wouldnt you just get a new head altogether??????


and putting a head on isnt that hard i dont think. the only thing i dont know anything about is setting the timing so the engine doesnt blow up on me.
any suggestions???????

 

Yeah, I bought a rebuilt head at a local machine shop. Replacing the head is pretty straight forward on the 22R. My only suggestion is to get a factory shop manual if you don't already have one because it gives all of the torque specs and such. Other than that, I found it helpful to label all of the hoses and wires as I disconnect them when I pull the head off because it made it a heck of a lot easier to reassemble it once the new head was on. Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

Set the engine to TDC (top dead center) #1 cylnder is the biggest thing about setting the timing chain timing. I also zip-tie the chain to the cam sprocket , itll help keep the chain in time, and keep it above all the chain guides.

Dont forget about the bolt that goes through the head and into the timing cover in front of the cam sprocket!!

John