Toyota Repair: 1994 Toyota 4Runner Engine/Head gasket, piston chamber, toyota 4runner

Question
Mike,

I have 1994 Toyota 4Runner, Auto, 170K miles.  My 4Runner has been excellent in the past and I had the head-gasket recall performed in 1997 at 40K miles.  Recently, I started having some rough starts in the morning for about 5 seconds like there was water in the gas.  It would clear up and it would drive it fine.  One morning, the motor wouldn't crank.  After changing the battery to no avail, I towed it to the Toyota Dealer thinking it was the starter.  The Dealer said the motor was locked up and would cost $1200 to determine the problem (not fix it, just diagnose the problem).  The 4Runner has sat at the dealer for 4 weeks while I tried to research my options.  I've been by on occasion to see if the motor would turn-over. Today it did!  I even was able to get the motor to start but it was sputtering so I turned it off.  The radiator fluid is gone so I'm thinking that the head gasket had given way and the fluid had leaked into a piston chamber, which prevented it from cranking in the past.  If this is accurate, maybe over time the fluid was able to leak down from the piston chamber to allow the piston to move freely.  With that as a possiblity, what should I do now?  Should I replace the head-gasket, put new coolant in, and drain and replace all the oil?  What happens if old coolant has gotten beneath the pistons - will it kill the crankshaft?  Can I flush the motor of this?

Your expert advice will be very helpful.  I'm not sure I trust the dealership at this point.

thanks,
johnny

Answer
Your right on the money.
The headgasket leaks coolant into the cyl and it Hyrolocks the motor.
You cant compress a liquid. Pressurize yes, compress, no.
So thats the no-crank.
Shell bleed down into the crankcase and will be drained with the oil.
You need headgaskets.
Have the cyl heads checked, resurface if nec.
Check the deck of the block for"etching".
at the rear of the motor around the cyl drivers side.
(#6 cyl)
If its etched you can smear a THIN layer of JB weld to fill the marks and assemble while wet with the new gaskets,
Smear on like your buttering a piece of toast and then smooth off the rest with a putty knife so it fills the divit but doesnt cover the area.



Mike