2005 V6 Head Gasket

[bobdod04]

So its happened to me now too. Started up really rough yesterday morning, then smoothed out after about 30 seconds. CE, trac, etc. lights on. coolant was low. No signs of overheating, and it drove fine after, though lights still on. Have not tried starting it this morning after letting it sit for the night. I'll go to the local shop and get them to do the coolant test to confirm that its the head gasket. I have had 180k miles with few issues (aside from the front break calipers, which I just replaced for the second time).

The truck was fully dealer serviced for the first 100k miles (before I bought it) and all the service is documented. I've been doing my own maintenance for the past 80k miles, with strict fluid change intervals of 4k miles, using Toyota filters and Castrol oil. I would consider this truck impeccably well maintained and am shocked to see this.

I am sickened by how many other people are having this issue and yet Toyota hasn't done much for most folks.

Anyway, since I've been doing all of my own maintenance/repairs I don't really know where to start with looking for a shop to do the head gasket, or if its even worth doing on a 10 year old truck with this many miles. Can anyone recommend a good shop in the Philadelphia PA or Wilmington DE areas? I just don't have any clue where to start with this.

Would appreciate any advice from anyone who has gone through this.

 

[chmura]

Its best to to pop in a lower mileage used motor in there. I think this would be the cheapest solution and it is the way I would go. You can even do the engine swap yourself if you borrow someones cherry picker.

Or trade it into the dealer since it runs.

 

[bobdod04]

Its best to to pop in a lower mileage used motor in there. I think this would be the cheapest solution and it is the way I would go. You can even do the engine swap yourself if you borrow someones cherry picker.

Or trade it into the dealer since it runs.

Not sure how an engine replacement would be cheaper than a head gasket replacement unless you can source a complete engine and install it yourself... I don't have the facilities to do this myself.

I certainly wouldn't want to unload this on a dealer who may possibly pass it onto an unknowing customer. What goes around come around.

 

[radlynx]

don't just replace the head gasket not unless it happens so many times. it could be a fuel injector or sparkplug or the one that makes the spark. don't remember the name. if it happens again, get the codes note which cylinder. then, try swapping the injectors around or the other.

So its happened to me now too. Started up really rough yesterday morning, then smoothed out after about 30 seconds. CE, trac, etc. lights on. coolant was low. No signs of overheating, and it drove fine after, though lights still on. Have not tried starting it this morning after letting it sit for the night. I'll go to the local shop and get them to do the coolant test to confirm that its the head gasket. I have had 180k miles with few issues (aside from the front break calipers, which I just replaced for the second time).

The truck was fully dealer serviced for the first 100k miles (before I bought it) and all the service is documented. I've been doing my own maintenance for the past 80k miles, with strict fluid change intervals of 4k miles, using Toyota filters and Castrol oil. I would consider this truck impeccably well maintained and am shocked to see this.

I am sickened by how many other people are having this issue and yet Toyota hasn't done much for most folks.

Anyway, since I've been doing all of my own maintenance/repairs I don't really know where to start with looking for a shop to do the head gasket, or if its even worth doing on a 10 year old truck with this many miles. Can anyone recommend a good shop in the Philadelphia PA or Wilmington DE areas? I just don't have any clue where to start with this.

Would appreciate any advice from anyone who has gone through this.

 

[Vetteman15]

I had 162K miles on my 2004 V6 Sport when the head gasket started to leak at the number 6 cylinder. I am the only owner of the truck and have used mobile 1 synthetic in it since new and serviced it regularly. I went for a top end rebuild by the Toyota dealer in Frederick MD as I was not interested in having payments for a new 4Runner at the time. The dealer in Frederick MD beat the price of the local private shop and gave me a one year unlimited mileage warranty. The cost was around $3800.00. This was two years ago so the price may be different today.

If your truck was well serviced as mine has, it may be cheapest to go the top end rebuild. When the mechanic took the head off he noticed the cylinder bores still had the original cross-hatch (honing) markings from the factory. He indicated the engine looked as if it just came off the factory floor internally and suggested we could get a lot more miles out of it. The heads were not warped and I did not have to replace several internal parts because the parts showed little or no ware. He agreed that the synthetic oil helped here. I felt more comfortable with the decision to keep the truck after hearing this.

The engine now has 193K and runs great. If only I could keep the kids from trashing the inside

So if you go this route, get the best warranty you can on the work. I put 20K on the truck after the repair during the year the warranty was in place and did not have a problem, but if there was to be a problem I had options to get it fixed.

I hope you are able to find a good solution that works for you.

 

[flighht2k5]

Its best to to pop in a lower mileage used motor in there. I think this would be the cheapest solution and it is the way I would go. You can even do the engine swap yourself if you borrow someones cherry picker.

Or trade it into the dealer since it runs.

Not sure how an engine replacement would be cheaper than a head gasket replacement unless you can source a complete engine and install it yourself... I don't have the facilities to do this myself.

I certainly wouldn't want to unload this on a dealer who may possibly pass it onto an unknowing customer. What goes around come around.

x2 not sure why you would change the whole engine out for a head gasket.

 

[chmura]

x2 not sure why you would change the whole engine out for a head gasket.

2 reasons:

Some people had gone over 200,000+ miles on their engine when the head gasket poped. I certainly would not want to put $3800 into an engine with 200k+ miles and have the engine torn down and some mechanic making a mistake not torquing the head bolts and the head poping again after a year when warranty is up.

You can find a used engine for under $2k with 80k miles if you search. I have more confidence in a used engine where toyota assembled the engine at factory. I just do not trust mechanics since I do all my own work myself.

This guy paid $1400 for a used engine with $50k miles and did the swap himself.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/51415-engine-goner-warped-head-long-block.html

 

[flighht2k5]

2 reasons:

Some people had gone over 200,000+ miles on their engine when the head gasket poped. I certainly would not want to put $3800 into an engine with 200k+ miles and have the engine torn down and some mechanic making a mistake not torquing the head bolts and the head poping again after a year when warranty is up.

You can find a used engine for under $2k with 80k miles if you search. I have more confidence in a used engine where toyota assembled the engine at factory. I just do not trust mechanics since I do all my own work myself.

This guy paid $1400 for a used engine with $50k miles and did the swap himself.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/51415-engine-goner-warped-head-long-block.html

holy crap 3800 dollars to replace a headgasket? Are they made of gold? I replaced on on my fj60 and it was 900 dollars in labor and 200 on machining.

 

[Vetteman15]

holy crap 3800 dollars to replace a headgasket? Are they made of gold? I replaced on on my fj60 and it was 900 dollars in labor and 200 on machining.

I do need to clarify a few things. My total bill was $3800 and that also included a new water pump, alternator, some hoses, spark plugs, new chain tensioner, and a few other miscellaneous parts/fluids. If only the head gasket is to be replaced it could be less without the extra stuff I added. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[ebg18t]

Many of the HG repairs I recall being posted here were in the $2500-$3500 range.

 

[chmura]

holy crap 3800 dollars to replace a headgasket? Are they made of gold? I replaced on on my fj60 and it was 900 dollars in labor and 200 on machining.

Read post 5.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Modern engines tend to be more labor to do a head gasket. Particularly on six and eight cylinder engines. Not to mention that chain motors tend to have more labor inherent in them than a timing belt engine.

 

[flighht2k5]

Read post 5.

read post #9

 

[chmura]

read post #9

All those repairs are typical when doing a head gasket on a high mileage vehicle. Except for alternater and spark plugs. Plugs for the V6 are around $3 bucks each at the toyota dealer so it doesn't really increase the total bill by much. So that's not an issue here regarding the price.

Just face it, it's costly doing a head gasket replacement on a V6 motor with a timing chain.

 

[flighht2k5]

All those repairs are typical when doing a head gasket on a high mileage vehicle. Except for alternater and spark plugs. Plugs for the V6 are around $3 bucks each at the toyota dealer so it doesn't really increase the total bill by much. So that's not an issue here regarding the price.

Just face it, it's costly doing a head gasket replacement on a V6 motor with a timing chain.

interesting,
will you explain why its necessary to replace all of those on a chain drive engine? Ive never had an OHC engine so this is new to me.

 

[chmura]

interesting,
will you explain why its necessary to replace all of those on a chain drive engine? Ive never had an OHC engine so this is new to me.

Timing chain - over time the timing chain stretches so it's a no brainer to change a timing chain on a high milegae vehicle when doing a head gasket. The engine is torn down already. If the chain stretches too much it will increase noise and potentially can skip a gear and cause the valves to hit the top of the piston and bend.

Water pump and Hoses - usually head gasket failures are from over heating so you want to put in new radiator hoses in and water pump. These are cheap to replace. Again the motor is torn down already so changing the water pump out is just cost of the pump.

Fluids - always a good idea to put in new fluid. Coolant, oil, etc.

 

[zonianbrat]

I keep on reading about people and their failing head gaskets. I am getting close to 180k and am starting to feel like I am driving a ticking time bomb. Every time I check my oil now I hold my breath when I look for coolant level. I think I am with chmura on this one. I'd rather put a rebuilt motor with a guarantee on it before I sink that kind of money into a head gasket replacement. I guess time will tell.

 

[bobdod04]

Talked to a recommended indie guy who's done this type of work. He ball parked it at around $1400 without new studs. He sends the heads out to a machine shop for inspection/mag and resurfacing. I figure it would probably be ~$1800 with studs/water pump/thermostat. Didn't ask him about the chain/tensioner. If I can get all of this done for ~$2k, it seems like its worth while.

 

[CookieRoe]

I think it's safe to say, depending on one's situation, but:

blown headgasket:

if engine has less than 150K, job about $2-3K, could be worth it.
if engine has more than 150K, job about $2-3K, get another engine.

STILL, $2-3 is still cheaper than getting another SUV. Again, lots of other factors.

If mine were to "go" (I'm at 111K), I'd get the job done. I expect this rig to last at least to 250K miles.

 

[hearno]

I am getting close to 180k and am starting to feel like I am driving a ticking time bomb.

Mine had 122k on it and I felt the exact same way. I got so fed up thinking about it, I traded it in on a 14.