1992 head gasket blowout

[lifer]

Comrades! lol!

I've been lurking here for a few years because I love my '92 4Runner. I'm sad that it had a major failure (2 days ago). I am considering to part with it. It drove great until the last several hours and then spewed fluids all over the ground. I think my head gasket blew out. I had noticed a gap in the exhaust sound near the manifold for several weeks when the engine was cold. That was probably the clue I should have responded to!

When the fluids broke loose, the exhaust pipes and muffler was hot. It smoked so much! Increasing to point I thought it was literally going to ignite! Fortunately it did not.

The parking lot was not perfectly flat and so I had fluids running down the exhaust pipe and and most noticeably the muffler area. Can a blown head gasket put fluid into my exhaust? Or was that likely running on top of the pipe? Hell I dunno! lol! Needless to say I am not a car mechanic. Not even a car guy. Not even close! It seemed like a mixture of water and petroleum product. I smelled a rich odor like fuel. If my radiator had red-colored antifreeze in it, then that may explain the red color. At first i thought it was transmission or gearbox fluid running out too!

BTW, I have read over 20 threads about the head gasket issues and repairs. It does not sound like an easy job. More like one of the hardest! lol! The folks that take it on, are amazing.

If indeed my problem is the head gasket, what is a likely range of cost of repair? $1500-2000 at a private shop? I asked a service advisor at a Toyota dealership if the ballpark price of the repair is over $2500 and he said "easy". He's assuming I will abandon this rig and get another.

This is the 3rd time for the head gasket in the life of the vehicle. It happened twice before 100K miles and the Toyota dealer fixed it at no charge.

Current mileage is less the 230K miles. I really do not want to abandon the vehicle. It's in tremendously good condition for the classic status. Never been in a wreck, etc. It's sweet! Just needs someone to take it to the next level.

If anyone here is interested in giving it the TLC that it deserves, then please contact me.

I need to make a decision as to whether I repair the head gasket or find my baby a good home. I am original owner. Purchased new in 1992.

Thanks for reading!

Oh... I have been reading the 5th-gen threads... I have not driven a modern 4Runner. The body style really takes a little getting used to, coming from 2nd gen. What does it drive like in comparison to my '92? I presume this is the best place to ask for a comparison to 2nd gen.

I noticed the turning circle on the new one is exactly the same as my 1992, 37.4 ft (e.g. 18.7' turning radius). Is this a common thing for a truck or SUV manufacturer to carry the same specification on a model for 20 years? One thing I like about my 4Runner is the maneuverability for a SUV/truck.

Thanks again!
Keith
SF Bay Area

 

[Hyde802]

Might want to look into a whole engine swap with a lower mileage motor, or the very common 3.4 swap.

Everything is fixable.

 

[4runnin83]

I'm sorry to hear that Keith. My experience with blown HGs are less violent. Sounds more like your blowing coolant from somewhere, punctured radiator, hose, etc. On the back of the block right above the exhaust manifold on the PASS side is a the coolant 'bypass' unit. Perhaps that gasket took a dump and thats where you're leak is coming from. I would look into something of that nature being the culprit. Good luck.

When the HG goes, theres coolant in the oil, and oil in the coolant. Also when you cranked her up, you would notice white smoke just like when you sea foam.

Found a pic of the coolant bypass http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attac...-head-gasket-diy-advice-3vze-water-outlet.jpg

 

[92-SR5]

Sorry to hear that. I know, it's a hard choice to either part with the rig or swap the same engine or just do a motor swap. When my 88 blew I was going to rebuild it. Long story short I parted it out and came across my 92.
If your rig is in as good of condition as you say, I would personally just 3.4 swap it. It would be about the same money as replacing it anyways.
You could also just get a rebuilt 3.0, just get some headers on it to avoid toasting the head.

 

[lifer]

Everyone's posts are very supportive and encouraging! I appreciate it. I've decided to fix it.

I "think" that I may have a good mechanic... Or rather, I will find out now!

I am interested in this 3.4 swap. How much is that expected to cost? engine and labor? As a layperson, it seems like a whale of a lot more work to replace the engine compared to repairing the head. I guess a lot!

And what additional detail can I learn about the 3.4 engine. Is there a model number? Or would the mechanic know what the 3.4 is? I want to ask him about that option. BTW, What kind of vehicle is this 3.4 usually found in?

What would the pros and cons of the 3.4 swap vs. the mechanic's suggestion to fix the head gasket with the revised head gasket kit. Did Toyota somehow design a new and better head gasket for this particularly old engine? Does that even sound legit?

Are there other things that would be convenient to have evaluated / repaired / upgraded while the head gasket repair is happening?

Thanks!
Keith

 

[4runnin83]

The 3.4 engine is the 5vzfe, 96-2002 v6 4runners. I was actually just looking on ebaymotors and there are complete engines for around 1400. However, you'll have to ask the pros on here whether the transmission mounts up to it or not. I doubt it does. Most of us on here that do engine swaps, do it in our own shops at home, most shops unless specialty shops wont even tackle the job. Best of luck to you.

 

[lifer]

Thank you! That's very helpful info!