Topic: 1997 3RZ, 160,000Km, Blown Head gasket?

[1Bad4Runner]

I have a 1997 Toyota 4Runner and it blows some white smoke and water runs out of the exhaust. I thought When I bought it there might just be moisture in the exhaust from sitting, but its been in my garage for a month now and still down it.
How would I go about checking if it is a headgasket leak? I tried compression testing it and I the first cylinder reads nothing, but I can't get the tester tight either and its old. Wouldn't it still read something if the headgasket it blown?

[79coyotefrg]

if its blown bad  NO

i know a guy here in arkansas  with 3 separate 3RZ's  he wants $500 each

[kneedownnate]

If you can get a good tester, look for unusually high and low numbers, with two very high readings on cylinders next to each other.  It's not the only sign, but it's a definate heads up.

[BigMike]

Did you mean to say you've got a 22R-E ? Who did the 3RZ conversion? (I am just wondering why I didn't know you had a 3RZ and your sig says you've got a 3.0)

How well does it idle? If you think cylinder #1 is down, the with it idling, pull the spark plug wire off from cylinder #1's spark plug. The idle would be about the same if it really was a dead cylinder.

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

I will have to check all of the cylinders tonight. Oh yea, I like in Canada, so its not really worth buying them... but thanks for the offer Coyote.

Sorry for the confusion BigMike, My 89 Runner is going to be a trailer queen now. As of today it will not be on the road anymore. I have a 97 Runner that I am rebuilding.
About the idling, it seems fine and sounds crappy when I take the sparkplug out. That would mean the cylinder is working?

[79coyotefrg]

yes  that WOULD mean its working

get a compression guage with a hose and thread it down snug with all plugs out  and spin  post the results

[BigMike]

I have a 97 Runner that I am rebuilding.

Man, next time I will just read your opening post. Or I should lay off of the drugs for a while

[79coyotefrg]

Man, next time I will just read your opening post. Or I should lay off of the drugs for a while

[Crawler677]

 

white smoke tends to mean coolant is getting into a cylinder somewhere.   so a blown head gasket WOULD be a good guess, however, it could also be a crack somewhere.

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

Alright, heres what I think I found out. I had a guy come down and look at it and he said it is most likely moisture in the exhaust system since it has been pretty much sitting for 2 or 3 years. So I ran it for a good 45 minutes and the coolant didn't go down any, it ran smooth, it never overheated either. I'd say a good cup or more liquid came out of the exhaust and it checked it and it is just water.
He told me to take it for a good drive when I get it on the road and it should clear up.

I'm not totally positive that he is correct, but I think he may be. The truck is almost ready to be safety inspected so I will find out then.

Thanks for the suggestions and help. BigMike, I hope you get some help too... rehab doesn't sound all that bad