97 4Runner weird coolant leak

[joekatana]

Hi Guys

I just picked up a 1997 3.4 limited 2WD 4Runner for the misses.As I was washing it I also checked the fluids and noticed that coolant was low.Filled up the coolant and tdid a combusion leak test wich showed that the headgasket is gone.

Now I noticed the next day a puddle of coolant under the car directly under the transmission,I cleaned the engine and transmission to see where it was coming from and it seems to be coming from behind the engine around where the exhaust crosses from one side to the other.I have checked all the heater hoses that are in that area but havent found anything.

Anybody had something similar happened to them.

I bought the car from a private person in my own little town

Thanks

Joe

 

[vipergrhd]

external head gasket leak

it is possible the the edge on the back side of the mating surface of the head gasket could be leaking due to corrosion.just my 2 cents.

 

[joekatana]

it is possible the the edge on the back side of the mating surface of the head gasket could be leaking due to corrosion.just my 2 cents.

No because it also leaks overnight and I guess that the headgasket can only leak external while the engine is running.

I went to the dealer today and noticed at there parts diagrams that there is some metal pipe that might be the guilty one.I will try and disamble the intake manifold to have a look

 

[RDC76]

It could be coming from one of the two tubes that run to the rear heater.

 

[Thalke]

thanks for this post.

 

[BrotherRob]

I bought my Taco in non running condition. While turning the motor over manually to line up the timing marks, I started to see coolant seep from the cat gasket. Turns out the hg had failed and I was pushing coolant out thru the exhaust manifold. I don't know if it could have happened if the motor was running.

 

[joekatana]

In my case the leak came from a small pipe that runs on the back of the engine.For now I just added some stop leak and it seems to be working.If I ever feel like it or can combine it with some neccesary job I will replace the pipe,it's only 72 $ from the stealership but I have to remove the complete intake manifold to replace it so.............hope it will last