oljedi11950
New member
This is V6 ? Trying get part no, so the 1 posted by calimander might be V8 ?
2004 Limited Edition 4Runner 4X4 - Head Gasket
- Thread starter TracyScram
- Start date
S Brake
New member
His is a V6, checked the VIN through autocheck. I'm contemplating upgrading to a 4th gen next year and I gotta say that this thread is making me second guess that decision. Interestingly I haven't seen any reports of an 03 having head gasket issues.
oljedi11950
New member
No pretty much all that let their coolant maybe get low or ran low on oil , good engine just aluminum block not like 3rd gen Blackworksinc seems to think might have been bad HG gasket design , so far mine is ok so......me knocking on wood !!
oljedi11950
New member
10-4 they keep these guys busy though
Carl_G
Member
Thanks very much and I do apologize.
I definitely have "egg on the face"
egg on your face
To be extremely embarrassed. Usually the embarassment is the result of one's own actions. Not sure of the origin, but it may come from when clowns are at a circus and they have eggs thrown at them because of their goofy acts or when actors had eggs thrown at them performing in plays a couple of centuries ago.
Calimander
New member
[No message]
ToyDiehard
New member
Add me to the list.
Same symptoms as everyone else is talking about, mine with just over 137,000.
Same symptoms as everyone else is talking about, mine with just over 137,000.
chmura
New member
I wonder when Toyota switched over to the new head gasket design, anyone know?
I have a 2009 MY 4runner which is the last year of the 4th gen. Wonder if I have the old style or a the new style headgasker.
Shouldn't our 4.0 V6 be the same as the Tacoma and FJ Cruiser? I havent read about any head gasket failures on them.
I have a 2009 MY 4runner which is the last year of the 4th gen. Wonder if I have the old style or a the new style headgasker.
Shouldn't our 4.0 V6 be the same as the Tacoma and FJ Cruiser? I havent read about any head gasket failures on them.
4runnerwithasack
New member
Open up the hood and start wrenching and find out why its such a huge price tag on labor...!~~
Iam very well versed in mechanics and engine and tuning, and I Def. didn't want to tackle that job!! Specially in a lifted 4runner. I gladly paid someone $2000 to save myself the hell~ I opted for a full motor rebuild as he only charged me an extra $1600 on top of the price and my wife working for corporate toyota got me all parts at a discounted price.
I had my head gaskets go out at 132000 last Oct. Had a problem with my #4 cylinder and cold starts making my engine bog. After replacing all fuel injectors 2 coils and all new plugs, an Independent repair shop suspected bad head gasket, as my coolant levels were getting low. No signs of leaks anywhere and ran strong except for morning starts.
But all is good and thousands of dollars later im quiet happy but now looking to sell...
Rebuilding of my engine is over. I replaced HGs and all parts included to gasket kit. Unfortunately i had to replace timing chain cover (large piece of aluminium) because of deformated oil pump body. As my mechanic said the reason of deformated pump body was overheating. But no overheating occured.
1BadGixxer
New member
I've been dreading replying to this thread, but mine has just failed. I have 112,xxx miles and its been stumbling at cold startup for about 2 weeks now. It threw a code P0306. I also noticed that my overflow tank is about full and the cooling system doesnt have the vaccum to draw it back in the radiatior. I poured it back in manually, just to keep from overheating. Never overheated. Changed the plugs and rearranged the coil packs. No code since, (a week) but still have some stumbling at cold start occasionally and the coolant issue. I called Toyota cunsumer affairs, they told me the have no documented cases of this happening. I gave them this link, also a link to toyota120 and said heres a few hundred documentations. She acted like she wrote down the link, I doubt she actually did. I'm dreading the dealer, the job is a bit too much for me to do myself, and I dont have an extra car to drive while this is being fixed. This sucks. I bought a toyota so I wouldnt have to deal with this kind of trouble.
nghiS4
New member
I just bought an '04 Ltd as a 2nd vehicle, with 133k from a Toyota dealer. Local car, has complete clean history, always dealer serviced every 5k miles. All major services done at stealership. Even stuff like coolant & transmission fluid was completely flushed at 30k. So I feel good about it having been well maintained. But you guys have got me scared now. Just hope I can keep it going for 200k+ without major repairs.
I know NHTSA is more about safety recalls, but I see others posting engine issues. Maybe if enough of us (who have this issue) post, someone will take notice. At least it will provide further documentation, should more & more of our trucks have this HG problem. Perhaps then would Toyota take action. Here's a direct link:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners...=1629&referenceSearch.urlCode=KMMECI1NEIV9XJ2
I know NHTSA is more about safety recalls, but I see others posting engine issues. Maybe if enough of us (who have this issue) post, someone will take notice. At least it will provide further documentation, should more & more of our trucks have this HG problem. Perhaps then would Toyota take action. Here's a direct link:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners...=1629&referenceSearch.urlCode=KMMECI1NEIV9XJ2
Looks like I got a blown head gasket on my 04 V6, 140k miles. Losing coolant, milky stuff under oil cap, no overheating or other symptons if I make sure radiator is full (like checking it couple of times a week). Has Toyota sadly regressed (or on par with the earlier 2nd gen HG problems)?
Jeff T
Member
I suspect my engine only has a HG breaching point under a particular operating condition (engine temp, load, etc) at the moment. No bubbles in overflow reservoir, oil looks normal. But air/gas fume present in radiator (rad cap changed), so at some point, exhaust gas got into cooling system, but not constant. I'm afraid it's going to get worse as time goes by.
Ruled out condensation under oil cap, since it happens after extended drives.
Ruled out condensation under oil cap, since it happens after extended drives.
Baba Booey
New member
Last week, I had a CEL and rough idle at start-up. I took my 2006 V6 with 120k miles to an indie mechanic, and he said that I had a P0304 code (misfire #4 cylinder). He changed the plugs and the #4 cylinder coil pack and added some injector cleaner. He mentioned to me that I could possibly be looking at a HG issue based upon his recent experiences.
So far, the misfire has not returned. After what the mechanic said, I came here looking for info. As you can see, I've been a member since I bought my T4R new, but I haven't posted in a while (after the newness wore off). Anyway, the symptoms sound exactly like the others with HG failure.
Has anyone else had these symptoms and cured them with plugs/coils/injectors, or does it always turn out to be a HG?
Is it worth fixing or would I be better off trading? The plan was to let my 14 year old son drive the '06 in two years and then replace it with another T4R. Dumping it now and taking on a new payment would really mess up those plans. That would leave my son without the '06, and he has been really looking forward to the day when he could drive it.
Also, Toyota would somehow need to address this and reassure me that the 1GR-FE in the new 4Runners won't have this issue, or I will be looking to spend my money elsewhere.
So far, the misfire has not returned. After what the mechanic said, I came here looking for info. As you can see, I've been a member since I bought my T4R new, but I haven't posted in a while (after the newness wore off). Anyway, the symptoms sound exactly like the others with HG failure.
Has anyone else had these symptoms and cured them with plugs/coils/injectors, or does it always turn out to be a HG?
Is it worth fixing or would I be better off trading? The plan was to let my 14 year old son drive the '06 in two years and then replace it with another T4R. Dumping it now and taking on a new payment would really mess up those plans. That would leave my son without the '06, and he has been really looking forward to the day when he could drive it.
Also, Toyota would somehow need to address this and reassure me that the 1GR-FE in the new 4Runners won't have this issue, or I will be looking to spend my money elsewhere.
2big4arunner
New member
I agree with some of the posts that at 120k miles it is about time for the headgasket to be replaced anyways. Its not meant to last forever and be grateful that other items never need replacing. They could have gone with a metal head gasket if anyone makes it now and also ARP head studs (you can order those instead of head bolts, way better). This will probably solve the issue for the rest of the life of the 4runner. These are performance upgrades and cost more then the head bolts and gaskets would from day 1.
What I would suggest is get the head gasket replaced using ARP bolts OR get a motor from an auto-wrecker with low km from a newer 4runner/tacoma that will bolt/plug in and trust the original spec's while having spare parts on your motor. I would choose the motor and transmission option because I have more km (185k miles) and a 4 speed auto. I would like to get the 5 speed upgrade for the v6 (*looks up at your year and knows you have the same setup)
If you choose to rebuild your motor expect between 1 and 2 thousand dollars. Both heads need to be resurfaced and cleaned - $500+, gaskets for the top end 100-400 dollars depending on who you buy off of, and the actual labor to be performed which isn't that bad on this motor since the engine is so easy to access. Also be ready to recharge the a/c incase they unhook it.
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2big4arunner
New member
That condensation that they talked about is from short drives where the engine doesn't heat up enough to evaporate the moisture in the air so it joins with the oil and causes that look as well. I have seen it before and it takes a drive around once a week for 50 or so kilometers (30 miles) to get rid of it without changing the oil.
