Blown Head Gasket?

[thrice1825]

Hey All

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas.

So the family and I hopped in the 4runner a couple days ago. I noticed a rough idle and as we got down the road, the shaking got even worse. Took it back to the driveway, parked it, and left in a different car.

The next morning I noticed a pool of tannish/thickish/milky-ish fluid underneath the car. The same substance appears to be on the underside of the oil cap and maybe even somewhat in the radiator cap.

There is nothing in on the dipstick, however.

Is there anything this could be besides a blown headgasket? The valve cover gasket has been leaking for quite some time (>year) and i did run low on oil a time or to (about 1.5 quarts at my peak negligence)

Anything thoughts or suggestions on where to begin would be greatly appreciated.

-Matt

 

[baja1]

Hey All

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas.

So the family and I hopped in the 4runner a couple days ago. I noticed a rough idle and as we got down the road, the shaking got even worse. Took it back to the driveway, parked it, and left in a different car.

The next morning I noticed a pool of tannish/thickish/milky-ish fluid underneath the car. The same substance appears to be on the underside of the oil cap and maybe even somewhat in the radiator cap.

There is nothing in on the dipstick, however.

Is there anything this could be besides a blown headgasket? The valve cover gasket has been leaking for quite some time (>year) and i did run low on oil a time or to (about 1.5 quarts at my peak negligence)

Anything thoughts or suggestions on where to begin would be greatly appreciated.

-Matt

how many miles, what year?

 

[thrice1825]

how many miles, what year?

214K
2000 v6

 

[kball]

Is it an auto? How's your trans fluid look?

 

[thrice1825]

Is it an auto? How's your trans fluid look?

Yup. It is an auto. The auto transmission fluid on the dipstick looks normal.

Here are some pictures of what I'ms eeing under the radiator cap and oil cap.

 

[kball]

When it was shaking and misfiring was there smoke out the tailpipe?

 

[baja1]

my oil cap looked identical....mine is a failed head gasket at 188K....:frusty:

 

[thrice1825]

When it was shaking and misfiring was there smoke out the tailpipe?

It was. There a a small amount of white smoke at idle on first start. It was also smoking from the engine bay slightly and there was a burnt oil smell to it.

I should also add, there is quite a bit of black oil towards the back of the engine that had dripped down to the bottom of the transmission, though that leak has been there for >1 year

 

[kball]

I'd check the code to see which cylinder and then pull the plug to see if it's clean.

 

[MOYotas]

When you drive is it only for short trips? I only ask because if you take short frequent trips the engine doesn't/isn't at normal operating temperatures long enough to get all condensation out of the motor. It will collect under the oil filer cap like what is in your picture. I would suspect another culprit for your rough idle/shaking.

 

[thrice1825]

When you drive is it only for short trips? I only ask because if you take short frequent trips the engine doesn't/isn't at normal operating temperatures long enough to get all condensation out of the motor. It will collect under the oil filer cap like what is in your picture. I would suspect another culprit for your rough idle/shaking.

For the last two months I've driven the car about 2 miles round trip for work each day. The temperature outside has been about 10-20F as well so I've definitely not been getting it to operating temp.

 

[MOYotas]

Well that will explain the white oily residue under your oil cap. I'd say the burnt oil smell is coming from your leaky valve cover gaskets. Is it throwing any CEL/codes?

 

[thrice1825]

Well that will explain the white oily residue under your oil cap. I'd say the burnt oil smell is coming from your leaky valve cover gaskets. Is it throwing any CEL/codes?

Man... that would be awesome if that's all it is.

I did get a CEL light. The car felt like it was misfiring a bit. During that instance i drove the car about 2 miles before getting back to my drive way and parking it.

 

[MOYotas]

Get the code(s) checked to see what it is throwing and report back. Also, check your vacuum lines. Have you done any recent mechanical work on it? When was the last time you had/did a tune up on it?

 

[thrice1825]

Get the code(s) checked to see what it is throwing and report back. Also, check your vacuum lines. Have you done any recent mechanical work on it? When was the last time you had/did a tune up on it?

Will do.

I haven't done any recent work. Last tune up was waaay too long ago. I replaced the plugs and ignition wires back in 2012. Besides that it's only been oil changes and air filter replacements.

I appreciate everyone's help.

 

[MOYotas]

Will do.

I haven't done any recent work. Last tune up was waaay too long ago. I replaced the plugs and ignition wires back in 2012. Besides that it's only been oil changes and air filter replacements.

I appreciate everyone's help.

No problem. Keep us posted!

 

[reelamin]

I also just blew up a radiator and thought it might have been a head gasket. Got some good help and info off from here. I got answers from Yep its a head gasket to yep its a crappy typical radiator. Slapped in a new radiator after doing some testing, dumped in some Blue Devil, running normally for the last 300 miles.

Oil fill cap extremely possible from short runs....especially in cold temps. Have to heat it up enough to burn the moisture out.

Radiator fluid looks fine to me based on picture.

I don't have a code reader...Gas test it....pressure test it....drain a little oil after letting it sit a day or two....any moisture would show instantly. Those are some quick and easy checks for water in oil and gas in radiator fluid.

 

[thrice1825]

**Update**

With the condensation information provided by MOYotas and reelamin, I fired up the 4runner today and drove it around the block until I got to operating temp. I drove around a little longer and temp was holding steady.

After the drive, no more tanish substance under the oil cap and still nothing on the dip stick.

However, while visually inspecting under the hood with the engine running, I noticed smoke (a fair amount) coming from the back driver side of the engine. I'm thinking oil is leaking from the valve cover gasket and them burning...

Could a severe enough valve cover gasket leak cause rough idle and rough acceleration?

Oh also should point out, I did not notice any smoke coming form the exhaust. So I got that that going for me...