Hello all, here’s what I have going on. 97 SR5 with 227k miles on it, owned it for about a year. Recently did a full timing belt/waterpump, pulleys, VCG, plugs, wires, oil change, accessory belts, and fan clutch replacement (apx 1500 miles ago).

Fast forward to the past week or so. Temperatures at night have started getting lower, and as a result my exhaust has been blowing some condensation (doesn’t smell sweet, smells more like gasoline imo). Wasn’t worried, it had done that all last fall and winter when I bought it so I figured that explained why it’s back. Then I have started to have an issue where when I start it in the mornings/first start of the day, it will idle rough and choppy for about 5ish seconds and smooth out. So I took to the forums and all I found was it was either a) head gasket/cracked heads, and b) perhaps some part of the A/F system.

I have been pretty swamped with work and school these last two weeks and I haven’t had time to do much diagnostics. Sometimes in the morning it will also squeak from the accessory belts and I have honestly been far too busy (lazy) to loosen them.

Anyway, what I have done is last Tuesday, when I had it at operating temp after getting to work off the freeway, I popped the hood and marked the coolant level in the reservoir with a sharpie. Now the temps have continued to get lower on average here and my operating temp has also been markedly lower (engine hasn’t overheated since I’ve owned it just to note). Seems like I’m not loosing coolant but today I saw the mark I made was above the coolant level in the reservoir after driving. So my first question is; is this method even reliable for tracking coolant loss?

I have also gone ahead and started running some injector cleaning products through this newest tank of gas and filled up with chevron as the truck seems to run best with gas from there (as far as I can tell, no idea if that actually matters). I was thinking maybe one of my injectors or multiple is leaking or has a cracked o-ring but idk. I have had zero codes or CELs since owning the truck, and I get pretty good gas mileage (calculated using miles tracked and gas in at full up). Also I checked to see if my CEL does work and it comes on when I move the key into the on position. I also have an OBDII port reader I use with my phone.

I have not noticed any change in power/performance, but I’m just unsettled by the rough start (also takes longer to start when compared to after it’s been driven) as well as the potential loss of coolant if my methods for tracking it are even accurate. I should also mention, when I had the intake off I went ahead and cleaned my filthy throttle body and was pretty careful not to let any gunk drip into the IAC. I also replaced the gaskets for the throttle body, and both upper and lower plenum gaskets. I’ll say again also that I smell my exhaust at every start up (bc I’m crazy and paranoid) and I’ve never noticed a change or any sweet smell.

Any thoughts or opinions moving forward? My dad has a compression test kit and a cooling system pressure kit too, I just am really busy with life rn and wish I had the time to take care of it. From what I could tell from inspection also is while a lot of my vacuum hoses and lines seem old but not obviously cracked, but who knows.

I called a shop that my father-in-law has trusted and I’ve seen them do some good thorough work for him (plus he knows him personally). However they still want to try and charge me an estimated $200 for some diagnostics which just puts a sour taste in my mouth since I’ve done all the work in my truck since buying it. Anyway, I’m also curious people thoughts regarding the worst case scenario. I’ve put a moderate amount of money into the rig and there are a few things I still need to fix (front lower control arms, a torn CV boot, suspension is likely the original). To give all a better idea I got the truck for $3500.00 and have probably put $2500.00 in parts into the truck fixing everything. It is the rig of Theseus at this point and that’s fine. Given that background, it it’s either cracked heads or a head gasket, if you were in a similar situation would you just buy new heads and the gasket kit, or opt for a donor motor and do a full swap? And then do I just drive it until it goes cataclysmic? I know I won’t be able to find another 3rd Gen with as much as I have done to it for a better deal than those new parts, but money is tight as I’m sure lots know. I’m just looking for some thoughts and advice as I love forward. Likely I will just do whatever needs to be done as it would eat me up watching someone else but it from me for 1500 knowing the Head gasket needs to be replaced. Oh well, thoughts?

Thanks for any advice or ideas in advance!