I finally got some time off and I've been working on my '88 Toyota the past few days. I have fixed a few issues already but one I've really been putting off is this blown headgasket. I will post some pictures down bellow but as far as I can tell the head gasket seems to be blown although it isn't leaking into the combustion chamber thankfully. The truck runs excellent but it loses a good amount of coolant which drips down the side of the engine block on the driver's side. The visibility is really rough and I am not 100% certain this is the issue which is why I am posting. I looked for a good 15 minutes today trying to see if there was anything else that could be causing the coolant leak down the side of the engine block. I'm 95% sure the freeze plugs in that area are sealed still so I don't think it is those. The only other thing I can think of is the head gasket. Any insight would be great and I'm not new to cars so a head gasket wouldn't be that bad for me. Just thought maybe someone has seen this before on these trucks. It is dripping down the side of the engine block right around the exhaust manifold. Oh and I have the proper coolant (the red stuff) so I'm 100% certain it is coolant. You can probably see a hint of red highlighted in the red boxes bellow:






Any insight is appreciated

 

You're going to have to get a mirror or something in there to know for sure. Sometimes you can point your cell phone up from underneath and take some pics. Don't assume it's the head gasket. I swapped out my 22RE a long time ago so I'm going off memory. Isn't there a hard line or two under there? One coming off the back of the timing cover or that area? Guessing can get expensive. You need to confirm where the leak is.

 

I'll see what I can do with a phone, it definitely occurred to me but the angle is so rough.

The down-pipe from the exhaust manifold on this truck is cracked on that side. I might as well pull that off and have it welded anyways. I'll be able to get a closer look at the coolant leak as well. The exhaust leak is a little loud in the cabin. Anyways, I may or may not attempt that, we will see, as I usually try to avoid exhaust stuff with bolts always breaking etc. Any other ideas?

 

any other ideas? you’ve been given good advice. determine the source of the leak before ordering parts you don’t need. what other advice would there be? we aren’t there at the truck to look or feel where the leak is. you are.

as far as the exhaust, my experience with 22re engines suggests the manifold bolts and flange bolts will not break; they’ll loosen with a little persuasion.

 

The ones that might break are the heat shield bolts.

You do have your lower radiator hose down there to check. I think some of the heater hoses also split off somewhere down there too.
Its worth doing a compression test on the motor.

If it is a HG failure, coolant and oil is probably or soon ti be mixing. Check both. Radiator cap and oil cap.

 

You have that long pipe going under the exhaust manifold from the back of the waterpump to the firewall. By your photo I think the large pipe that connects the lower radiator hoses can be ruled out for now. By your description of the issue, and things you haven't mentioned, i'm not to big on a headgasket at the moment.

 

yes, those are more likely to break off. but not the manifold or flange bolts.