Head gaskets

[ToyNutt]

Changed my oil today and noticed my passenger side HG beginning to leak pretty good. What are the best gaskets to get and how long of a job should it be to replace? I can do the work but with working 7 daw I don't have time. Just wondering if I should take it to the shop or take a day of work. Any idea of what a shop would charge?

 

[brian2sun]

What are you seeing leaking, oil or coolant? Does your oil look like chocolate milkshake?Is there excessive water and/or white smoke coming out of the exhaust? Loss of power? Are you loosing coolant?

It's a common noob mistake to think valve cover leaks are head gasket leaks, so are you sure it's not just your valve covers that are leaking? That's a helluva lot easier and cheaper task. HGs are an expensive, very labor intensive job. You'll be looking at anywhere from $1500-$3000 depending on what shop you take it to if it is actually a HG leak.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Brian is right. He also had a cracked head and advised me on my current fix.

I recently discovered a HG issue and it turned out to be a cracked head. My engine was misfiring and it sounds like yours is running fine so that is good.

Link to thread about my HEAD issues > http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/88502-head-gasket-fail-199-840-now-what.html

Give more info about your truck and symptoms.

What year, how many miles, ect...
:beer:

 

[ToyNutt]

It's actually the valve cover gaskets and it's only oil.

 

[brian2sun]

Yeah ok. Your looking at a $300 job or so - not a $2K HG job.

 

[ToyNutt]

Guy I know at local Toyota dealer said $250 with parts. Is that a good enough deal to keep me from doing it? Looks like a lot of s!*# to remove just to get to the covers.