I've got a 1993 4runner (V6) and it's had a problem with leaking coolant for a while. We thought it was a problem with the water pump but the last week or so it's kept a full tank of coolant. It still overheats though and now it's not pumping oil all the time, so it shuts down right after I start her.
My dad and a couple of guys have said it's probably time to sell her while she's still running but I'm pretty much refusing to. I'd like to know if I can fix her myself, how much it's going to cost, and where I can find info on what's going on/cars in general because if I can fix her myself, that'd be ten times more awesome.

P.S. Her name is Rhonda.

If you've got the time and the know-how, then fix her yourself. Projects are always fun, plus-the money you save doing it yourself will leave you some for mods and stuff. But if you don't have the time or the know-how, I'd recommend getting another.

I have the time, just not the know-how. I don't even know how to learn the know-how. How does everyone on here know what they're doing, anyway?

Sounds like a head gasket to me. You need to look at getting new headgaskets and I would look on youtube to see if anyone has a video of replacing a Over head Cam engines head gasket. And I Started on Small engines when I was little and we have a family friend that owns a shop so I used to spend a bunch of time down there and then I have service manuals for many different cars that I read when I want to learn something new, I also just read stuff on the internet about what other people do. im sure there is a Thread of someone who has replaced head gaskets on a 3.slow. good luck. Im sure if you upload pictures of your coolant it would help. PM me if you need help.(ive done my fair share of engine work on all kinds of engines)

Then I will tell you, from experience, you will now enter hell. If you're going to be getting deep into repair with no experience, there will be constant irritation and aggravation. At some point, you are going to need to take it to a mechanic and that'll cost you a few hundred every time. Better off just selling while it's running and buy a different one. there's plenty of good ones out there.
1989 Toyota 4Runner SR5, V/6, 5 speed, 4x4, NEW CLUTCH
IDK where in colorado you are but there's a beautiful 89' in great cond.

I don't think it would be the HG. there would be more obvious signs.

Not really A head gasket is about the only place for all of this to happen loss of coolant, oil in coolant, not wanting to run, If it Were a 22re I would think timing chain guides are worn and it went into the water jacket.
JRR what does your oil look like, and do you have access to a compression tester?

I don't know what a compression tester is. I need to change the oil soon. It's kind of brownish but not totally black yet. The oil cap doesn't have any white goo in it, so from what others have said, it's not a leak in the engine block. The coolant is leaking in front of the front, passenger axle.

I mean no ill will here at all, but if you don't know what a compression tester is or how to use one, it won't help you much!
If you really think it may be a HG then take a look at it. It will be really obvious. I wanna see some pics of the underside and of the truck though. Lets see the engine too.

A picture of the leak would be very helpful. Also please dont wait till your oil is black before you change it. Atleast every 3500 to 5000 miles change your oil.
You could very well have a head gasket leak, water pump issue, radiator leaking, heater core leaking, and many other issues. The head gaskets on the 3.0 were actually recalled and will still be covered if it wasn't ever done before regardless of the mileage or ownership.

My personal opinion would be to take it to a mechanic or dealer at best. Pay them 90-120 bucks to tell you whats wrong with it. They will probably quote you a repair bill if they want your business. If you have no knowledge on repairing vehicles, do yourself a favor and let someone else do it for you who is a professional.

On another note you could always sell it and get a 3.4.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with the Snowman. Tearing into a motor without any real experience wrenching may be frustrating at first, but the satisfaction of finishing the job yourself is so worth it.

You need to get a Chilton or Haynes manual for your motor (the autoparts store carries them), and check the stickied threads for the link to download the factory service manual. Do you have a basic set of tools? Metric sockets and drivers and extensions? Box end wrenches? You'll also need a good torque wrench, a gasket scraper, some other random stuff. You can never have enough tools.

You need to know that you have a bad head gasket before you tear into it. The autoparts store sells what is called a "block test kit" (you'll have to ask for it, it's probably not on the shelf). It tests your coolant for exhaust particles. Have the parts store guys walk you through how to use it, that's what they're there for. Run that test, and you can normally borrow a compression tester from them too, then come back and let us know what you find.

Some good links here: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=how+to+use...ression+tester

Well, it's dark out, so it's not really the time to take pictures, much less take valve covers off and what not, but here's what I could get.



This next picture is where the leak is, but I couldn't get the camera at a very good angle to take it.








As far as tools go, I don't have a lot of those, but my dad probably does and I can borrow them from people if I don't, or go out and buy them. I'll look into getting my own. I'd really like to fix her if I can, but I know nothing about cars, so it'll take a while. Any tips on how to get started are great. I had a Chilton book but I don't know where that went so I guess I'll go pick one up tomorrow.

Edit: Can anyone see the pictures because they're not showing up on my computer when I hit post.

i agree with kid v

No we can't see them. And just take pictures of each step as you go when your taking stuff apart.

Okay I can agree. The haynes definitely helped me too. And you're right Kid. WHen it finally works out, it does feel great, but sometimes it takes way too long to get there! I know! I had only simple knowledge going in, and I learned more on the way out. But learning it took a toll on me!

And to answer your q OP about how people know so much...
I think it's purely from experience working on the trucks. When you're so passionate about it and your around them all the time, you become observant and gain more and more knowledge every time you make a mistake. You learn about why this does this and why that does that.