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 Help!! Blown head gasket or cracked head?
#938619
04/03/09 06:07 AM
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 39
OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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Is there any way to tell the difference between a blown head gasket and a cracked head before tearing into it?
It sputters violently and blows out thick white exhaust for a few minutes before smoothing out and it's always low on coolant after driving a little while.
Any suggestions?
'86 4runner
ARB bull bar, Warn 8000, daily driver
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 Re: Help!! Blown head gasket or cracked head?
[Re: Nato99]
#938620
04/03/09 07:03 AM
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 15,887
Toyota & Classifieds Moderator
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Not really; either way you'll be tearing into it to replace the gasket and get the head remilled and pressure checked anyway. The non-invasive stuff first:
Oil cap- oily milkshake? You would also see something with the valve cover off.
Compression check- 2 low number adjacent to each other generally points to a head gasket.
Plugs- white indicates the presence of coolant, as does your white smoke and coolant consumption.
Your other little gremlin might be a timing chain cover that ate a hole thru the cover and into the water pump. Got a rattle on startup?
http://www.walkablecommunities.org/Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. **ubi apis- ibi salus**
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Re: Help!! Blown head gasket or cracked head?
[Re: kewlynx]
#938621
04/03/09 07:22 AM
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 39
OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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Thanks Kewlynx
Good thinking on the compression check, that hadn't crossed my mind. The oil is clear and i haven't noticed any unusual clattering on start up but I'll have to make sure and check on the next start up.
'86 4runner
ARB bull bar, Warn 8000, daily driver
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Re: Help!! Blown head gasket or cracked head?
[Re: Nato99]
#938622
04/03/09 07:27 AM
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 39
OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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Kewlynx
Can you expound on that last point? How would the timing cover wear a hole in the water pump and how would that produce thick, white exhaust?
'86 4runner
ARB bull bar, Warn 8000, daily driver
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Re: Help!! Blown head gasket or cracked head?
[Re: Nato99]
#938623
04/03/09 07:31 AM
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 15,887
Toyota & Classifieds Moderator
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Sorry the chain wears a hole if it breaks the guides and starts slapping around. Eventually it'll wear a hole thru the TC cover and over into the water passage for the pump. http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/timingchain/White exhaust = coolant. Blue exhaust = oil.
http://www.walkablecommunities.org/Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. **ubi apis- ibi salus**
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Re: Help!! Blown head gasket or cracked head?
[Re: kewlynx]
#938624
04/03/09 07:42 AM
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 39
OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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'86 4runner
ARB bull bar, Warn 8000, daily driver
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