My wife texted me these pictures of my T4R while I'm traveling for work... crap

[chadsy]

Nope, I'm not driving it but to run around the block to diagnose the issue...

I would still do the engine block test to confirm the issue.

If you caught it early enough you will likely just need to replace the gaskets and not worry about refinishing the heads and all that.

If it turns out to be the head gasket and you feel confident in your mechanical abilities: (Most of this can be had in the AirCabinMan kit on ebay),

1 Radiator Koyo A1998
1 Head Gasket Kit Fel-Pro HS9227PT1
1 Head Bolt Set Fel-Pro ES72168
1 Timing Belt Toyota 13568-69095
1 Idler Roller NSK OE 13503-62040
1 Tensioner Roller Koyo OE 13505-62070
1 Front Crankshaft Seal Toyota 90311-40022
2 Front Camshaft Seals Toyota 90311-38051
1 Water Pump Aisin OE 16100-69398-83
1 Water Pump Gasket Aisin 16271-62011
1 Hydraulic Tensioner Toyota 13540-62021
1 Thermostat (82°c) Toyota 90916-03075
1 Thermostat Gasket Aisin 16325-62010
1 Radiator Cap #16401-20353

 

[twalk]

I would still do the engine block test to confirm the issue.

If you caught it early enough you will likely just need to replace the gaskets and not worry about refinishing the heads and all that.

If it turns out to be the head gasket and you feel confident in your mechanical abilities: (Most of this can be had in the AirCabinMan kit on ebay),

1 Radiator Koyo A1998
1 Head Gasket Kit Fel-Pro HS9227PT1
1 Head Bolt Set Fel-Pro ES72168
1 Timing Belt Toyota 13568-69095
1 Idler Roller NSK OE 13503-62040
1 Tensioner Roller Koyo OE 13505-62070
1 Front Crankshaft Seal Toyota 90311-40022
2 Front Camshaft Seals Toyota 90311-38051
1 Water Pump Aisin OE 16100-69398-83
1 Water Pump Gasket Aisin 16271-62011
1 Hydraulic Tensioner Toyota 13540-62021
1 Thermostat (82°c) Toyota 90916-03075
1 Thermostat Gasket Aisin 16325-62010
? Head Bolts #90910-02077
? Head Bolt plate #90201-11028
1 Radiator Cap #16401-20353

Thanks for the parts list.

Anybody looking for a 2000 SR5 in need of a little TLC!?

 

[JBurt]

I haven't seen anyone else suggest it but a leak down test can tell you if you've got a headgasket problem. If you don't want to buy one you could cobble one together from two compression testers that you can rent for free from autostores. Good luck with everything.

If you've only put 350 miles on it I hope they were an enjoyable 350 miles. You might check ebaymotors policies about major repairs right after you bought a vehicle. They might have some kind of lemon law.

 

[Zottyzot]

Anybody looking for a 2000 SR5 in need of a little TLC!?

Could be...Where in PA are you?

 

[twalk]

Could be...Where in PA are you?

Lancaster

 

[hambob]

Thats a classic head gasket failure symptom. Exhaust pressure pushing coolant out the over flow. I hope I'm wrong. Bum deal man. I feel your pain(been there).

 

[twalk]

Thats a classic head gasket failure symptom. Exhaust pressure pushing coolant out the over flow. I hope I'm wrong. Bum deal man. I feel your pain(been there).

That's what it seems like... I'm going to do the hydrocarbon test on the coolant just to verify, but it seeks pretty definitive.

I stings pretty bad.

I actually got the 4Runner to save money (got rid of a car with a payment). Paid $5500 for the 4Runner on eBay. Had 148,600 miles. Has 149,000 now.

Put $1000 into it to get it inspected (front brakes, rotors, one caliper, rear shoe adjustment, rear brake line replace, front sway bar link, tie bars, bushings, alignment etc).

Now this.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

If you want to bring it down here, I'll help you fix it.

 

[doubleA]

I am not the most mechanically inclined person on here, but have some tools...
I also live in lancaster and would be willing to help... plus I know a couple of shops with master toyo mechs if you want.

 

[twalk]

If you want to bring it down here, I'll help you fix it.

You guys are awesome.
Not sure what in doing yet. I have to run a test to definitively ID an exhaust gas leak.

 

[twalk]

I am not the most mechanically inclined person on here, but have some tools...
I also live in lancaster and would be willing to help... plus I know a couple of shops with master toyo mechs if you want.

Very generous offer.
I haven't run a leak or hydrocarbon test yet, but am going to try to before I head out of town again, Monday. If I find that I definitely have a HG leak, I'll get a couple of quotes, and if it's more than I'm willing to put into the truck, I'll either look to do some heavy wrenching (feel free to get in on the fun or just sell the truck for book value minus the cost of the repair :-/

My father-in-law has a comprehensive collection of auto tools (he does 75% of his auto work) and best friend is a very capable guy (Navy machinist mate + nuclear propulsion), and I know how to read + watch YouTube videos

 

[twalk]

I'm going to rent the testing kit from AutoZone today.

Does anybody have a link to a good guide on flushing the cooling system on the 3rd gen t4r?

The coolant is mighty nasty now, so I want to clean it out before running any tests.

 

[drdolittlerwc]

My father-in-law has a comprehensive collection of auto tools (he does 75% of his auto work) and best friend is a very capable guy (Navy machinist mate + nuclear propulsion), and I know how to read + watch YouTube videos

"My dad is a TV repairman! He has an AWESOME set of tools!! We can FIX IT!!!"

Sorry, I couldn't resist! :lol:

Really hope it's not that serious....

 

[twalk]

"My dad is a TV repairman! He has an AWESOME set of tools!! We can FIX IT!!!"

Sorry, I couldn't resist! :lol:

Really hope it's not that serious....

lol
No, my FIL has done a lot of motorcycle and auto work over the years. Mostly on Subarus and Dodge trucks. Usually timing belts and lesser maintenance, but he's handy.

The hard part will be finding the time.

 

[drdolittlerwc]

lol
No, my FIL has done a lot of motorcycle and auto work over the years. Mostly on Subarus and Dodge trucks. Usually timing belts and lesser maintenance, but he's handy.

The hard part will be finding the time.

Ya, I can't pass up a Spicoli moment...

And I totally get the time thing, I think there should be one additional day in the week that is not allowed to be encroached upon by time thieves!!:suspicious:

 

[twalk]

I just flushed the cooling system and now I've got a full-blown pink milkshake.

As I released the radiator drain valve for the first time, the first few qts of fluid were just clear water before the red stuff started flowing.

I topped everything off with distilled water and ran the engine for a few minutes, then drained again. That's when I opened the radiator cap and saw the pink froth :-/

Should I keep flushing until it's no linger pink, or will it just persist?

Also, if I get the head gasket replaced, I'll also get a new radiator, thermostat and water pump. Who knows what the original cause of the overheating was.

 

[Zottyzot]

I just flushed the cooling system and now I've got a full-blown pink milkshake.

As I released the radiator drain valve for the first time, the first few qts of fluid were just clear water before the red stuff started flowing.

I topped everything off with distilled water and ran the engine for a few minutes, then drained again. That's when I opened the radiator cap and saw the pink froth :-/

Should I keep flushing until it's no linger pink, or will it just persist?

Also, if I get the head gasket replaced, I'll also get a new radiator, thermostat and water pump. Who knows what the original cause of the overheating was.

Hopefully someone else will chime in here, but I would STOP running the engine completely!!
Also I think the pink milkshake is cause by coolant and trans fluid mixing via the trans cooler (I could be wrong bout that) You need to figure out what fluid is mixing with what before you start making repair plans...

 

[twalk]

Hopefully someone else will chime in here, but I would STOP running the engine completely!!
Also I think the pink milkshake is cause by coolant and trans fluid mixing via the trans cooler (I could be wrong bout that) You need to figure out what fluid is mixing with what before you start making repair plans...

This is the first I've heard that the trans fluid could be mixing in. How/where does this occur? How do I address that?

I feel like I'm tumbling down the rabbit hole here... (and at the bottom there is a furnace that torches all of my money)

 

[twalk]

I think I'll just buy a new radiator ASAP.

Head gasket issue or not, the radiator could stand to be replaced, and it's a relatively cheap expenditure.

Does the pink milkshake come from the radiator corrosion and the partitions in the radiator break down, allowing fluids to exchange?

I've read up on some pink milkshake threads, but didn't see where anybody explained the detail on what occurs.

Edit- I found a brief description in this thread- http://www.yotatech.com/f2/another-strawberry-milkshake-1999-4runner-220161/index2.html

"that's the whole point-the radiator is not fine-it fails internally allowing the tranny cooler section within the radiator body to mix with the coolant and coolant to flow to the tranny-poisoning the seals of the tranny leading to failure of a more expensive nature."

 

[kball]

if it's the pink milkshake you may not have a head gasket issue at all. You need to find out which it is. In your previous post your trans fluid didn't look shaked but maybe slightly burned.