In the near future, I might acquire a 1995 4Runner. The only problem is that my aunt tells me that oil and coolant appears to be mixing within. How much work is involved here? What seems to be the problem at this point? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Well, no one has answered your question, so I'll give it a try. Both coolant and oil circulate in your engine in their own closed system. The coolant cools down the engine and the oil cools down and lubrucates the engine. Both the coolant and oil are pumped through the enigne and return back to their resovior to cool down. Sometimes the passages for oil and coolant are close to each other. If their is a break or crack the two mixtures leak, (really bad). Also they can mix with a worn head gasket, (not quite as really bad, but bad).

The problem is that the oil tends to gum up and turn to sludge. So you need to check it out. It could be a hole in the passages, or at the gasket. After you fix this, the engine could be destroyed by gumming up.

A mechanic will have to check, but even this won't be cheap. Hopefully it is not as bad as I described.

Thanks for replying Peter78. I think you might have hit the nail on the head. The head gasket is what was mentioned to me before by an acquaintance. I need to get a 1995 shop manual, so I can start learning the procedure of the repair. The vehicle starts fine, but it overheats right away.

Before you start ripping off the head, look on the drivers side or the passengers side and see if you can see an L or R on your head gasket. If you do, that engine has a recall on the head gaskets and you can get Toyota to fix the problem for free! If they take apart the head and see just a dot of water, they will install a brand new long block!

Mike

TSP-MIKE,
I appreciate your input. I am new in the 4runner world and I will definitely take note of that L or R stamped on the head gasket. So far, I am trying to get hold of a shop manual for a 1995 4runner.

Call this number if you want a factory repair manual, 1-800-622-2033. There are 3 or 4 books depending on the pub date. There is a Vol 1, engine only, Vol 2, Trans, Vol 3 everything else, and the electrical diagram manual. The newer ones have the Vol2 and 3 in one book. They are about $50 a piece.

Mike

Thanks for the info.

I got a shop manual for my 90 on ebay for 67.00. It was three books with the wiring diagrams.

WAZ,

Will that shop manual be the same for the 1995 4Runner?