possible blown head gasket
Nov 17, 2009 | 05:44 PM
#2
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 1
From: Leadville Colorado
All 3.0's are prone to head gasket failure and yet Toyota decided that the late 95 models were not subject to the recall. My 95 4Runner blew the head gaskets around 159K miles and was losing coolant out the exhaust, the coolant and oil weren't mixing. I parked it and ended up buying a complete top end gasket kit from Toyota along with many other parts. After I fixed it, it ran great for a while then I sold it.
Last edited by pruney81; Nov 17, 2009 at 05:46 PM.
Nov 18, 2009 | 05:35 AM
#4
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 735
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From: Abington, PA
Are you losing coolant? I am having the same exact issues and I think mine is related to a burnt exhaust valve -- also common on the 3VZE. The white smoke I get is unburnt fuel (but the smoke goes away and does not show every start up). Best bet would be a compression test.
Also, does the white smoke smell at all? If it smells like Maple Syrup or something sweet, then it may be the HG.
Also, does the white smoke smell at all? If it smells like Maple Syrup or something sweet, then it may be the HG.
Nov 18, 2009 | 08:31 AM
#6
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 133
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From: Colorado
My HG blew last week, .. spiking temperature, next time I start it it would hardly turn over, (due to water on top of the piston), white smoke, rough idle. After tearing it apart myself i am hoping to get it running again today. New top end gaskets, water pump, and timing belt. Doing it yourself will save you $1000 to $1500 dollars in mechanic labor.
Nov 18, 2009 | 10:54 AM
#7
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 735
Likes: 1
From: Abington, PA
No, the burnt valve would not cause that. Did you burp the cooling system? Check the coolant temp sensor? Sounds like there could be air pockets -- which would also cause weird idle. A bad temp sensor would also make it read temp. all funky and would also cause weird idle since the ECU relies on that ECT reading. Usually if a HG bad the temp just rises and does't really come back down and in most cases you lose coolant (because it's either being burnt up through the exhaust or just leaking from the mating surface of the head/block).
Last edited by BoostinChick; Nov 18, 2009 at 10:56 AM.
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Nov 20, 2009 | 05:26 PM
#16
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,600
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From: Leadville Colorado
^^Have you decided what you are going to do? Sell or fix it?
I think if you stop driving it right now and fix it, it will last for a long time. You could do what I did, drive it for 6 months to a year then sell it for a couple grand and buy a reliable 22re 4X4 pickup with half the mileage!
Good rust-free 4Runners that have been well maintained go for 3-3500 here in Mass all day long. If you fix the head gasket that repair could just be another selling point. Just get the top end gasket kit and new head bolts and you'll be good to go I promise.
http://www.engnbldr.com/toyota_30_v6.htm
I used the gasket kit from Toyota when mine died but that's kind of a long story, engnbldr has some really good prices though, it will take more time than anything.
I think if you stop driving it right now and fix it, it will last for a long time. You could do what I did, drive it for 6 months to a year then sell it for a couple grand and buy a reliable 22re 4X4 pickup with half the mileage!
Good rust-free 4Runners that have been well maintained go for 3-3500 here in Mass all day long. If you fix the head gasket that repair could just be another selling point. Just get the top end gasket kit and new head bolts and you'll be good to go I promise.
http://www.engnbldr.com/toyota_30_v6.htm
I used the gasket kit from Toyota when mine died but that's kind of a long story, engnbldr has some really good prices though, it will take more time than anything.
Last edited by pruney81; Nov 20, 2009 at 05:32 PM.
Nov 21, 2009 | 06:13 PM
#18
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: San Marcos, CA
i have a 95 3.0 4x4 with 182K and just replaced the head gasket does the oil leak on cylinders 1 and 6? check it out if you have spots under your car when its parked 5 bucks says you have a blown head gasket and when mine was blown there wasnt any coolant in the oil but just do a block test (little chemical tester for your coolant) on it and that will tell you for sure
Nov 22, 2009 | 05:16 PM
#19
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Vermont
^^Have you decided what you are going to do? Sell or fix it?
I think if you stop driving it right now and fix it, it will last for a long time. You could do what I did, drive it for 6 months to a year then sell it for a couple grand and buy a reliable 22re 4X4 pickup with half the mileage!
Good rust-free 4Runners that have been well maintained go for 3-3500 here in Mass all day long. If you fix the head gasket that repair could just be another selling point. Just get the top end gasket kit and new head bolts and you'll be good to go I promise.
http://www.engnbldr.com/toyota_30_v6.htm
I used the gasket kit from Toyota when mine died but that's kind of a long story, engnbldr has some really good prices though, it will take more time than anything.
I think if you stop driving it right now and fix it, it will last for a long time. You could do what I did, drive it for 6 months to a year then sell it for a couple grand and buy a reliable 22re 4X4 pickup with half the mileage!
Good rust-free 4Runners that have been well maintained go for 3-3500 here in Mass all day long. If you fix the head gasket that repair could just be another selling point. Just get the top end gasket kit and new head bolts and you'll be good to go I promise.
http://www.engnbldr.com/toyota_30_v6.htm
I used the gasket kit from Toyota when mine died but that's kind of a long story, engnbldr has some really good prices though, it will take more time than anything.
