Hey.

I have a 1990 4runner with a 22re in it. This morning, it would barely turn over, and wehn it finally turned and started, it blew a ton of white smoke out the exhaust. (the smoke smelled strangely sweet, like coolant).

Is it a blown head gasket?

Thanks

 

Kinda sounds like it....any water showing on the dipstick?

 

White, sweet smelling smoke would indicate coolant being burned. However, I'm not sure if the only way to burn coolant is because of a blown head gasket. Someone else with a little more knowledge should chime in...

 

might have a crack in the head or the block letting coolant in causing the white smoke. check if there is coolant in the exhaust tip when you start the engine.

 

nope, no water on the dipstick.

coolant in the exhaust tip........do you mean like a liquid puddle? nothing like that, just white smoke. Although this morning, it turned over and started fine, just white smoke again.

Yesterday it seemed like it had to try and push out liquid. There mighta been coolant dripping out the exhaust then.....i didnt check

I checked the coolant level and its definitely down in the rad.....I can see the core.....but the overflow is full.....If the gasket is blown could it be over-pressurizing the coolant system causing it to blow out to the overflow tank?

thanks guys!

 

Can you rule out the timing chain? What I mean is by it eating away the cover and somehow letting coolant in somewhere.

 

how would i check that? I've already got the rocker cover off.....and can see the chain....but where does it rub through usually? I can't seem to see the plastic guides(or lack of) that cause that problem.

 

The chain rubs on the bottom right of the cover when looking down from the top of the motor. Your problem sounds exactly like the infamous timing chain rub. My truck did the same thing when my chain wore a hole in the cover. Ran fine just spit out white smoke. Try looking down the right hand side of the timming cover, you will be able to see a reverse train track looking groove.
Sorry for your luck, but if that is it, put a DOA cam in there while you got the cover off.