(89 4-runner 22-re) Alright so about a month ago my truck was stolen. Thanks for all whom offered assistance. When I recovered it, it started pretty ruff, I didnt think too much of it though thinking that they just didnt turn off the ignition enough to turn off the fuel pump and the pump stayed on for a few days flooding the cylinders. (it ran find after about 20 seconds) It ran alright for a few weeks but then started blowing white smoke and loosing coolant. Now when I start it up in the mornings it idles really rough untill it warms up. I am guessing it is a blown head gasket but I am only loosing about a gallon every two weeks (no puddles or leaks that I can see). I am guessing the signs are all pointing towards a blown head gasket, but beings as I dont know what the incident is that caused the failure (happened while stolen) how suspicious should I be of a cracked head, are the 22-re heads pretty durrable? Also has anyone experienced anything simmular and had it end up not being a head gasket. Thanks

 

why don't you check the oil and see how thats looking?

 

You got the head gasket blues.....your symptoms verify a bad gasket in my opinion. I suspect the car stealing monkeys drove the piss out of the engine. Depending on where the gasket blew will depend on your symptoms. Yours is the cylinder to first water jacket breach.

My $0.02

 

I would agree. Head gasket is gone. I have never heard of a head cracking on these without some major overheat condition. Was there coolent in it when you found it? Either way you got to pull the head and have a look.

 

Did you check the oil? Did you check and top up the coolant in the rad as well as the reservoir? Did it still run like crap with the fluids full?
I just had scare my HG went from coolant escaping from somewhere, seems to be fine now, but sure wish I knew where my coolant is going.

 

thanks all yea i forgot to mention the oil cap has a small ammount of residue on it. nothing on the dip stick or anywhere in the coolant reservoir.

 

do a compression check. but yeah sounds like a HG.

 

Probably a H/G. But also look out because the 22re heads famously eat away the cyl head around the water ports next to the combustion chamber. In that case you will need a new head

 

Spark plugs would show signs of burning coolant, too.

Oh, and drain a little oil. See if water's in there.

 

how do spark plugs look like?