Head Gasket...ugh!

[kevin8629]

I noticed last week my coolant reservoir is down fluid by about an inch. So I start looking and sure enough I see some read flakes around the water pump housing. 168,000 mile is a little early for the second timing belt, but hey. Ordered the kit from Ebay, and start taking her apart. Get the cover off and looks like the head gasket on the passenger side center is leaking and running over to the other side and dropping down on top the thermostat housing. Funny thing is the truck has never ran hot in the 2 years I've owned it, never topped the fluid and there is not leaks under it. (I did change all fluids when I got her) Fluids all clean and it runs perfect. No codes no misses, use torque. Honestly to drive it you wouldn't know anything was wrong. I felt pretty good about changing the water pump and timing belt...but am afraid the head gasket is out of my league.....I feel from reading this leak is kinda unusual? Read a lot about the 3.0 leaking but not found much on the 3.4 unless it was an overheat issue. Figure the dealers gonna want a couple thousand to fix it..which sucks

 

[BlazeRunner]

Do you have any pics? Are you sure it's the HG?

 

[kevin8629]

Do you have any pics? Are you sure it's the HG?

I will take some but yes I'm pretty sure. What else could it be? Intake?

 

[BlazeRunner]

There are a few coolant passages up front under the intake manifold, could be the gaskets for that. That would suck if it is your HG but not the end of the truck or your bank account. Honestly though, if you're doing the water pump and timing belt and are quite comfortable with it, don't rule out being able to do the head gasket(s) yourself. There are a few write-ups around here and yotatech that would help walk you through it and you have this forum to help.

For clarification, when you say removed the cover, did you remove the cam gear pulleys and that rear timing cover? You can get a better look at everything with that off and maybe a better evaluation of your situation. Post those pics when you get a chance, the more info we have the better. I really am hoping for the best for you, I'm redoing my entire cooling system right now and have been through literally every part except HG's at this point so I feel your pain.

 

[96pearlrunner]

I just got done doing a headgasket on my 3.4L. the hardest part about it was getting the exhaust manifold nuts off because theres no room. everything else is not too bad. just remember to put a bolt through the scissor gears before you remove the camshafts. lmk if you need any tips.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Still could be the head gasket. It's possible the breach in the gasket was not between the coolant line and the combustion chamber (most common) but from the coolant line to the outside of the gasket.

Should be fairly easy to follow the leak, you'll find the crust everywhere that it has been. No crust, no leak, or at least not a major leak.

 

[kevin8629]

UPDATE: sorry its taking me a while to post about this. It wasn't the Headgasket..!! so relieved. As it turns out, it was the way the water pump was leaking and it was allowing coolant to pool in that area. With the help of a friend, I was able to clean it all up, change everything in the aircabinman kit off Ebay and get it back together. Its running leak free and purs like a kitten...lol. Did a pressure test and all is good. Thank you Gamefreakgc. Your statement no crust no leak made me want to investigate more thoroughly. There was no crust around the head gasket area, just the water pump, well and the thermostat housing. There's a video on youtube that shows a guy changing the timing belt, and it was very helpful as well. Thanks again to everyone who posted

 

[Paperjam]

Fyi the red Toyota coolant can CAUSE leaks from water pump weep holes and radiator hoses. It's very common in all toyotas using that coolant.

I know some of you would disagree with this, this comes from my own experience and a friend who is a master tech at Toyota. I would use the global yellow coolant.

 

[angus]

Fyi the red Toyota coolant can CAUSE leaks from water pump weep holes and radiator hoses. It's very common in all toyotas using that coolant.

I know some of you would disagree with this, this comes from my own experience and a friend who is a master tech at Toyota. I would use the global yellow coolant.

I've seen the red crusty reside that it leaves behind on lots of motors as well, I wonder if the difference is just that the red stuff leaves the crust and the green/yellow stuff just evaporates - giving the impression that it isn't actually leaking?

When I say leaking , I am referring to the "weeping" that we see.

 

[kevin8629]

I've seen the red crusty reside that it leaves behind on lots of motors as well, I wonder if the difference is just that the red stuff leaves the crust and the green/yellow stuff just evaporates - giving the impression that it isn't actually leaking?

When I say leaking , I am referring to the "weeping" that we see.

I used Toyota Red...I was under the impression that was the preferred coolant for our vehicles

 

[Paperjam]

I used Toyota Red...I was under the impression that was the preferred coolant for our vehicles

Technically it is. I've seen corollas and tundras with 50k kms on them with crusty waterpumps and rad end tanks.

It might happen it might not. Seems to be on vehicles that see lots of stop and go driving.

 

[angus]

Technically it is. I've seen corollas and tundras with 50k kms on them with crusty waterpumps and rad end tanks.

It might happen it might not. Seems to be on vehicles that see lots of stop and go driving.

Exactly, it seems hit and miss - for instance my GS400 went all the way to it's 100K km timing belt service and had the coolant it left the factory with still in there and still nice and clear looking.

It must depend on how you drive and where etc.

 

[oepuxuntom]

just remember to put a bolt through the scissor gears before you remove the camshafts.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

UPDATE: sorry its taking me a while to post about this. It wasn't the Headgasket..!! so relieved. As it turns out, it was the way the water pump was leaking and it was allowing coolant to pool in that area. With the help of a friend, I was able to clean it all up, change everything in the aircabinman kit off Ebay and get it back together. Its running leak free and purs like a kitten...lol. Did a pressure test and all is good. Thank you Gamefreakgc. Your statement no crust no leak made me want to investigate more thoroughly. There was no crust around the head gasket area, just the water pump, well and the thermostat housing. There's a video on youtube that shows a guy changing the timing belt, and it was very helpful as well. Thanks again to everyone who posted

I'm relieved for you that you didn't have to tear into the HG
Would you mind posting a link to the TB video that you found was helpful? I need to do that work soon.
Thanks.