My very own build tread(?)

[Padre]

A few weeks ago I got a great deal on an 01 SR5 with 164k. The goal was a nice daily driver I could put some miles on. After lbjs, tie rod ends, plugs, wires, pads and new shoes I'm feeling good. All done myself thanks to this site.

Today I woke up and thought "if I ever see a 3rd gen with a blown head gasket for $500 I'm gonna buy it." 3 hours later I opened craigslist and there was a black 97 SR5 manual with 4wd and a blown head gasket.. which I now own.

Now what to do with it?

Replace the engine and start a build?
Head gaskets and sell for profit?
Part it out?

 

[Raintrees]

A few weeks ago I got a great deal on an 01 SR5 with 164k. The goal was a nice daily driver I could put some miles on. After lbjs, tie rod ends, plugs, wires, pads and new shoes I'm feeling good. All done myself thanks to this site.

Today I woke up and thought "if I ever see a 3rd gen with a blown head gasket for $500 I'm gonna buy it." 3 hours later I opened craigslist and there was a black 97 SR5 manual with 4wd and a blown head gasket.. which I now own.

Now what to do with it?

Replace the engine and start a build?
Head gaskets and sell for profit?
Part it out?

FIX IT!!!!!!:llama:
Keep the 01 as a Nice DD and dump the money into the 97 as a trail/ camping truck!!!!! that way if your break it you still in good shape!

 

[Kotrin]

^ I would.

 

[Padre]

FIX IT!!!!!!:llama:
Keep the 01 as a Nice DD and dump the money into the 97 as a trail/ camping truck!!!!! that way if your break it you still in good shape!

I resounding YES which means that's what I wanted to hear...

Sounds like I need to make a decision donor engine or see about replacing the head gasket and hoping for the best.

 

[A.Wilson013]

I have a hard time understanding the ownership of two 3rd gen 4Runners. Obviously I love them, but I don't love them enough to have two- one a trail vehicle, and one a DD.

I'd fix the head gaskets or replace the engine, then sell it and pocket the profits.

 

[MyHigh]

^^ I agree, however if it's a Tacoma and a 3rd gen, then hell yes!!
As it stands I'd have a hard time deciding which one to keep, I love my 5-speed, but also like the few years newer in the auto......ah heck, keep the 5-speed!

 

[Padre]

She's now at the house and in the garage. Tomorrow I'll begin the engine assessment and put together a plan.

 

[Padre]

Update: closer inspection today reveals it's likely not the head gasket. There is oil all over the engine, pcv valve is trashed and overall the engine looks neglected. When changing the oil I would guess at least 8-9 quarts were in there.

Here's my plan:
New plugs
Air filter
Change oil/filter
Pcv
Clean throttle body and MAS
Hope for a miracle

 

[TXRick]

Update: closer inspection today reveals it's likely not the head gasket. There is oil all over the engine, pcv valve is trashed and overall the engine looks neglected. When changing the oil I would guess at least 8-9 quarts were in there.

Here's my plan:
New plugs
Air filter
Change oil/filter
Pcv
Clean throttle body and MAS
Hope for a miracle

Good luck!

 

[shootmymime]

Hurry up!!!! i want to know more what the problem was!!!

 

[Padre]

Hurry up!!!! i want to know more what the problem was!!!

I like how you said "was", I need that kinda optimism in my life.

Unfortunately tonight I had to be somewhere, tomorrow afternoon/evening should give me the time to get it put back together and see how it's gonna go.

 

[MyHigh]

opcorn:

Pins and needles over here....

 

[Padre]

I got up early and got the work done. The PCV is just straight up sludge filled. Got plugs in, mas cleaned and everything put back together. Got in the front seat all excited and cranked the key...weak battery, not enough to turn over the starter.

No problem, I'll just jump it.
Problem, my cables are in my wifes car that we dropped off last night to get inspected.

So after the 9am showing of star wars this morning I'll either get the cables or get a new battery. Not enough time to switch the battery out of the 01.

Update after lunch.

 

[Padre]

Busy day but I finally got home in time to put in the new battery and take the dirty girl for a spin. At first crank up the smoke was billowing just like the night before. I went ahead and drove it up the street to see what would happen. Got a 1/2 mile down the road and popped the hood. There was smoke coming from the engine compartment and still heavy from the tail pipe.

I drove around a bit more, just a few miles and noticed the smoke decreasing. Let it idle for about 10-15 minutes while I got some stuff done outside and now the smoke is reduced to a light flow. I noticed dirty oil coming from the tail pipe , not dripping but a small amount accumulating on the lip. Now no smoke from the engine and a small amount from the exhaust, seems to increase with acceleration.

Smoke smells foul. Greyish.

Anybody got any recommended next steps?

 

[Arnezie]

I noticed dirty oil coming from the tail pipe , not dripping but a small amount accumulating on the lip.

Anybody got any recommended next steps?

No way! I think this could only happen if massive quantities of oil were to leak past the exhaust valve seals and guides, this could only happen if the exhaust valves were totally burned out.
are you sure its oil??? Carbon and water could look like oil???????

 

[Padre]

No way! I think this could only happen if massive quantities of oil were to leak past the exhaust valve seals and guides, this could only happen if the exhaust valves were totally burned out.
are you sure its oil??? Carbon and water could look like oil???????

I'm a rookie so no I'm not positive of anything. I ran a rag on the lip of the tail pipe and it came back black and wet. My neighbor seemed to think oil in the cylinders...but who knows.

 

[jedijesus]

You need to do compression and leak down tests in each cylinder. Once you have numbers to go off you can determine where you should look. Could be a number of things. If you want a quick test, pull a plug and unplug the injector and coil pack, turn the engine over for about 5 seconds and see what comes out of the spark plug holes. Another test is to put the engine at TDC and pressurize each cylinder with air (you'll need the correct air fitting/plug hole adapter for this, probably available at your local NAPA or parts store) and the oil cap and radiator cap off, listen for blow-by or bubbles. It sounds like it is getting better though, you might just have carbon build up on the valves, and a good seafoam/rev test is in order. If you get lucky and the leak down doesn't show massive loss then I'd suggest a rev test to try to blow the carbon out. Get it really hot and burn that stuff out.

If you have questions on how to do any of what I suggest just ask. FYI I'm a mechanic who has worked on Italian sports cars (Ferraris, Alfas, Maseratis, etc), race cars, motorcycles, etc.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Do you have a scan tool that can read live data? If so does it ever go into closed loop?

A rich running engine will gas the oil and thin it out and cause oil burning.

You can change your oil. If it drains out like piss water and smells like gas.......depending on mileage I'd change front O2 sensor.

 

[Padre]

I did 8oz of seafoam in the crankcase last night. Drove 10 miles this morning. No smoke at all. I'm gonna just say I got lucky.

Now the fun part.

 

[SteelRunner]

sounds like you took a chance and got a good buy!

I am currently in the same boat. I have my 98 DD which is in excellent shape but i could not pass up a great deal on an 03 tacoma 5 speed that reminded me of my previous 97 3rd gen.

Hard to justify modding the tacoma when the 4runner is in such better shape however I dont wanna kill my dd on the trails so my biased vote is to keep both!