2.7L How do you know you have engine problems?

I have a new rough idle and I am getting smoke out of the engine somewhere. I had the truck heat up on me while driving and it has never done that so I checked the oil and water. The antifreeze was down in the radiator and I had just had it serviced that seemed strange. The oil looked fine - not milky or foamy.

So my question - how do you know you blew a head or gasket? Runs fine off idle, just rough at idle.

 

smokes never a good sign, rough idle could be quite a few different things, not very much help but subbed for the answer.

 

what color of smoke?

 

sounds like you blew the head gasket between the cylinder and water jacket and the water is getting into the cylinders.

let it idle so it smokes then shut it off and pull your plugs and look for wet antifreeze on the plug, maybe shine a light into the cylinder.

a compression test will confirm a bad heads gasket or it might be faster to remove radiator cap and put your hand over the hole while its running, if you feel sucking or pressure coming out its a blown head gasket.

 

I had an 85 4runner. Once stopped and shut down you could hear it gurgle or boiling in the radiator. Bad head gasket. Number 4 plug was very clean due to antifreeze getting in the cylinder.

 

Thanks for the info guys