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Bill wrote:[color=blue]
> Recently, while checking the oil and fluids on my '94 4Runner (V6), I
> noticed a few drops of coolant had seeped out the top of the radiator.
> I wiped off the coolant, and noticed that the black metal was now
> brass looking, like the coolant had removed the paint. I had seen
> this a few weeks ago, but did not connect that it was coolant. What
> really cinched it was the fact that I have red Toyota coolant in it
> now.
>[/color]

Pay attention to how your engine runs and check the water level
religiously and check the oil pan for signs of water after you replace
you radiator. The symptoms that you are describing is what happened to
my 92 V-6 when the head gasket leaked. The water level in the radiator
slowly decreased exposing the top of the radiator on the inside. Tiny
pin holes formed -mainly around the filler. I thought these were the
source of the dropping coolant level, so I just had the leaks welded,
and kept driving it. The coolant level still dropped, though. I took it
in and found that the head(s) were leaking. The dealer tested the oil
and found water in it, and then found the leaking gasket.

The 1989-1995 V-6 had a bad head gasket design. They replaced them up
to 100k on warranty and did mine for free at 110k. The only drawback is
that they replaced them with the exact same gasket design as far as I
know. I found this out when one of the gaskets blew out at 190k and
cracked a spark plug in two. It costs me some $$$ the second time.