12-15-2019, 08:59 PM
|
#1
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
|
Do I have a bad head gasket?
So...I hope I’m wrong...
1997 4runner 3.4l, 212k
Just installed a 1st gen blower on it. I think my head gasket let go.
So before installing the blower, I drained the coolant and thought it smelled a bit like exhaust/fuel. It was filthy also which surprised me being I changed in 2yrs ago. Figured it was old rust buildup that was getting cleaned out. Finished the install of the blower, and after a few hundred miles I’ve developed a cylinder 2 misfire after it warms up. No misfire when cold. Also, coolant just disappears to the abyss. Half a gallon lost after a 20 mile drive. No overheating until the coolant is too low, don’t notice white smoke coming out the tailpipe and also don’t see any fluid buildup underneath or on the engine.
Also, when it’s running there is a steady stream of bubbles coming to the radiator when I have the cap off.
No oil mixes with coolant in either radiator or crankcase
Did my head gasket finally let go after the extra pressure from the blower?
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-15-2019, 11:06 PM
|
#2
|
|
Elite Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Shangrila
Posts: 5,037
|
|
Elite Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Shangrila
Posts: 5,037
|
It was on its way out regardless.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 12:11 AM
|
#3
|
|
Elite Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Jose, California
Age: 58
Posts: 5,264
Real Name: Tim
|
|
Elite Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Jose, California
Age: 58
Posts: 5,264
Real Name: Tim
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkzg
Also, when it’s running there is a steady stream of bubbles coming to the radiator when I have the cap off.
|
Certainly the supercharger (not a blower) didn't help your engine limp along a little longer. But, your head gasket was going to go sometime soon most likely.
Your head gasket is toast. You have two choices, pull the heads, possibly having to replace one or both if they are cracked, and install new head gaskets. This is a very labor intensive job but it can be done.
Or, you grab another motor from somewhere and do an engine swap. I don't have experience doing a head gasket job, but I have assisted in pulling a motor and trans from one of these rigs and I pretty much think the motor swap would be the easier of the two. But, it could be a lot more expensive. It's it's just a bad head gasket and your heads are ok, you're just talking mostly labor to do the head gasket.
__________________
"My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it!"
Last edited by mtbtim; 12-16-2019 at 12:14 AM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 03:30 AM
|
#4
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Orange County, California
Age: 30
Posts: 149
Real Name: 1997 4RUNNER
|
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Orange County, California
Age: 30
Posts: 149
Real Name: 1997 4RUNNER
|
It sounds like its done, a trick I was taught is to,
Fill your radiator up completely with water and see if it produces air bubbles. My mechanic showed me this when my honda blew a head gasket.
Also my mechanic is located in garden grove. Hes about half the price of a shop if you want him to check it out let shoot me a PM. And i can get you his info.
Last edited by MarkBlack; 12-16-2019 at 03:32 AM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 05:59 AM
|
#5
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 108
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 108
|
It's most likely your HG. Could potentially be a cylinder wall crack too, so if you replace the HG inspect the cylinder walls of #2.
Cheap insurance is to grab some ARP headstuds or bolts vs OEM head bolts if ARP makes them, since youre boosting.
Last edited by Mackalicious; 12-16-2019 at 06:03 AM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 06:35 AM
|
#6
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Iowa Colony
Posts: 327
|
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Iowa Colony
Posts: 327
|
Lol this sounds oddly familiar. I had the exact same problems you had except without the misfire.
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 10:30 AM
|
#7
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
|
I'm located in San Diego and if you have the space to pull the engine I'd gladly help you.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 11:15 AM
|
#8
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
|
I started looking for replacement engines...I don’t really want to pull the heads.
I did fill it up with water and I get a constant stream of bubbles...
I have to find space to do the job. I don’t have off street parking in San Diego, so I’ll have to arrange a location I can pull it out. I’ve don’t motors on many other cars, so the job doesn’t scare me, just the space/location to do it is the challenge.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 11:22 AM
|
#9
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mackalicious
It's most likely your HG. Could potentially be a cylinder wall crack too, so if you replace the HG inspect the cylinder walls of #2.
Cheap insurance is to grab some ARP headstuds or bolts vs OEM head bolts if ARP makes them, since youre boosting.
|
Is it worth putting arp studs on a replacement low mile engine? I’m not a fan of opening factory sealed engines
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 11:47 AM
|
#10
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkzg
Is it worth putting arp studs on a replacement low mile engine? I’m not a fan of opening factory sealed engines
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
I haven't boosted my 4runner but I don't think there's a problem with the head lifting from the block.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 11:57 AM
|
#11
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 108
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 108
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkzg
Is it worth putting arp studs on a replacement low mile engine? I’m not a fan of opening factory sealed engines
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
Yeah if you have the expendable income. It's only beneficial to do that. If it were me, i'd do some research and get a head gasket that's a touch thicker. Try to drop the compression by like a half a point and install the ARP bolts. studs are better if they are offered.
But unless you are really set on replacing the engine for other reasons than the leak, I would just put a new head gasket on and see if that fixes it. Though if you are paying a shop, you might as well just swap the engine for a fresher one instead of paying for a head gasket job on a high mileage engine and possibly finding its bad.
I wouldn't pay more than about $2500 for the engine and install from a shop, unless its a new engine.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 12:01 PM
|
#12
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 108
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 108
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by APhelps
I haven't boosted my 4runner but I don't think there's a problem with the head lifting from the block.
|
For the price, it's worth spending the money on better clamping force. unless its like $500 for a set. Also, not sure if the OEMs are torque to yield, if they are, thats another reason for the arp
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 12:55 PM
|
#13
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 61
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mackalicious
For the price, it's worth spending the money on better clamping force. unless its like $500 for a set. Also, not sure if the OEMs are torque to yield, if they are, thats another reason for the arp
|
Arp studs are about $250 for the 5vz. I’m leaving towards a low miles engine swap instead of gasket replacement. I’ve got 212k on it, and boosted now too.
Would it be ok to buy the arp studs and put them in a 99+ motor, by swapping one stud/bolt at a time and not change the HG? The goal here is to have the updated HG from Toyota on a low mile motor.
From my research, looks like 99+ have MLS (multi layer steel) gaskets and pre 98 were composite?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 01:07 PM
|
#14
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mackalicious
For the price, it's worth spending the money on better clamping force. unless its like $500 for a set. Also, not sure if the OEMs are torque to yield, if they are, thats another reason for the arp
|
If you aren't experiencing any issues with the head lifting you're just wasting your money. Plus a lot of studs require you to re-torque them after the fact.
Most people aren't running enough boost to justify them. People are more than welcome to spend their money to how they see fit but it's not an issue that I'm aware for most of the people who are S/Ced.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-16-2019, 01:09 PM
|
#15
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkzg
Arp studs are about $250 for the 5vz. I’m leaving towards a low miles engine swap instead of gasket replacement. I’ve got 212k on it, and boosted now too.
Would it be ok to buy the arp studs and put them in a 99+ motor, by swapping one stud/bolt at a time and not change the HG? The goal here is to have the updated HG from Toyota on a low mile motor.
From my research, looks like 99+ have MLS (multi layer steel) gaskets and pre 98 were composite?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
From my understanding with MLS, it's pretty imperative to deck the block.
MLS Head Gaskets: There's More To It Than Just Bolting Them In Place
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
|