"Ignore" V6 head gasket issue?

[RivMan]

So my 2006 4Runner (11/2005 build date) seems to have caught the head gasket bug at 227,000 miles. I noticed it was losing coolant slowly a few months ago, and this past week has developed a Cylinder 2 Misfire on startup that goes away in ~10 seconds.

Has anyone with this issue "ignored" it for a few months with no ill effects? What about the opposite, ignored it and ended up with a huge failure?

I plan to tackle this issue myself with a top end rebuild, new gaskets, resurface heads, new timing chain, etc... However I want to wait until spring when my other two cars come out of hibernation.

Thanks
-Rob

 

[Keros]

Has anyone with this issue "ignored" it for a few months with no ill effects? What about the opposite, ignored it and ended up with a huge failure?

My friend with Tacoma with the 4.0 had a headgasket failure. Should have been a simple job, but the machine shop found one of the exhaust camshafts to be cracked, adding $600 to the already sizable bill. He had ran it for quite some time with symptoms until it finally threw a code. Not a car guy, so just pretended there wasn't a problem until the ECU said there was.

YMMV

 

[bricew25]

I think your biggest worry would be overheating at some point and then warping your heads. At that point, a rebuild may be out of the question.

I know I have a small head gasket leak on my 05, but I have decided to do an engine swap if the day ever comes. Im just running this engine into the ground

 

[newton22]

I would use a head gasket sealer like Blue Devil. Even if you're not sold on the idea, you can clean out all of it via an engine rebuild + flush.

I plan to use a bottle as soon as my head gasket starts leaking a bit.

 

[radlynx]

You will be fine. If it starts misfiring all the time, then proceed with the repair.

 

[RivMan]

Thanks guys!

A couple more months of winter and I can take the truck down for a while to rebuild.

-Rob

 

[Elan750]

I went months with an early sign of a HG leak. Then it got totaled, im so glad I put it off haha.

 

[Captsolo]

I would use a head gasket sealer like Blue Devil. Even if you're not sold on the idea, you can clean out all of it via an engine rebuild + flush.

I plan to use a bottle as soon as my head gasket starts leaking a bit.

I have a 2005 V6 4runner with 150,000 miles. No HG problems, but I'm gonna try that Blue Devil when and "if" it shows up.

Runs like a top and coolant level has been perfect for 15 years.

Keep checking your coolant level in your overflow canister. If you get a bad engine miss at startup and white smoke out the exhaust, get it fixed.

Mrs. Linda Veri-Azzara posted on LinkedIn

 

[400k&counting]

My 03 has had a HG leak for 230k miles. I just change my one spark plug every 3rd oil change. I have around 430k on the clock

 

[hinmo24t]

for sure. youre in the one place youll find all the outliers among tens of thousands of 4runner owners in the world

 

[Outfront]

I have a 2005 V6 4runner with 150,000 miles. No HG problems, but I'm gonna try that Blue Devil when and "if" it shows up.

Runs like a top and coolant level has been perfect for 15 years.

Mrs. Linda Veri-Azzara posted on LinkedIn

Head gasket sealer was put in my v6 by previous owner. It overheated on me because this stuff clogged my radiator and it burst at the seam. When I repaired HG, I flushed many chunks of this sealer crap out of the coolant system.
I don't recommend it.

05 v6 2wd HG repaired at 183000 miles. Also new radiator, timing chain, water pump & hoses, installed trans cooler,
new serpentine belt w/ tensioner and pulleys.

 

[ruckerz]

I oddly have the same issue, cylinder 2 misfire only when cold, 185k miles. On mine though, the exhaust gases are leaking into the coolant, as evidenced by strong smell when I crack open the radiator. I also noticed that the coolant rises when I start the car cold, indicative of the exhaust gases building up. Short of the long, you’ll probably blow out a coolant line or crack your radiator or overflow your coolant tank as well. And that pressure build up will likely prevent the coolant from circulating around when the engine has low rpms (like idling in stop and go traffic) leading to an overheat.

I’m readying to replace the gasket when I get the head bolt bihex in the mail in a few days. Other than that I’m not driving it.

 

[sonicc]

Please don't use the head gasket sealer. It can work, sometimes, but whoever ends up rebuilding your engine is going to hate you for it, and if you're the one rebuilding it you'll hate yourself.

It's * probably * ok to drive for a short time if it's a small leak like you say, but the longer you drive like that the bigger the chance of warping the head (assuming it's aluminum) because you'll have more heat in that spot.

 

[Captsolo]

Head gasket sealer was put in my v6 by previous owner. It overheated on me because this stuff clogged my radiator and it burst at the seam. When I repaired HG, I flushed many chunks of this sealer crap out of the coolant system.
I don't recommend it.

05 v6 2wd HG repaired at 183000 miles. Also new radiator, timing chain, water pump & hoses, installed trans cooler,
new serpentine belt w/ tensioner and pulleys.

How do you know whaT BRAND OF HG SEALER THE PREVIOUS OWNER USED?

Whether BD will work depends on the severity of the HG leak. Read this Amazon review (the first one). OP has gone over 30,000 miles (two years) with the BD.

Amazon.com: Customer reviews: BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (38386)

2005 4runner SR5 with 150,000 miles and never an overheat or HG issue. Purchased new from Toyota dealer for $44,000 cash. To date never a check engine oil warning light, but have replaced three starters.

 

[importman]

I'm dreading the day when I have to deal with this. There have been two instances in the last 20k miles where it misfired at startup. The most recent time was today. When it did it I immediately ran to the back and smelled the exhaust for the smell of coolant, and thankfully there was none. Mine has 287k miles on it so when/if the head gasket blows I'll probably just replace the engine with one with lower miles. And it will definitely come from an 06-09 model so I don't have to stress about this anymore.

 

[The G-Man]

How do you know whaT BRAND OF HG SEALER THE PREVIOUS OWNER USED?

Whether BD will work depends on the severity of the HG leak. Read this Amazon review (the first one). OP has gone over 30,000 miles (two years) with the BD.

Amazon.com: Customer reviews: BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (38386)

2005 4runner SR5 with 150,000 miles and never an overheat or HG issue. Purchased new from Toyota dealer for $44,000 cash. To date never a check engine oil warning light, but have replaced three starters.

Whoa you spent $44k cash in 2005?

You way overpaid dude. I’ve got the purchase order in my glovebox for my 2005 Sport 4wd and it was $30k even


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[importman]

Whoa you spent $44k cash in 2005?

You way overpaid dude. I’ve got the purchase order in my glovebox for my 2005 Sport 4wd and it was $30k even


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I was thinking the same thing. Not totally sure I believe it.

 

[Captsolo]

Whoa you spent $44k cash in 2005?

You way overpaid dude. I’ve got the purchase order in my glovebox for my 2005 Sport 4wd and it was $30k even


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There is a 67%duty on the sticker price of a car when imported into Bahamas
Like a government tax.

 

[The G-Man]

There is a 67%duty on the sticker price of a car when imported into Bahamas
Like a government tax.

Ah yes sorry, forgot you’re in Bahamas


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[importman]

There is a 67%duty on the sticker price of a car when imported into Bahamas
Like a government tax.

Dang. They must have democrats running the show there.