Advice on the 3vze... Hopefully not the head gasket.

[Taco Pete]

Ok everyone. I have a 95 with the 3.0 3vze. Just replaced the spark plugs the other day. When I pulled the dreaded and very hard to find #5, I found oil on the threads.

After reading forum after forum, I was not happy to find out about the problem with blown head gaskets on this engine. After seeing that there was a recall on this problem and finally finding the VIN# range, my runner did not fall into that range. It was manufactured in September of 95, which supposedly the problem had been fixed by then.

So, I have no classic symptoms of a blown head gasket (no white smoke, no bubbles in the radiator, engine not overheating). I changed the oil about 3 weeks ago and it still looks great and is at a adequate level.

The lack of horsepower has been hindering the runner since we bought it, so it's not something that just cropped up. I'm no serious mechanic, but can make my way around decently difficult repairs (without tearing down the engine).

So, EGR valve gaskets or maybe valve cover gasket? Where should I start? Get a compression check? Thanks for ANY help!

 

[KidVermicious]

I'd start by driving it another month and then checking that plug again, myself.

 

[4runnin83]

I had a bit of oil on my number 5 as well, and I changed it over the summer. Still my DD.

 

[Taco Pete]

Sorry, DD?

 

[USE911]

Sorry, DD?

Daily Driver.

Are you sure it was oil and not carbon build up? Agree with above. Drive and see. Make sure you keep your eye on temp level and fluid in your radiator just to be safe.

 

[fourwd1]

As far as the lack of power, you could have a clogged cat converter, which will also affect how well the cylinders closest (5+6) run.

 

[KBJ]

You could do, or have done, a leak down test. That's how we determined that my '95 3VZE had a bad head gasket. Mine cost $100 at Yodaman in Santa Rosa, CA although I don't know what the average cost is.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/57174-basic-compression-leak-test-diagnostics.html

 

[Taco Pete]

Let me add this, when I pulled the boot from the plug Saturday, the boot itself was slick with oil where it was tough to get a grip on it. The boot was also defective, so I changed out that wire (going to change the rest this weekend). I put a new radiator in about 6 months ago and the fluid levels have been spot on, so no leakage there. Oil change a few weeks back and the levels have stayed there too.

I'll check into the cat converter and was already thinking of taking it in for a compression check.

 

[Taco Pete]

Here it is. All other plugs had regular wear.

 

[Taco Pete]

Annnnnd, one more thing (as I read about clogged cat converters). I notice a rattling noise when I accelerate.

 

[4runnin83]

Is your valve cover gasket seeping?

 

[Taco Pete]

Not sure, but I'll look tomorrow. I just took it for a drive on the highway, up hills and such to get it nice and heated up to see if the cat converter started glowing from maybe being clogged. It wasn't glowing, but it did look like there had been work done between the cat and the muffler. Where there was an outlet flange is now gone and there was a piece of pipe welded inbetween. I'll post a photo tomorrow.

 

[Footofgod]

I'd like to 2nd the vote for leaky valve cover gasket. Lack of power in a 3.0 does not mean blown head gasket. I'd check the valve cover. Change the wires with OEM Denso wires. Have the exhaust completely checked out and/or overhauled (especially the O2 sensor) by an exhaust professional. Check the timing. Replace all your filters and then reassess in a month.

 

[92-SR5]

If your HG is having issues your coolant will smell like exhaust.

 

[Taco Pete]

Yea, there's definitely some slickness towards the #5 around the valve cover. Looks like it's leaked from the driver's side too, but doesn't look to be currently.