Well my mothers 4Runner died today, at age 11. It started its life in our household when it turned 2, at 18000 miles. It was loved, garaged, and well maintained all its life. It is survived by two brothers, my 87 4Runner with 232K, my brothers 87 Turbo 4Runner with 160K, and one sister, a 87 Celica GT convertible.

Apparently last week it was complaining about a sputtering idle and was rushed to the garage ER. In the ER it was diagnosed with a blow #6 cylinder producing only 5psi. It was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Anyone have any ideas why a 3.0 would lose compression at such a young age?

 

Blown HG.

 

Yeah -- a blown head gasket. What did the mechanic say was the cause? He was paid to diagnose the problem, right? Not just the symptoms of the problem. I'd ask him for more details and for an estimate of cost for repairs. You don't have to do the work with him, but it will give you a good idea of what it'll cost to repair the engine vs. the cost of financing a new (new-to-you) vehicle.

Ed

 

burnt valve maybe?

 

I had my dad check it... head gasket crossed my mind, but i wasn't too sure.... if you add a little oil to it (through the spark plug hole), it'll bump up the compression to normal, which to me meant rings....

Oh and it did go back for the recall....

 

rings after that few of miles? That doesnt sound right.

 

My thoughts exactly.....

 

ITS NOT DEAD....BREAK OUT THE PADDLES AND SHOCK IT....its young its strong it WANTS TO LIVE........

Thake the head off and see if the problem is the on the head if it is the rings you can always stop and let it go......5PSI and OIL brought it back up to normal.......5PSI says to me that the rings shot and you should be hearing that piston rattle and slap.......I would tear it down and be ready to replace the exh valve......or even check the lash adjustment

 

i'm in agreement with the general concensus that it is the "rings" and boy, are'nt replacing those going to be fun.

 

My Condolences...Where do I send the flowers?

 

Alright guys. any ideas on how to mask the problems for a trade in at a dealer? Theres no way I'll sell it to an individual, I don't someone else to take on this problem....

 

Shame on you!....I do not think you can really mask low compression in one cyl.....

 

I'm not the one requesting the information... Against thier better judgement, that was the question asked by my parents. I told them it wasn't an ethical thing to do, and that if the were insistant upon doing it, just do it to a certain dealer intown who has less than ethical practices (hes screwed several people I know), that way his company would eat the cost, rather than a poor individual having to eat the cost associated with repairs.

However, I have since changed thier minds and persuaded them to hold on to it until November when I'm back in their area and I will fix it. So luckily no one will have to deal with this problem....

 

Update: Found out a buddy of mine had a 2001 camry that my mom liked. Took the truck to him, told him about the compression issue, he still took it on a fair trade for the camry.... all is well, but i hated to see that truck go....

 

i would have taken it...lol, I hope i never have to tear into a 3.0 ever again, thats what mine already went through, though it was the valves not the rings. But hey...