head gaskets again!

[6cyliners]

I replaced headgaskets back in '06 at 100000 miles. Now my '94 4runner has 141000 miles. I noticed that temp gauge takes a while to show a reading. A week later radiator was half empty. I know that I have about 2-3 weeks to go before oil and coolant will start mixing again.
So this is a third time it blew up. Dealer fixed it once at 60k, I did it in '06 and now again. Something is telling me that even if I do fix it now I'll be doing again after 40-50k miles. Please tell me I'm wrong!
Thanks

 

[markfagus]

I sure hope you are wrong! I am just about finished with replacing my HG and it is not something I want to do again....EVER!!!!!

 

[6cyliners]

Update!
Found milkshake during last oil change. Pulled the heads and found HG blown again. Last set lasted 47k miles. I'm alomost done replacing them. Maybe, third time is a charm...

 

[hoe_nah]

Did I have the heads checked to see if they are flat? Maybe the block is no good...what did u do the last time u did the heads? Rebuild?

 

[92-SR5]

Those are such a PITA. I would buy new heads, that's what I did in my 88 however I parted it out instead of fixing it.

 

[SwiftRunner]

Those are such a PITA. I would buy new heads, that's what I did in my 88 however I parted it out instead of fixing it.

I beg your pardon, that doesn't make sense. Did you part it out after you bought the new heads?

 

[BucknutBob]

Maybe you should invest in some headers this time around, 6cyliners. You'll pull the heat away from that back corner where the gasket usually fries, and you'll get a nice boost in power for the effort. That way you can consider the money spent as an investment, instead of merely an expensive repair.

 

[GonOvr]

I concur, headers are the way to go. That way you ditch the crossover pipe. Your heads will like the heat reduction that's for sure

 

[OTTERYOTA]

right on

I concur, headers are the way to go. That way you ditch the crossover pipe. Your heads will like the heat reduction that's for sure

I third that on headers it seems like most 3.0l head gaskets go out on driver side near cross over!!!!! I know thats where mine blew out as well. If you do redo the heads at least put a better heat shield around the cross over.

 

[92-SR5]

I beg your pardon, that doesn't make sense. Did you part it out after you bought the new heads?

I didn't feel like doing the same thing over again. That was the problem I had with that engine. The HG will blow again eventually even if you do fix it right. It wasn't worth it to me on a POS 4runner, I'd rather fix one that was a nice vehicle to begin with. I made more money parting it out than I had into the whole vehicle anyways.

 

[6cyliners]

Last time I had the heads redone and check block with straight edge. Headgasket came from enginebuilder(sp?) Ted I believe. This time I was kinda pissed. So, I oredered a cheapest set from ebay with headbolts and slapped it back together. Hoping to get 2 more years out of it while looking for another core to rebuilt or ls 5.3 swap.

 

[hoe_nah]

Did u use new headbolts the first time?

 

[priestsallore]

my 3.slo is at 318k and last time I had the HG replaced was more than 100k-150k miles ago... Check your block, the heads themselves, and if there's additional heat going to the HG's for possible leaks or anything of the sort.