Blown head-gasket, help needed - Page 2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum

scrapper · 06-02-2020, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formidable

No problems another 30k miles before it sold. In my case blue devil did it’s job. And for a whopping $20.

I’m not sure what the OP’s financial situation is. But what I have suggested here is a potentially cheap solution to a major problem, (albeit maybe temporary for some looking to get 100k out of it). If anything it may buy some time to recover from this Covid situation and allow for a more extensive repair at a later time when cash flow allows.

I will remember this and I thank you for the reply. I didn’t know about that product. It is definitely a good idea to have cheap, alternative solutions to just buy a little more time in times like these.
Thank you

plcfcng · 06-04-2020, 09:56 PM

spend the extra money to have the valves cut it's worth the money

19963.4lsr5 · 06-05-2020, 04:22 AM

When the head gasket went on the 258,000 engine in the 97 I bought I had by friend rebuild it.

The heads needed decked a few thou to make them flat, and there was no ridge in the cylinders.

It was new rings and bearings , cylinder honing and major decarboning. The amount of coked oil i got out of the oil cooler was impressive. I forget exactly but bottom end cost me around 1500-1800. The heads were around 600.

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3bears · 06-05-2020, 05:59 PM

I would think...if the rest of the 4runner is super good..Id rebuild the engine. Well maybe...if I could find a super good used one with guaranteed no issues...and I had the shop space and tools to swap..id go that route and then keep my old one and tear it down in spare time and see what its like and then proceed on a rebuild and swap back and know it might be good for another 200k unless you throw in cheap parts and take short cuts. then sell off the "replacement"
I have only been deep into one of these motors and was impressed. it too was an overheated motor...the heads were the main issue

plcfcng · 06-06-2020, 01:14 AM

If the compression test wet and dry turn out ok then pull the heads. When you look into the cylinder bore and there are no streaks down the cylinder walls then just replace the head gaskets. If there are streaks down the walls try to scratch them with your finger nail if you can catch them with your finger nails then you can try to hone them if they are to deep then replace the engine.

Doing rings is the tipping point where you should really consider doing a engine swap. I did it on one of my engines it had to bad pistons but I had access to a old block that I robbed the pistons out of. One step at a time do the compression tests and let us know what the readings are.

scrapper · 07-29-2020, 08:08 PM

My thread won’t be particularly helpful because I didn’t do the work but I will follow up with photos showing what my mechanic did.
I did (again) what no normal person would do and spent more than it’s resale value to keep it.
I’ve had a lot going on. Long story short- it lives!

gamefreakgc · 07-29-2020, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrapper

My thread won’t be particularly helpful because I didn’t do the work but I will follow up with photos showing what my mechanic did.
I did (again) what no normal person would do and spent more than it’s resale value to keep it.
I’ve had a lot going on. Long story short- it lives!

It's either take that same amount you spent and toss it at a down payment then still have monthly payments for the next 5 years, or repair it and be payment free. That's not a bad decision you made.

scrapper · 07-29-2020, 10:15 PM

Thank you sir! I have zero regrets.

WeakSauz · 07-30-2020, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrapper

I did (again) what no normal person would do and spent more than it’s resale value to keep it.

Oh, don't worry. I think most of us here have done that

What's better, though? Spending cash to fix it and keep it going, or $400-500/month for 5 years on a new one?

i'm fixing mine, all day every day!

Glad you're back up and running

mikeferg · 07-31-2020, 12:27 AM

yeah us 3rd geners dont believe in car payments, glad you fixed it.

scrapper · 08-25-2020, 09:06 PM

Lots of new shit so I can keep my girl! However, my other girl doesn’t particularly know what the hell Im thinking but dammit... I love my 4R!

Majkmichael · 08-26-2020, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formidable

Grab a bottle of blue devil head gasket sealer. Give that a go first. Worked on my 99 4runner. That thing was spewing white smoke. Ran a bottle of blue devil and problem solved. $20 ended up saving me a major repair bill. Interesting stuff. Polymerizes at the site of maximum temperature discrepancy to produce a seal. Essentially repairs the hole or tear in your head gasket.

I did the same with K Seal on my 02. Still holding perfectly

jwkiss0 · 09-25-2023, 07:01 PM

Same situation at 178,000 miles and my quote was $5k min and about $8k with new heads. Either parts have went way up or I’m getting ripped off.

mtbtim · 09-25-2023, 08:40 PM

At your mileage, the money is better spent on a quality rebuilt engine. I wouldn't put $2500 into an engine with 290k miles.

Some would recommend the JDM used engine route, but that is a serious crap shoot. You have no way of knowing how many miles are on that engine. No way! You're taking some person's word for it that you don't know. That's a huge risk.

It sounds like you don't turn wrenches and that is unfortunate. I have a video series that would show you step by step how to swap out the engine. I also have a video series on how to replace the heads.

brillo_76 · 09-25-2023, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwkiss0

Same situation at 178,000 miles and my quote was $5k min and about $8k with new heads. Either parts have went way up or I’m getting ripped off.

178k blown gaskets might have got hot in the past. Everything is extremely expensive now. It's probably depending on your area what the labor rate is.

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