Blown Engine!

[1998SR5]

I had previously put 200K on an 80s Extra-Cab and so did not expect my 1998 v-6 to grenade on the highway the way it did. I hope some old hands can help figure out what happened. I bought it at 60K and had 115K on it last week when it detonated. I used a few helpful guides to do the timing belt, water pump, thermostat, plugs, fuel filter, engine coolant, trabsmission fluid/screens, and differential fluid over the last 40K. Timing belt, water pump, & throttle body spacer were the most recent projects at 109K. I have always used "high milage" semi-synthetic oil with a K&N filter. There were no warning rattles like a rod had given up or idioit lights like an oil line came apart...just BANG. Something gave up in a big way and came through the engine block. The engine is basicly a boat ancor now. It's a 2wd family mover to us. I have never towed anything with it. Really, I'm at a complete loss. It's been pampered. The only symptom was a tendency for the engine to surge when cold while accelerating. I had attributed this to the throttle body as it promised torque gains and it did not seem to hurt anything. The folks at Toyota customer support could care less and will not allow me to speak to an engineer.

 

[kregg]

Wow... that sucks...

 

[trd_style]

I have about 147k miles on my '97 already. Haven't given me any problems for engine wise. Only suspension problem but that's about it. I've always taken care of oil myself but other engine problems, i just send it to the shop. But sorry about your vehicle. I'm afraid my time might end soon but hopefully it'll reach over 200k miles.

 

[MARSHALLMAY]

if it has been pampered, maintained and you are the only owner and nobody before you has ragged on it. Then you must have some bad luck. It's not often a motor much less a toyota motor comes apart for no reason. We've all heard of toys lasting 300k+

hhmm what is your production date?
i wonder if the dude working on the assembly line that put your motor together aslo did mine...
or maybe he just had a hangover that day...

but a 98 with that many miles, good luck getting sympathy or cooperation from dealers or toyota. Looks like you'll have to fork over some serious dough.

Just look on the bright side, new motor, you can depend on that for another 8 years or more

 

[1998SR5]

Well, that's a good point. I bought it at 60K and began maintaining it there. Still, I would have expected a few symptoms before failure.