2004 V6 Head Gasket How do they look are they bad.

[jeepgod]

My 4Runner has been loosing coolant for a while now. My mechanic determined that the Heater core was leaking and the system would not hold any pressure. I had him replace the heater core and now it holds pressure. The system now builds to much pressure and spits coolant out of the overflow tank. I put a pressure gauge on the rad and as soon as I started the engine it would star building pressure even when the engine was cold. A few days later it started running rough and threw code PO300 multiple cylinder misfire. Since the rad and thermostat and hose had all been replaced in the last year. I spoke with my mechanic and he agreed it was the head gasket and I gave him the go ahead to have the head gasket replaced.

He got the heads off today so I went down to look at the gaskets and he said he can't see anywhere that they are bad and the cylinders didn't have any coolant in them when he tore it apart. He thinks that head gasket where ok and not leaking. I just wanted other people opinion on the gaskets to see if they look bad or not. anyone else have similar problems with system over pressurizing.

Thanks



Gasket 1 Side A

1A by jeepgod20, on Flickr

Gasket 1 Side B

1B by jeepgod20, on Flickr

Gasket 2 Side A

2A by jeepgod20, on Flickr

Gasket 2 Side B

2B by jeepgod20, on Flickr

 

[fdbyrne]

I'm not a mechanic so I won't comment on what the gaskets themselves look like.

What I can say is that your symptoms match up perfectly with what the rest of us went through when our gaskets failed. If the heads hadn't already been removed, I'd recommend doing an extra long test for exhaust gasses in the coolant. I'm pretty sure you would have had a positive test. At this point, it doesn't really matter. The heads are off and you're committed. Send the heads to a machine shop for truing and a valve cleaning / lapping and put it back together. It doesn't make any sense to put it back together without doing that at this point.

 

[DZNUTS]

Before sending out the heads, get a calibrated straight edge and check to see if the block and head are within spec. If so, clean both surfaces, throw in the new gasket, and bolt it back together


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[jeepgod]

Thanks for the input. The heads are already at the machine shop to be trued up and have a valve job done. I am hoping once its all back together my problem has gone away.

 

[Austin1958]

Jeepgod, or anyone else. I've started a head gasket job on my 2004 4runner V6. I did not pull the engine.

I'm stuck at trying to remove the upper oil pan. Iv'e removed the 17 bolts and 2 nuts from the bottom of the pan, and the 4 bolts from the back housing.

I've tried using a screwdriver at the some of the pry points in the removal instructions. No luck. Can't reach some of these points.

Does anyone have any tricks to share on getting this PITA oil pan off?

Are help is greatly appreciated.

 

[benztech82]

Jeepgod, or anyone else. I've started a head gasket job on my 2004 4runner V6. I did not pull the engine.

I'm stuck at trying to remove the upper oil pan. Iv'e removed the 17 bolts and 2 nuts from the bottom of the pan, and the 4 bolts from the back housing.

I've tried using a screwdriver at the some of the pry points in the removal instructions. No luck. Can't reach some of these points.

Does anyone have any tricks to share on getting this PITA oil pan off?

Are help is greatly appreciated.

I used to use heat gun
on oil pans during my mechanic days. Just make sure to heat up complete area around and try to use a blade to cut through old silicone or gasket before prying with screwdriver or etc. Also make sure that you haven't missed any bolts anywhere.

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[Austin1958]

I used to use heat gun
on oil pans during my mechanic days. Just make sure to heat up complete area around and try to use a blade to cut through old silicone or gasket before prying with screwdriver or etc. Also make sure that you haven't missed any bolts anywhere.

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Thanks for the tip benztech82. I will give that a try.

 

[benztech82]

My buddy is a Yota dealer tech for 8 years and he says that our v6 had issues with burning trough headgaskets between 4-6 cylinder but it was such a rear occasion that Toyota never supplied any info to them on what condition had to be in place for gasket to fail. Also, since I'm a tech too, I have seen evaporation of water in coolant over longer period of time and that was normal. I just had to adjust coolant level with water and check strength to be around -40 celcious.

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[iBison]

My buddy is a Yota dealer tech for 8 years and he says that our v6 had issues with burning trough headgaskets between 4-6 cylinder but it was such a rear occasion that Toyota never supplied any info to them on what condition had to be in place for gasket to fail. Also, since I'm a tech too, I have seen evaporation of water in coolant over longer period of time and that was normal. I just had to adjust coolant level with water and check strength to be around -40 celcious.

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I'm not saying it is common but I don't think it's rare either judging by the number of people on here alone that have had head gaskets fail.