diverscale
Member
Thank you so much for sharing your vast experience and wisdom in gasket designs of OEM vs fel-pro
Confirmed bad headgasket, what else shall I replace “while I’m in there”
- Thread starter CoCoCo4Runner
- Start date
Thank you so much for sharing your vast experience and wisdom in gasket designs of OEM vs fel-pro
Kanoe
New member
When doing the head gasket for my echo, my dealer suggested a Toyota packaged top end gasket kit that included everything I needed and more. Price was very reasonable.
I wonder if they have a similar part number for a 3.4 kit?
Any fel-pro gasket I have used eventually had to be replaced with oem. I won’t use them again personally.
I wonder if they have a similar part number for a 3.4 kit?
Any fel-pro gasket I have used eventually had to be replaced with oem. I won’t use them again personally.
CoCoCo4Runner
New member
Will do. The Yotashop kit seems to come with an MLS gasket, which I’m not sure is compatible with my engine or not.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
19963.4lsr5
New member
It’s preformed well for my 2 97’s I put them on.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
CoCoCo4Runner
New member
Good to know! I know Toyota revised it from composite to MLS for 1999, so clearly they realized it’s the better option
I bet you're a blast at a party, eh? Why do you have such a problem with me sharing my opinion which differs from your opinion? You must be a mechanic, right? Or an engine builder?
NachesPass4x4
Member
I have done a lot of head gaskets. Not on 3.4's but 22R/22RE's. Replacing aftermarket Head gaskets (especially fel pro) that failed in 10-15K miles has made me a fair bit of money. The cost difference between a aftermarket and oem 22re gasket is about $25. If you compare oem and Fel pro head gaskets, the quality difference is obvious. Oem only for any engine I work on.
I have never used an MLS head gasket but guys I know and trust speak highly of them. I believe the head needs to be re surfaced with the correct finish for an MLS gasket.
I have never used an MLS head gasket but guys I know and trust speak highly of them. I believe the head needs to be re surfaced with the correct finish for an MLS gasket.
Last edited:
CoCoCo4Runner
New member
I went with an oem composite kit from Yotashop
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
19963.4lsr5
New member
There is a lot of block prep to replacing head gaskets. The most important is chasing the headbolt threads. Any head gasket will fail if the prep work wasn’t done and the torque stages followed. It’s hard to blame it on a specific brand.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
CoCoCo4Runner
New member
Took a day off to wrench on the 4runner again, does the timing appear off? Not that it matters too much, as the belt is coming off
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
CoCoCo4Runner
New member
I’m ready to send this truck off a cliff, this is so unnecessarily difficult. I’ve tried a 1/2” impact and it won’t budge
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
CoCoCo4Runner
New member
I got it out eventually, lots of heat and PB blaster
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
CoCoCo4Runner
New member
Probably the final update for this engine, she’s dead Jim…
Got the cams and heads off, on the drivers side head the intake cam and journal was absolutely shredded, I have no idea what could have possibly done this. I took the heads to a machine shop and he said he could fix it but it wouldn’t be worth the time or cost and suggested I find a lower mile 5VZFE.
Feeling quite dejected right now [emoji20]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Got the cams and heads off, on the drivers side head the intake cam and journal was absolutely shredded, I have no idea what could have possibly done this. I took the heads to a machine shop and he said he could fix it but it wouldn’t be worth the time or cost and suggested I find a lower mile 5VZFE.
Feeling quite dejected right now [emoji20]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That's a goner man. Sorry about the outcome but I think a low mile 5VZ was a better option from the start due to the the motor being much fresher than the current one you have. Did you hear any strange knocking when it was in one piece? Curious about the mileage too.
CoCoCo4Runner
New member
250k, ran completely fine aside from the puffing smoke at startup. I’m amazed it ran at all! I agree in hindsight it was a better idea, but I was seeing $2000ish for a low mile engine plus a reseal/timing belt kit vs $700 or so for a headgasket kit and machined heads.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1aimpire
New member
Where did you find a low mileage engine at the price?
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
