k i have a 01 4runner with the 3vz-e and i just successfully finished my head gasket change. but....... its still overheating. i just timed my cams to 0 degrees on my crank aka TDC on #1 and it runs but it runs crappy. it is putting some black smoke out the tail pipe and is laging a lot of power. also my water temp is almost in the red and putting steam in the air. i was either thinking the water pump is bad and something is wrong with the mass air flow sensor and making it use more fuel then its supposed to, and my destrib is still off. OR i totally F'D UP the head gasket change and i have a leaking gasket but its NOT spewing white smoke out the back or a lot of burned oil either. so if anybody can help me ill greatly appreciate, cuz this is my only transpo to work / school.

 

Bummer, do you mean 91 4runner?

 

You don't see any coolant leaking? How's your coolant level?

 

On the overheating, are you sure you didn't put a HG on backwards or like put the left gasket on the right side? Some have done that, even professionals at dealerships, and it looks right at first glance but if you look close the gasket blocks a lot of the coolant passage.

 

lol mt goat i was just about to sugest that when i changed my hg i did that and mine overheated i blocked the coolant passage from the blaock into the head i took my thermostat out and that allowed it not to overheat but i know i had to chane the gasket again. so AK you should consider that

 

ditto on the backwards head gasket thing. do a search theres several threads with people who had the same symptoms, and ended up with em backwards blocking most of one of the coolant passages

 

I too have had the misfortune of a backwards headgasket on the 3.0. I can even blame anyone else caus I did it myself. There is a passage in the water jacket that is above the thermostat (drivers side on the motor) that will be partially blocked if the gaskets are installed wrong. There have been posts that the head gaskets "will be sticking out on the back side of the engine" if they are backwards. I did not notice this in my case. What I did notice is that when I pulled the thermostat there was a reduction in the flow of water coming from the engine. There was a hole about the size of a pencil on the gasket that let some water past, but not enough to keep the engine cool. If you pull your thermostat and do not get a good rush of coolant my bet would be the gaskets are backwards. By backwards everyone means the left gasket is on the right side and the right is on the left. The gaskets can be marked top and installed right side up and still be "backwards" or reversed.

 

Double check the distributer, one click to far advanced will let it run crappy and really really hot. Assuming it is a 91 how is that fifteen year old radiator? New t-stat? Reversed headgaskets may be the issue but check the easy stuff first.

 

If you check the thermostat you can get an idea on the HG issue. Also the jiggle valve on the t-stat should be on top. Also check that all the air is out out the cooling system and the coolant is circulating. Water pump? The timing may also be incorrect. Check engine light on (may give you a clue)?

 

It's also possible that there was an underlying cause as to why the engine overheated in the first place and blew the headgaskets that was never fixed...

 

what would that be a crack in the cylinder wall leading to the cooling system?

 

That's why I was asking about coolant leakage / level. My hg blew because I had a leak in my water pump and let the level get lower than I "assumed" it was one day. Fixed the gasket, but didn't figure out the where the coolant was leaking from for some time after. Once I found that out, all problems are gone!

 

well i went through the easy stuff first and i retimed the distributer and now it runs a lot better. stays put and dosnt over heat at all. but i think my next assignment is to change my timing belt cuz it looks pretty old. also the rpm bounces around 600 to 500 rpms back in forth in idle but ops check good for everything else thanks for ur help