PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

@Plain Jane Taco

So, it would seem that my truck is not burning or using oil, but rather has been seeping into the coolant via a failing head gasket and burning off. Also, I have suspected issues with the head gasket since the spring of 2021, even though the truck has been running fine until now and two difference mechanics looked and didn't suspect that was the issue.The frame was replaced in November 2021 (probably six months or more after my friend Jeff first noticed oil in the coolant reservoir), so thankfully it would be appear that this isn't a "frame replacement gremlin". I would not be surprised if my fuel gauge giving inaccurate readouts after a fill-up is related to something getting jostled during the frame replacement, but I can live with a fuel gauge that is ever so slightly inaccurate when first gassed up.

 

2nd gen 4Runner's 3.SLOOOOW were notorious for blowing head gaskets nearly routinely.

 

That gunk just indicated moisture not necessarily a head gasket. Pull the 4 spark plugs if yo ur burning coolant the spark plug that is burning the coolant will be extremely clean compared to the other 3. If they all are the same then I wouldn’t doubt your burning that much coolant to drain the radiator.

 

A blockage in the heater line seems to fit the symptoms. But I’d still double check the radiator flow. Flushing doesn’t necessarily mean it was completely cleared. I recently passed 120k myself and just ordered a hud for the temp display more so than for the code reading and clearing. Being able to see relevant highs is what it’s for.

 

About the only troublesome engine Toyota ever installed in a truck...

 

Spark plugs were just replaced last October there was no gunk on them then; I had the cool packs and injector replaced a few months ago due to an an unrelated issue and
They were fine then too...

 

I filled the radiator and the heater is working great now. However, it wasn't instantaneous and I did have to drive the truck around the block to the heater working.

 

Well you had a heater and weren’t overheating last October right? Easy and quick to check then and possibly eliminate another condition for a head gasket failure.

 

I'm leaving the Tacoma at my mechanic before I go to Massachusetts; I really don't feel like tearing the engine apart and putting it back together again, so I'll drive it 10 miles to my mechanic and let have him a take a look. More and more clues keep popping up that make a blown or failing head gasket look more and more likely.

 

Had a problem similar to this once. It was the thermostat. The thermostat has a small by pass hole in it. My thermostat was stuck but it would let water thru the weep hole.

 

What about all of the other evidence that points to a head gasket?

 

I guess have them all checked out for peace of mind.

 

My BMW had 107,000 miles... It overheated numerous times before discovering cracked block...yeah, new water pump, radiator, fan clutch etc... before I found the cracked block.

 

I hope you are right, but I think it’s oil residue with coolant mixed in.

 

True or just do that simple thermostat test. If that's the issue, replace it and monitor.

 

Well, didn't overheating cause the block to crack to begin with, or is this one of those "chicken or the egg" scenarios?

 

I'm driving to MA, just not in the truck. I'm gonna be in my mom's 2013 Nissan Murano...

 

I had a ranger that was overheating. Instead of a flush the shop put a higher pressure cap on it. Ended up needing new radiator(blown), new heater core(also blown), and then a new engine. All because of a clogged radiator. Overheating is a symptom of something else wrong. Finding a good mechanic I could trust was priceless as was educating my dumb ass.

 

Luckily, I have a mechanic I trust! I've been going to him for like four years now and cringe at the idea of letting anybody else touch my truck!

 

Overheating I believe caused the crack in the first place ..I then chased the overheating until I found the crack. The pos had some sort of issue every 3000 miles until I junked it the cracked block was the last straw. German cars never again for me. Hope you find the issue.