Oh Please, oh please, dont go little head gasket.
 

Call it paranoia but I know one of these days the head gasket is going to go. Might be a self fulfilling prophecey. Anyway this has happened a couple time and only after driving hard (I've done this twice, not to be mean, just to see what it'll do) Like the little 3.0 going over 4.5K rpm. After stoping for a while (half hour or so) and then starting again, it just does not want to idle. I have to hold it at 1.5-2Krpm to keep it running. What ever is ˟˟˟˟˟˟ up the system seems to go away in 60 sec or so. I thought possibly bad seal with increased pressure at high RPMs might leak water that evaporates eventually. Again, never have this problem if I keep the Revs under 3500. Sound serious or am I head gasket paranoid:dunno:

You may just need to get a tune up. My '91 4Runner started doing the same thing shortly after I got it (it didn't want to idle, and I would have to keep my foot on the gas a little to keep it around 1.5kRPM-2kRPM or else it would keep dropping and stall.) I didn't have the problem after going over certain RPMs. It only happened on a cold start of the engine (Letting it sit for around 30 minutes or more)

So I took it to my mechanic to see what was wrong, and he told me I just needed a tune up. So he cleaned the fuel injectors, changed the oil, changed the tranny fluid, and changed the spark plugs (they looked VERY bad after he took them out). And when I picked it up it ran absolutely perfect :D

I'm sorry to say it, but I think you may be a little paranoid about the head gasket ;) Also since you have a 2nd Gen (I'm assuming because you said you had the 3.0) you may want to have a local Toyota Dealership run your VIN number to see if you've had the Head Gasket recall done. If you haven't then they should replace it for you. and then your worries would be gone :bigok:

But I'd definitely check little things first. Change your oil, check your tranny fluid, clean the fuel injectors, etc...

Good luck with it!

-Braden

Try cleaning the throttle body as well.

Thanks, That does kinda ease my mind. A tune up check up, and look at everything was next on my list after an insurance payment:mad: . I have seriously been considering the removal of the sound dampener and cleaning the throttle body while I was at it. May go for gusto and replace all the gaskets (exept for head) as well. Hell why not, its only money (and time and new swear words never uttered by man) Thanks for the info anyway :P

I just went throught this with my 93 3.0L. First sign was a small water leak at the rear left cylinder and a firm radiator hose when idling. About two weeks after the leak one day it started idling rough, lost power and about 15 minutes later the head gasket let go.:mad:

Definately get it checked.

Woody