So I changed my spark plugs today and on just about every one, there was a moderate, if not excessive, amount of white, chalky build up. One was actually almost bridged. This, along with the fact that over the past 6 months or so I've have had to top off my coolant about once a month, leads me to the head gaskets going bad. I kept checking my coolant system, thinking I just had a leak until I saw my spark plugs today. Does this sound like the right conclusion based on these signs? I've got just about 120k on the engine and it was just outside the manufacture date for the HG recall so they've never been replaced.

 

Go to Sears, buy the Craftsman Professional coolant pressure test kit. It's the only way to know for sure. Worked like a charm; #2 cylinder FULL of fluid within 2 minutes.

 

how much does that kit cost?

 

If you're losing coolant internally it's most likely the head gasket and it could run for a long time like that. Eventually it will totally blow. I drove mine while just adding a little coolant for months and it ran fine until the HG finally blew and shot all kinds of white smoke out of the tailpipe. Mines a 95 4Runner 3.0 auto as well and it wasn't part of the recall either. I would get it checked out.

 

i don't remember what I paid for the coolant pressure tester. Try sears.com & search under tools.