1GRE- FE head gasket was redesigned when?

[cmoore50]

Long short, I'm thinking of trading the 4Runner in for an 2007 (V6 Sport) with about 104,000 miles. My current 4runner needs some work. I worry about putting excessive money into it with having a potential head gasket issue down the road. I currently have about 179,000.

Can anyone confirm if and when Toyota redesigned the head gaskets in the V6's?

 

[JEL]

I always hear 03-05 were problematic, whereas 06+ is safe (barring the odd defect or overheat), but I can't give a concrete answer. There is a Toyota master tech on the forums here and I have seen him quote the 06+ as being updated as well, but when I was researching buying I don't think I ever saw one 06+ with a headgasket issue like the 03-05, and many of those 06+ trucks had well north of 150k on them as well without a hiccup.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

There's been much speculation that '06+ 1GR-FE engines had a superseded headgasket in them. I haven't been able to find much evidence besides a superseded part number and an odd correlation between the the time of the updated part being introduced (it appears to be around '05 or '06) and a greatly reduced instance of overheating/blown headgaskets in '06+ vehicles. Not to mention the uncanny similarities between almost all '03-'05 known headgasket cases failing at cylinder 6. So many of us (including myself) believe Toyota quietly introduce an updated headgasket inline with the 4th gen production run (meaning they simply started using the updated part with no fanfare/TSB/notification.)

 

[robtmc]

So many of us (including myself) believe Toyota quietly introduce an updated headgasket inline with the 4th gen production run (meaning they simply started using the updated part with no fanfare/TSB/notification.)

Kinda got that impression. Thanks for chiming in with the view from the seat of knowledge..............

 

[Sporin]

I feel your pain as I recently purchased a 2005 with 145k miles on it before really researching the HG issue. :dizzy: I had heard about it but didn't give it nearly enough pre-research. Luckily, I have Zero signs of HG issue 5k miles later.

From everything I've read here, it seems the part number changed mid-2005, and it was a running change in the trucks.

I'm hoping I got lucky and have the good one (a late build perhaps?) but I guess only time will tell. I'd like to think that all-good at 150k miles means I'm out of the woods. (fingers crossed)

 

[wnelax04sr5]

a lot of people on here, [MENTION=15213]MikeInNH[/MENTION] is one of them, will tell you that HG issues on 03-05's especially were direct results of overheating, and not just pure failures

 

[BRossman]

I run the highest volume Toyota shop in the NW, from what we've seen over the years head gasket failures on the 1gr usually do have an over heat condition in their history. I can't recall one outright failing with out having some kind of cooling system failure.

 

[ben550]

I run the highest volume Toyota shop in the NW, from what we've seen over the years head gasket failures on the 1gr usually do have an over heat condition in their history. I can't recall one outright failing with out having some kind of cooling system failure.

good news. i was concerned reading this thread...

That goes for any engine. overheating kills cars. I saw a co-worker of mine drive in the other day with coolant spewing out of his car. we looked and his radiator was cracked. he said no big deal and proceeded to drive home with no coolant... he blew his engine... it was a VW.

 

[MikeInNH]

a lot of people on here, @MikeInNH is one of them, will tell you that HG issues on 03-05's especially were direct results of overheating, and not just pure failures

I did NOT say they were...because I have no proof that they all were. I did say overheating is the most likely cause. Aluminum engines and overheating HAS been the cause of many head gasket failures on many other vehicles over the years...and it is a likely cause. Aluminum engines are far more likely to have head gasket failures if you overheat them then iron block engines. I personally know of TWO head gasket failures on the V6 4runner and both caused from overheating. I have over 260k miles on my 4runner...and head gaskets are fine.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

I did NOT say they were...because I have no proof that they all were. I did say overheating is the most likely cause. Aluminum engines and overheating HAS been the cause of many head gasket failures on many other vehicles over the years...and it is a likely cause. Aluminum engines are far more likely to have head gasket failures if you overheat them then iron block engines. I personally know of TWO head gasket failures on the V6 4runner and both caused from overheating. I have over 260k miles on my 4runner...and head gaskets are fine.

excuse my post being too specific.

 

[cmoore50]

Thank you all for the replies. I love the vast wealth of knowledge that resides in this forum. Seriously, thank you guys.

 

[thatguy1988]

Just replaced my head gasket this weekend. 2004 with 208,500 miles on it. Never overheated and no leaks in the cooling system or low coolant. I got a misfire on cylinder #6 CEL after starting the engine,right as I started it up it had a rough idle. Never overheated the temp gauge never moved. The head gasket I replaced was a different design than the new ones I bought from Toyota. Had the heads and block checked and neither were warped at all. Valve seats are all solid,No leaks,not burning any oil or anything else that would concern you. If the new head gasket design has fixed the issue,I would expect at least 200-300k more out of this engine.

 

[hearno]

Just replaced my head gasket this weekend. 2004 with 208,500 miles on it. Never overheated and no leaks in the cooling system or low coolant. I got a misfire on cylinder #6 CEL after starting the engine,right as I started it up it had a rough idle. Never overheated the temp gauge never moved. The head gasket I replaced was a different design than the new ones I bought from Toyota. Had the heads and block checked and neither were warped at all. Valve seats are all solid,No leaks,not burning any oil or anything else that would concern you. If the new head gasket design has fixed the issue,I would expect at least 200-300k more out of this engine.

Who did you have do it? What did it run you?

 

[thatguy1988]

Who did you have do it? What did it run you?

My buddy helped me do it. He is a mechanic and we started at 11am on saturday and finished at 11pm on sunday. I paid for all of his food and gave him a little cash.

He said he's done one before at his shop and it was a little over 2k in labor.It's not that hard if you have the tools and know how to re-time the engine. It's just time consuming,everything is easy to get to and take apart. I'll post pics of some of the teardown.

 

[esmefuzh]

it seems the part number changed mid-2005, and it was a running change in the trucks.

 

[Cornelius]

150k on my '04 and I just found out last week that I have one of these $2k HG jobs to look forward to in the near future, except on mine it was the #2 cylinder misfiring in the morning.

No known overheats or prior issues with this vehicle. Previous owner took immaculate care of her and had records of all recommended maintenance done at the dealership -- at the correct mileage intervals, even.

Some of us just have bad luck, I guess.

 

[JEL]

it seems the part number changed mid-2005, and it was a running change in the trucks.

Makes sense from Toyota's standpoint to keep it as quiet as possible, I know the 3.0 and early 3.4 had issues, I'm sure they didn't want ANOTHER head gasket issue being publicized.

 

[Calimander]

I take issue with all the posts saying all the head gasket failures are the result of overheating. Where does this come from? The head gasket design was flawed, period. My 05 NEVER was overheated or had a coolant failure. I had (2) 95 4runners and both had their head gaskets fail, with neither one of them due to overheating. At least Toyota did the right thing back then and issued a TSB. This issue is exactly the same.

 

[Gecko123]

AGCO Automotive Repair Service - Baton Rouge, LA - Detailed Auto Topics - Symptoms of a Blown Head Gasket

 

[simple]

150k on my '04 and I just found out last week that I have one of these $2k HG jobs to look forward to in the near future, except on mine it was the #2 cylinder misfiring in the morning.

No known overheats or prior issues with this vehicle. Previous owner took immaculate care of her and had records of all recommended maintenance done at the dealership -- at the correct mileage intervals, even.

Some of us just have bad luck, I guess.

I'm about there, 116k on my 04. Did you get any warning lights?