In need of some help!

[ccorey05]

Hey everyone, so here is my problem. I drive a 2005 4.0l 4runner 2wd roughly 120k miles. The other day I caught my temp gauge creeping up so I shut the truck off and had it towed home. temp gauge only went 3/4 of the way up never hit the red. fluid level was fine, no water leaking. I replaced the thermostat and here is where it got weird. while testing the car w/new therm. the motor idled very rough at start up and when not running wide open, The heater only works when at open speeds on the hwy and I now have a slow coolant leak somewhere. The truck will overheat at idle or stop and go, but cools fine at open speeds (hwy). Any ideas what Im dealing with here? blown head gasket maybe? but would a headgasket issue cause ALL of those symptoms?
NOTE: pulled the dip stick it looks fine. did notice some slight creamy colored sludge under the oil cap.

 

[KidVermicious]

All of those could be symptoms of a head gasket issue, yes. Rent a block test kit from your nearest parts store in order to confirm or rule out a blown head gasket.

 

[ccorey05]

update

I wont be able to get to auto parts store until later so I investigated a little more: I removed the radiator cap and had significant bubbles for 15 minutes.
I pulled some of the spark plugs and found #1 to be heavily coated in oil. Also started to notice some small white puffs coming from the tail pipe.

 

[KidVermicious]

Bubbles in the coolant + rough idle at start = BHG. But get the test kit to be sure.

There's about 50 threads in the 4th gen section to do with blown gaskets on the V6. Could be some good reading in there for you.