Hi all new to the forum just picked up an 80 series a couple of months back and usually hang around 'Mud but I need help with my Mom's 95 4runner, its a 3.0 2 wheel drive and this seems like the best to get that help.

After getting home from work the other day she called me frantic because she pulled into the garage and the car was smoking and "red fluid was leaking everywhere." I went up to their house last weekend to check it out with my dad.

Almost all the coolant was gone from the radiator, figured a hose had let go but couldn't find anything on the upper or lower rad hoses, heater hoses or easy to see hoses, including the upside down u hose in the back. I decided to fill the radiator back up and start it and see if I could see the leak. I started filling the radiator and a steady trickle of water started flowing under the truck before it was even started (passenger side rear of engine). The best I can tell right now the source is on the passenger side of the engine underneath the exhaust manifold.

The truck has 95,000 miles and one or both of the HG's are on their way out. Is their anything under there that would cause a leak like this or can expect a cracked head or something worse when I get it apart? The other problem is if I can't get to this job for a couple of months, they live in temecula so it is pretty dry but since the engine doesn't seem to be holding any coolant do I need to worry about the block rusting while it sits waiting for this repair.

Thnaks for any help you guys have

Ross

PS: sorry for the long question

 

if its an auto tranny sounds like the automatic tranny cooler let go. but that at 95,000 miles? sounds like it wasnt maintained as it should have been.. oh well. does the fluid in the radiator look like a strawberry shake? red fluid.. thats what it sounds like to me.

 

Some of the coolants these days are red. You ought to be able to tell by the smell.

The 3.slow is KNOWN to blow head gaskets, though they rarely vent external, mostly they dump it into the combustion chamber or into the oil.

I'd look harder for blown hoses. Put water in it and run it, you ought to find the leak pretty quickly.

Yes, rust is a concern, if it's getting into the cylinder. This will pit the walls and require a full rebuild.

If you find it's coming out the block, call toyota, ask for the V06 campaign and give them your VIN. You might get a new engine out of the deal.

 

I'm positive that it was coolant that came out of it, white smoke when it hit the exhaust and sweet smell that gets dogs in trouble following the first failure, water from the garden hose coming out when I refilled the system.

For what it is worth it still starts and runs without missing, haven't run it for more than a few seconds obviously, and it was driving fine right up until it started leaking.

Any cooling system hoses in particular that run along the passenger side of the engine? Really doesn't appear to be leaking from the top of the engine.

Ross

 

oh yeah the build date is March 1995 so I think that rules out the special service campaign

 

How do I find out if my 4runner head gasket has been replaced?