Blackdiamond (Gup-C build-up)

[blackdiamond]

The 4Runner is almost completely packed (just needs last minute things that can't be spared for the week) and has a full tank of gas in anticipation of an early 5:30 am departure Saturday morning.

It's not relevant for this trip, but I got notification that the new seat belts from SeatbeltPlanet.com have shipped and should arrive in the next few days.  I could unload the 4Runner and install them if I get motivated.  On this trip I'll only be using the center seat belt so there's nothing that could mess up the trip if I were to mess with the ones on the sides.  I'll probably just be patient and wait until I get back.

[blackdiamond]

I changed my mind again today and am going with vest/booster car seat combination for the front seat.

http://safetrafficsystem.com/vol5/ridesafer2-gen-4/

http://safetrafficsystem.com/vol5/delighter-booster/

The vest will prevent him from being able to not be in a good position behind the shoulder belt and because it doesn't have a seat back like the booster increases the distance between him and the dash/grab bar.

[blackdiamond]

I learned a few things about my roll cage during my week in Moab.

First, I only lightly bumped my head a couple times the entire trip so it's about as unobtrusive as I could hope for with an interior cage.  My dad was fully expecting to feel the difference in the passenger seat and commented that he really never noticed that it was there eliminating what he considered the #1 downside to having one to be.

Second, I am amazed at how much vibration and rattles resulted from having the cage installed.  When I gave the fabricator the option to weld it in rather than having bolted connections it was a great decision.  I would expect any bolts to require maintenance on a regular basis.  There may come a day when not  being able to remove it could pose a problem, but even if it were bolted it's too tight to really move if unbolted anyways.

Third, there was some discussion about the location of the A-pillars on the floor.  I didn't have any issue with them at all, but realized that if they were pushed forward to follow the dash contour more tightly it would put them right where my foot sits.  Right now my ankle rests against it and my foot sits forward of it when driving which is a great setup.  It's one of those things that you don't really know until you try it, but I'm very happy with how it feels.

[blackdiamond]

I didn't get a lot of pictures on the trip as I was driving or spotting most of the time and the rest of my focus was on my son, but here's most of what I have in photo form.  I hope to get some media from the others.

[blackdiamond]

More...

[blackdiamond]

The last ones...

[blackdiamond]

Hell's Gate: https://youtu.be/ncf6twqKfgM

[blackdiamond]

The 4Runner was running rough on the trip home so was in for some TLC today. Compression was 150, 50, 145, and 25. The exhaust valves on #2 and #4 were not fully closing. After being adjusted all cylinders were back to 145-150. It wasn't running that rough when I dropped it off but when my mechanic started it he didn't even go for a drive so it put on a full show for him at least. I think it was the real cause of my exhaust being hot (exhaust shop noted it was running hot when messing with my exhaust after the new cat was installed). I had changed plugs, wires, and cap and it seemed to run ok. It seemed to have also been affecting my brake booster as I had noticed squishy brakes at times on the way back that seemed to parallel when it was running it's worst. I am at Discount Tire now for a balance and expect a really smooth drive home on all accounts.

[blackdiamond]

The report was that my tires were really out of balance and even had weights opposite the current need. If my wheels are round these Coopers are not very round. Lots of weights, I may need an engine swap after all.

[:)bestgen4runner]

The 4Runner was running rough on the trip home so was in for some TLC today. Compression was 150, 50, 145, and 25. The exhaust valves on #2 and #4 were not fully closing. After being adjusted all cylinders were back to 145-150. It wasn't running that rough when I dropped it off but when my mechanic started it he didn't even go for a drive so it put on a full show for him at least. I think it was the real cause of my exhaust being hot (exhaust shop noted it was running hot when messing with my exhaust after the new cat was installed). I had changed plugs, wires, and cap and it seemed to run ok. It seemed to have also been affecting my brake booster as I had noticed squishy brakes at times on the way back that seemed to parallel when it was running it's worst. I am at Discount Tire now for a balance and expect a really smooth drive home on all accounts.

I don't want to second guess Your mechanic but I have some concerns about a valve so tight it lost compression.
The spec for the exhaust valve is 0.012 so if it was zero that means the that valve is likely sunken into the head.
A bore scope would tell you for sure. I suspect there is little to no margin remaining on that exhaust valve.
If I am correct you will likely be back. I know you don't drive it a lot so it might take quite a while.
Maybe he even went over this as a possibility. The valve seat and valve face are the only place that wear came from.
0.012 or more of wear. The thinner the margin gets the less the valve can shed heat.
Just my 

[Gnarly4X]

The 4Runner was running rough on the trip home so was in for some TLC today....

Is this engine a 22RE?

When was the last time a valve lash adjustment was done - before the low compression issue?

Gnarls.

[blackdiamond]

Is this engine a 22RE?

When was the last time a valve lash adjustment was done - before the low compression issue?

Gnarls.

When he replaced the head gasket soon after the truck was built. It was probably less than 30,000 miles ago.

[blackdiamond]

I don't want to second guess Your mechanic but I have some concerns about a valve so tight it lost compression.
The spec for the exhaust valve is 0.012 so if it was zero that means the that valve is likely sunken into the head.
A bore scope would tell you for sure. I suspect there is little to no margin remaining on that exhaust valve.
If I am correct you will likely be back. I know you don't drive it a lot so it might take quite a while.
Maybe he even went over this as a possibility. The valve seat and valve face are the only place that wear came from.
0.012 or more of wear. The thinner the margin gets the less the valve can shed heat.
Just my 

He didn't seem too concerned about it having a burnt valve because of how it reacted to the adjustment and regained full compression instantly.  He noted the vehicle parked behind me wasn't as lucky after coming in with a nearly identical problem.

It's running "perfect" for now and if it has issues in the future then I will deal with them.

It's also possibly that my translation of what he told me is flawed.

[redneckcustoms13]

When he replaced the head gasket soon after the truck was built. It was probably less than 30 miles ago.

I'm slightly confused. How since this last trip you took, does the engine have only 30 miles on it? Has the engine been replaced since the ride? I am also bumfuzzled at it if it was at the shop for just the head gasket and he did the job. How on earth would he have not noticed a dead miss on a cylinder that he should have just adjusted the valves on?

[blackdiamond]

I'm slightly confused. How since this last trip you took, does the engine have only 30 miles on it? Has the engine been replaced since the ride? I am also bumfuzzled at it if it was at the shop for just the head gasket and he did the job. How on earth would he have not noticed a dead miss on a cylinder that he should have just adjusted the valves on?

Typo. 30,000 miles and probably 2008.

[blackdiamond]

I'm slightly confused. How since this last trip you took, does the engine have only 30 miles on it? Has the engine been replaced since the ride? I am also bumfuzzled at it if it was at the shop for just the head gasket and he did the job. How on earth would he have not noticed a dead miss on a cylinder that he should have just adjusted the valves on?

I did have less than 30 miles on it since my last trip though. I literally had not started it since I pulled it in the garage when I got home and cleaned it up. I probably put more than 30 miles on it taking it in, but not much more than that.

[Gnarly4X]

When he replaced the head gasket soon after the truck was built. It was probably less than 30,000 miles ago.

Ok, so the Runner had gone about 30,000 miles after a valve adjustment was done at the time the head gasket was replaced. 

Is there any particular reason why you would go 30,000 miles and NOT do a valve lash adjustment? 

I know that the FSM says 30,000 miles, but I thought it is common knowledge that the 20s and 22s typically will need a valve lash adjustment way sooner than 30,000 miles.  I check/adjust mine about twice a year, at about 7500 miles.

Gnarls. 

[redneckcustoms13]

I follow now. 30k is simply too long to wait for a valve adjustment on these engines after having the rockers off. I generally will adjust them, run the engine a few hundred miles, check them. About 2500 miles in I'll go over them again. After 5k I'd they are good I run them till I deem it necessary to do again. It seems the shop would have asked you to being it back a few weeks after the gasket replacement so they could check the valve lash though. It would seem that way to me. But I'll poke a gnarls in there. Just my opinion.

[blackdiamond]

I follow now. 30k is simply too long to wait for a valve adjustment on these engines after having the rockers off. I generally will adjust them, run the engine a few hundred miles, check them. About 2500 miles in I'll go over them again. After 5k I'd they are good I run them till I deem it necessary to do again. It seems the shop would have asked you to being it back a few weeks after the gasket replacement so they could check the valve lash though. It would seem that way to me. But I'll poke a gnarls in there. Just my opinion.

I don't honestly remember what happened with the valves when the head gasket was replaced.  I don't remember going back, but it's likely that he just checked things at my next oil change.  One struggle I have with the 4Runner is regular maintenance because my intervals are so long.  There was a time that the 4Runner was driven on a regular basis and then a few years where I would put a tank of gas in every 3-6 months.  Currently, almost all of the driving is for Moab trips so my oil hadn't been changed since before the Moab trip 2 years ago.  In any case, it's better now and I'll follow up with the valves the next time it's in for service which could be decades! 

[mudmaster]

You need to come up with a LUMP for that thing.

[blackdiamond]

You need to come up with a LUMP for that thing.

LUMP?

[blackdiamond]

Now that the kids are old enough to enjoy riding in it with the soft top it'll get more use in the summertime.  It's restored to storage unit status for the moment. It's stationary too long and the hood is just flat enough to collect things...

[blackdiamond]

Ok, so the Runner had gone about 30,000 miles after a valve adjustment was done at the time the head gasket was replaced. 

Is there any particular reason why you would go 30,000 miles and NOT do a valve lash adjustment? 

I know that the FSM says 30,000 miles, but I thought it is common knowledge that the 20s and 22s typically will need a valve lash adjustment way sooner than 30,000 miles.  I check/adjust mine about twice a year, at about 7500 miles.

Gnarls. 

No good reason other than the 4Runner is almost always an afterthought in life so get's whatever is left over in my time unless I'm gearing up for a trip.  It's not been running great for a while, but got significantly worse on this Moab trip which is why it was parked until I took it in.  I'm probably averaging 3,000 miles a year on the engine since the 4Runner was rebuilt and every Moab trip accounts for about 2,500 of those miles.  A perfect recipe for neglect.

I did notice in Moab that it would stall more easily when I was lugging it over the rocks.  My throttle application seemed to be lagging just a hair and I told my dad that it wasn't running quite right.

[:)bestgen4runner]

I keep a log book for every vehicle I own. 
maintenance
occasional fuel mileage checks
receipts for parts replaced
anything special that happens to it

[mudmaster]

Low Utilization Maintenance Program

[blackdiamond]

I keep a log book for every vehicle I own. 
maintenance
occasional fuel mileage checks
receipts for parts replaced
anything special that happens to it

I used to keep good records and then I had kids and things started to slip.

[blackdiamond]

Low Utilization Maintenance Program

My maintenance program for the 4Runner involves taking it to my mechanic before most trip with instructions to make sure it'll get me home along with an oil change. I really do target an oil change at least once a year.

[mudmaster]

Sounds like you have one then.

[blackdiamond]

Link to Moab Pictures: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6onlmn3q0uu5xya/AADfqrTn_WvAVIFBbAWAUW6sa?dl=0

[Gnarly4X]

I keep a log book for every vehicle I own. 
maintenance
occasional fuel mileage checks
receipts for parts replaced
anything special that happens to it

Me too.  I have little log book in my glove box of every vehicle I own, and make an entry after EVERYTHING I do or have done to the vehicle, including a gas mileage Excel sheet for every tank of fuel I burn on my computer.  Battery and Tire receipts in the glove box, all others in my Toyota filing cabinet.

Gnarls.