Milky oil, intact head gasket

Check freeze plugs. Guy I bought my 96 2.4l Tacoma thought it had a blown head gasket to but it was the freeze plug behind the timing chain. Found the plug in the oil pan when I took the pan off.

 

My thoughts as well.
OP, do you have straight edge or something you can check the flatness of the block and head interface?

 

That seem very plausible Fenwick. I will check that out ASAP. Maybe the impact of the water unbalanced my timing too?

 

Yes flatness inspection is on the list for sure. I was really astonished of finding an intact head gasket. I figured I'd better ask the experts before taking the next step

 

Wow, yeah that wouldn't have crossed my mind but yeah that's a very real possibility. Bizarre man.

 

Sounds unusual for it to knock timing off, but anything is possible, I suppose. And my oil looked just like that, too.

 

What cruiser said. Check the head for trueness, as well as the deck.

However, the aluminum head should warp well before the iron block.

Usually this is caused by overheating.

I think your two lower compression cylinders are your key. It has to be something around them, physically in that area.

I'd quit worrying about the puddle incident. It wasn't hydrolocked, (your piston tops are intact) and the no run condition was most likely from wet electronics.

 

We need an update mister c. Did you get the timing chain cover pulled to put eyes on that freeze plug? If that's fine, I'd have to guess a non-visible crack in the head. But that is still just a guess.

 

The FSM lists the compression spec's as follows:

'Good' / nominal compression = 178 psi or more.
Minimum acceptable compression = 127 psi.
Difference between cylinders = 14 psi or less.

I'll suspect the motor became water locked
and then the engine was turned over (attempted start)
creating lots of component stress and damage.

This start attempt without clearing the cylinders first...
can destroy the piston seals, score the cyl. walls
and even cause stress fractures to the piston rods
Not to mention cause damage (cracking/warping) to the cyl. head.

My guess would be that the engine will need a total rebuild top - bottom.

It'll likely be less coin spent to purchase a used engine from a salvage yard.

Bottom line:

You could fix the damaged components that are visible
but you may not see the stress the piston rods endured
and those could let go after you got it all back together.

And that would be a waste of your time and money.

I personally would replace that engine
with a low mileage engine found at a salvage yard.

good luck

 

OP, those shims and buckets will fall out of the head if you turn it over, so take them out first and keep them organized. Good luck with it.

 

Thanks to everyone for your time. I appreciate your input and read everything carefully.

The freeze plugs intrigues me. I could not find much information on it. I still have plenty of researching and reading to do before taking off the timing chain cover. I got the Haynes manual and can probably find the timing chain part of the Toyota repair manual.

You guys think I work on my timing chain with the block still in my car? I don't have a crane. I will be taking out the radiator tonight. I think it should be spacious enough.

 

There has been no evidence that water got into the engine yet. The mechanics are very clean. I made some procedures before starting the car back up. But you're right, maybe that's where I messed up my engine. However, through the sparks plugs holes, I saw no water on top of the cylinder.

After getting it back on, I drove the taco up and down my street. White smoke cleared maybe 30 seconds after I started it. I felt the engine was running good, and heard no change on the rattling sound as I was accelerating. Wouldn't a major engine failure result a decrease in performance?

However that sound was obnoxious and very rowdy. Only after that run I realized my oil was corrupted and decided to not run it again. It was brand new oil, flushed the old oil before trying to restart the car (the oil was not noticeably corrupted).

 

Absolutely.

The chain is off, 'cause you have the head off. So do you mean finishing removing the cover and assorted ancillaries?

 

The timing chain guide on the right seems very stable. However, I might have broke the tensioner shoe while removing the head. It isn't stable at all. Good thing that's where I'm going next.

 

Yes well I mean going there as a whole. I'm not sure at all what I'm getting into to be honest. I know the whole timing thing is tricky

I don't plan on bringing it to the mechanics yet if that's what you mean. I'm eager to learn more and get technical skills, I will go as far as I can. I will be needing some tools to continue at some point, but I will consider buying it if everything is still going fine.

 

I'm not saying that water got sucked up in thru the intake (tho' that possibility exists)

But if the cyl. head let loose... that could cause damage if it leaked into a piston/cyl.
and the engine was turned over during that leak.

I doubt the two low compression piston/cyl. would hold water on top of them
and instead would leak down thru and is probably why your oil became contaminated.

Like I said... picking up a salvaged engine
will likely cost less then attempting re-build/repair.

Attempting a budget repair, will likely see you on the losing end.
But hey... sometimes folk just need to learn the hard way.

 

What do you mean by cyl head let loose? Maybe it's me, I just can't picture that scenario right now. I fell like any engine damage would have started with the head gasket.

I understand your point thought.

I don't have the money to do an engine swap right now. As of now, I invested 80$ in tools and I don't have to change any major parts yet. The gasket kit is 200$ so the balance is still keen for a repair.

You are so right on me learning the hard way lol can't help it

 

So, have you been able to get the timing cover off yet? That's what would be in front of the rest of the chain and stuff. That's what resides in front of where the freeze plug popped out in that picture from yesterday.

 

That picture from the guy that mentioned that scenario.