3rzfe motor issues 2.7L

2003 3rzfe 4x4 198,000 miles.

- Noticed coolant reservoir low, topped off, noticed low again a few months later.

- No white smoke, no smell of antifreeze burning, no rough idle.

- No milky oil on dipstick.

- Chemical Block Test never turned yellow

- Coolant pressure test to expose the leak showed no external leaks, went from 13 PSi to 12 PSi in ~ 20 minutes.

- Performed compression test (dry)
Cylinder #1 - 155
Cylinder #2 - 135
Cylinder #3 - 140
Cylinder #4 - 120

-Directly after coolant pressure test, I video scoped the motor before starting the motor ( more then normal antifreeze might be in the cylinder?) I found antifreeze in cylinder #3. ( attached picture.)



Seems like alot of antifreeze, i'm really surprised the truck runs flawless, with zero symptoms of the leak.

I'm assuming this all points to a head gasket or cracked head? Could it be anything else? Probably start saving now 3-5k?

 

If you have coolant getting in a cylinder there's not really anything else it could be other than a headgasket or cracked block/head.

I have seen where sometimes a hadgasket will only leak coolant into a cylinder but not leak combustion gas into the cooling system.
Typically they will misfire for a few seconds on a cold start and then run fine.

 

Bummer, but thank you for the info, I kinda figured, just needed someone to stick a nail in the coffin.

 

Yea unfortunately but if it's not having any overheating issues and it's not using much coolant you may have some time yet before it gets worse.

 

Seems like is time for a rebuild.