Topic: Whats wrong with my 4runner

[mmessier2]

OK, I hope its not a blown head gasket, or a cracked head but here are my symptoms... Please help me out.

The last times Ive driven my 4Runner (85 EFI 22RE 5spd) its been getting progressively hotter. Yesterday it got hot fast and I finally checked the radiator. It was near empty. Bad sign, so I filled it up. As soon as I filled it up, the engine began to run VERY rough, in fact dieing at idle at stoplights.

I thought I may have blown a head gasket, but the oil is completely free of water and NO steam is coming out of the exhaust. The engine is no longer over-heating... but of course I cant drive it.

It almost seems like its running on 3 cylinders.  This morning I started it up and it took about 10 seconds to start, but when it did it would maintain idle and not die.  It was not as rough as last night, but not back to normal standards.

I just cant understand why it would run normal, then when I fill up the radiator it would instantly have problems.  It was like night and day.  Help!....



What should I check?

[79coyotefrg]

headgaskets blow at different places,  yours is blown between the water jacket and the fire ring,  leaking water directly into the combustion chamber, and pushing pressure into the water jacket  so it pushes the water out of the radiator into the overflow tank

replace with a MLS gasket, either from toyota or Rock Products

[mmessier2 [OP]]

Its not my DD, and I only drive it maybe 2000 miles a year.  I dont want to spend the cash to pay someone to replace the head gasket, and I dont have the experience to do it myself.  Would dumping a bottle of Bar's Leaks in there do any good at all?

[Jase]

Nope

[notajeep]

It's not that hard... you can do it.

[b_ripper8]

Like 79Cayotefrg said, your head gasket it letting water into the combustion chamber and will easily foul the plug in the cylinder (hence the 3 cyl. effect). The only remedy is a new gasket, if you keep trying to drive it you're only going to create more problems. Grab a friend or two and some beer and make a weekend of it.