86 4runner, I just went through the engine less than 5K ago, everything was in top notch shape, put a new head gasket in, timing chain, oil pump...blah blah blah... Been running good and getting decent mpg, not running hot at all. Start it up this morning and it stumbles and dies, start it up again and it's running rough like a cylinder isn't firing. White smoke out the exhaust....

Pulled the #1 plug and it's wet, obviously burning coolant. Not sure how the hell that happened beings that it's not been running hot, wasn't even beat on yet. The only thing that's different is that this morning it was a lot colder than it's been. Wondering if maybe the head gasket was goofed from the start and just didn't show it's ugly side until things contracted a bit. Any ideas before I go rip the head off this thing??

 

was the head torqued down properly?

im stumped on that, but thats my only question. im sure someone else will have a much better idea

 

If I remember correctly, there's a coolant passage through the intake gasket near the #1 cylinder.
Not too mention the thermostat and stuff is there too.
looks like a good candidate for a leak down test.

 

I followed the FSM on torquing the head down, but I'd love nothing more than to find a front one that wasn't.

With a leakdown test, I'm guessing with it at TDC that might show better where the leak is at? For instance if it bubbles out the radiator and nothing else, obviously head gasket. But if I get noticeable hissing out the intake too, then it might be the gasket on the intake to head. Correct?