Another Head Gasket Thread

focalepointe

focalepointe

New member
I am not "new" on here. I was originally signed in on here as "noneckrex" However, this is my first post being back on here.
97 4Runner with 167k, has been sitting for roughly 5 months in a garage. I installed a new battery and fired it up. A beautiful cloud of collected dust came billowing out from the engine bay. I shut it down and and left it parked for the night. I came back the next day, started it up and 45 seonds into the run, I see white smoke coming from the rear portion of the engine. Immediately shut it down in fear for my life. Next day I research and come up with it possibly being the head gasket.
Good news is, the engine never overheated. Its never over heated while in my care and I have had it since 148K. So i am not too worried about the heads being warped.

Here is my question. ( i know you all knew it was coming )
When looking at Head Gasket kits online, there seems to be a significant price difference. When investigating, I cannot determine what the real difference in the kits are. Can anyone shed some light on this?

I will be turning this thread into write up, so any initial insight will be much appreciated.
 
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Personally when it comes to the engine I always go OEM from the dealer or one of the websites. There are several kits being sold on ebay from a Toyota dealer at the moment. One comes with spark plugs and wires, but I think they all come with head gaskets and plenum gaskets and a PCV valve.

There is already several write ups on this project. If you need a link to one let me know.
 
Are you sure your old profile is deleted? I would try emailing ADMIN and asking him to re-activate it or reset the password for you.

Regarding your head gasket issues, I have been through a similar ordeal.

I read your post and observed the following and have some questions.


Do you know for sure it is the head gasket?
Do you know which side / which head?
It could be a cracked head?
White smoke is an indicator but not a for sure.


Is it misfiring?
If so is it a constant misfire (yellow engine light flashing) or just misfired during previous operation but not now (solid RED CEL)


Have you taken it to a local mechanic for a legit compression test?
If so then post the numbers of each CYL here.


As far as a rebuild goes, there are so many options and it depends on your price range. If you answer the questions above then it will be easier to help you.

About the Gasket Kits, I would stick with OEM and get the parts from Camel Back Toyota's online parts department. You can call them and ask for help looking up the parts and tell them you want the internet price.

Here is my thread ----> http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/[email protected]
 
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focalepointe said:
I am not "new" on here. I was originally signed in on here as "noneckrex" However, this is my first post being back on here.
97 4Runner with 167k, has been sitting for roughly 5 months in a garage. I installed a new battery and fired it up. A beautiful cloud of collected dust came billowing out from the engine bay. I shut it down and and left it parked for the night. I came back the next day, started it up and 45 seonds into the run, I see white smoke coming from the rear portion of the engine. Immediately shut it down in fear for my life. Next day I research and come up with it possibly being the head gasket.
Good news is, the engine never overheated. Its never over heated while in my care and I have had it since 148K. So i am not too worried about the heads being warped.

Here is my question. ( i know you all knew it was coming )
When looking at Head Gasket kits online, there seems to be a significant price difference. When investigating, I cannot determine what the real difference in the kits are. Can anyone shed some light on this?

I will be turning this thread into write up, so any initial insight will be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

The main difference in the gaskets besides the price is the material they are made of. The cheap ones are made of graphite which is terrible at holding up to the heat stresses. The good ones like Fel-Pro or Beck Arnley are made from steel. Remember you get what you pay for. Don't do the job twice. I'm getting ready to do mine on my 96, I recently resealed the oil pan and found coolant dripping from the heads inside the crankcase! So I've been doing this research too.

I know wikipedia is crap sometimes, but this might help.

Head gasket - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Nelsontacoma said:
The main difference in the gaskets besides the price is the material they are made of. The cheap ones are made of graphite which is terrible at holding up to the heat stresses. The good ones like Fel-Pro or Beck Arnley are made from steel. Remember you get what you pay for. Don't do the job twice. I'm getting ready to do mine on my 96, I recently resealed the oil pan and found coolant dripping from the heads inside the crankcase! So I've been doing this research too.

I know wikipedia is crap sometimes, but this might help.

Head gasket - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick info, Nelsontacoma.
I will keep this in mind when purchasing.
 
A head gasket is not the job to try and save a couple bucks on. You want to get the best possible parts, unless of course you like pulling your engine multiple times.
 
BrianSD_42 said:
Are you sure your old profile is deleted? I would try emailing ADMIN and asking him to re-activate it or reset the password for you.

Regarding your head gasket issues, I have been through a similar ordeal.

I read your post and observed the following and have some questions.


Do you know for sure it is the head gasket?
Do you know which side / which head?
It could be a cracked head?
White smoke is an indicator but not a for sure.


Is it misfiring?
If so is it a constant misfire (yellow engine light flashing) or just misfired during previous operation but not now (solid RED CEL)


Have you taken it to a local mechanic for a legit compression test?
If so then post the numbers of each CYL here.


As far as a rebuild goes, there are so many options and it depends on your price range. If you answer the questions above then it will be easier to help you.

About the Gasket Kits, I would stick with OEM and get the parts from Camel Back Toyota's online parts department. You can call them and ask for help looking up the parts and tell them you want the internet price.

Here is my thread ----> http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/[email protected]
Click to expand...

I am not FOR SURE it is a head gasket at all. I am merely guessing. I planned on stripping the motor and replacing it anyhow. While in there, I will replace the timing belt and water pump as well.

I wouldnt mind taking it to a mechanic, but this rig is my "project" rig. It will be in my garage for months undergoing other repairs and upgrades before it is even close to being road worthy.

All I can tell you right now is, when I fire it up, white smoke comes from the rear of the engine. I am pretty sure its oil leeking onto the exhaust. I will know more in a few days. ITs been sitting for over 6 months. Prior to that, it never overheated or anything like that.
 
ALL:
I will end up purchasing a Beck Arnley Head Gasket Kit from Ebay. I found a new set from a seller named am-autoparts. $269.95 with Free Shipping.
Autozone carries Felpro but that will run me $395.91 even after my military discount. I am not realy worried about saving money with this project, but Beck Arnley seems to be a pretty reputable name.

I dont have any miss firing for sure. my CEL is not coming on at all nor is there any noticable loss of power or sputtering going on. I am confident that nothing further is wrong.

HOWEVER,
What can I pull from the motor, if anything, while I have it disected to take into a mechanic. Like I stated, this rig is far from road worthy. (rear end is stripped at the moment, undergoing a rear axle seal, bearings, and ABS rotor replacement) Even contemplating pulling the entire 3rd and sending to East Coast Gears for a gear swap and locker install.
 
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I dont have any miss firing for sure. my CEL is not coming on at all nor is there any noticable loss of power or sputtering going on. I am confident that nothing further is wrong.
Click to expand...

Given Your current symptoms or lack of a misfire I would hold off disassembling the engine. At least get a compression test. My point is if anything else is wrong and it isn't the heads or gaskets then you will have unnecessarily the engine apart.

Definitely braver than me, I have never done that kind of engine work. I had mine done by a professional shop.
 
BrianSD_42 said:
Given Your current symptoms or lack of a misfire I would hold off disassembling the engine. At least get a compression test. My point is if anything else is wrong and it isn't the heads or gaskets then you will have unnecessarily the engine apart.

Definitely braver than me, I have never done that kind of engine work. I had mine done by a professional shop.
Click to expand...

It's really not that bad of a job, I did it on my 97 a couple years ago, it took a week for me to do, just working on it when I got home from work and in no real hurry. The hardest part was reassembly, luckily I took lots of pictures of where everything goes.

Now my 99 is my daily driver and I am recovering from surgery, so this go around I may have a mechanic do it. When I lived in San Diego I had a mechanic I trusted, but I've yet to come across one here on the East Coast! It's not smoking or leaving any oil on the ground it just looks like its seeping out from the valve covers and when I pull in the garage I smell burnt oil.
 
BrianSD_42 said:
Given Your current symptoms or lack of a misfire I would hold off disassembling the engine. At least get a compression test. My point is if anything else is wrong and it isn't the heads or gaskets then you will have unnecessarily the engine apart.

Definitely braver than me, I have never done that kind of engine work. I had mine done by a professional shop.
Click to expand...

nuts and bolts Brian, nuts and bolts.
i drove trucks for the army and had to work on my own while overseas. you quickly realize that the most "duanting" tasks in mechanics, are realy not that bad at all.

I will most likely put it off a bit now though and mull it over before I proceed. the rear end will be stripped for a gooooooooooooood minute.
 
alaskaflyer said:
It's really not that bad of a job, I did it on my 97 a couple years ago, it took a week for me to do, just working on it when I got home from work and in no real hurry. The hardest part was reassembly, luckily I took lots of pictures of where everything goes.

Now my 99 is my daily driver and I am recovering from surgery, so this go around I may have a mechanic do it. When I lived in San Diego I had a mechanic I trusted, but I've yet to come across one here on the East Coast! It's not smoking or leaving any oil on the ground it just looks like its seeping out from the valve covers and when I pull in the garage I smell burnt oil.
Click to expand...


it doesnt seem bad at all. especially after reviewing the writeup you provided earlier in this thread.

actually looking forward to the wrench time.
 
I'm going to throw my .02 in here and say I HIGHLY doubt it's a head gasket. You're willing to just dive into doing the work without even properly diagnosis? Good luck!
 
BlackCat914 said:
I'm going to throw my .02 in here and say I HIGHLY doubt it's a head gasket. You're willing to just dive into doing the work without even properly diagnosis? Good luck!
Click to expand...

what are your thoughts then, as far as what you think it may be?

I dont mind the work because its not my DD. But all signs here, point to head gasket failure.

i do appreciate the input, sincerely. please validate your opinion.
 
focalepointe said:
what are your thoughts then, as far as what you think it may be?

I dont mind the work because its not my DD. But all signs here, point to head gasket failure.

i do appreciate the input, sincerely. please validate your opinion.
Click to expand...

for one, it's a bit unusual for it to be fine one day, then after sitting a bit, blow a bunch of white smoke from the engine compt. Head gaskets can leak oil externally, but usually they blow coolant which is consumed internally causing missfires and white smoke out of the exhaust. I'd be leaning more towards valve cover gaskets, since they tend to leak and drip on the exhaust manifolds and the crossover, which goes behind the intake near the firewall, and is VERY common on our 3.4's. I mean, it's possible the head gaskets are leaking, but you're going to kick yourself in the ass if you tear everything apart, spend $300 on parts, just to find out it needed a set of $50 v/c gaskets and 1/4 of your time to repair it. Just diagnose it properly. Compression/leakdown test it, or at a mimimum throw some oil dye in it and let it run to pinpoint the leak exactly.
 
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