My Engine Blew!

mrbee2828

mrbee2828

New member
Hi all. First post here on this forum. I've had a 1996 4Runner SR5 for about 5 years. I've kept up with it (or so I thought) and have never had any problems outside usual things like new tires etc. Yesterday on my way home my engine blew up. Oil was everywhere, it was a horrible sudden noise and smoke poured out from the hood. I was completely devastated and shocked having bought the truck for it's reliability in the first place.

The official diagnostic word from the garage this morning was and I quote: "A spark plug must have gotten lose, breaking apart at the base and falling into the main cylinder shaft causing an internal chain of events ruining the entire engine." A rebuilt motor they said off hand was around $2700. Dear God please help me.

What should I do and have you EVER heard of anything like this? My last major checkup was about 2 years ago when I got the timing and other belts changed in my 50,000 mile check up. I have super low miles, now around 85,000. The mechanic, from the tone and description of failure, made me feel like someone who doesn't take care of their stuff. I change oil regularly myself as well as filters, fluids and other usual maintenance. I've never touched the spark plugs because the truck always fires great. Am I stupid? What does everyone think/suggest? New truck? New engine? Upgrade? Where should I turn?
 
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mrbee2828 said:
Am I stupid? What does everyone think/suggest? New truck? New engine? Upgrade? Where should I turn?
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Man, sorry to hear about your troubles. No you are not stupid, just unlucky. I mean it could happen to anyone, right? My take is, the SUV is worth something in the mid-teens being a 96. It makes sense doing a repair to the vehicle. Getting a re-built one is usually the best way to go. A used motor is good, if you plan on selling it. My suggestion is to look for people that could put in a re-built motor and understand that "Shit" happens.

On one other thing, get a rebuilt engine from a company that re-builds them, don't have a mechanic re-build your own engine.
 
Here's where I'm at now. I talked in more detail at lunch. The Spark plug was stripped out, so someone (whoever looked at them last which I'll never pin-point) put it in too tight. Therefore it was loose and the vibration over time broke the ceramic, dropping the metal which holds the arc into the engine. It's a complete stroke of bad luck.

The mechanic has a 99' with 35k on it. It was pulled from a 4Runner that someone rolled, crushing the roof which totaled it. The guy will put it in for $2700 out the door. That includes labor, the engine, parts and new belts (timing etc.) Sounds like a good deal to me. What do you all think?
 
I don't buy the spark plug too tight and stripped or whatever causing the ceramic to break. I've installed plenty of spark plugs in plenty of engines and it would take an awful lot of torque and a real strong spark plug to strip the threads by overtightening.
Cross threading is more likely but that doesn't solve your problem.

Didn't you notice a loss of power while driving? I would think a valve would bend causing loss of compression and a dead cylinder. Most of the spark plug would try to squeeze it's way out of the exhaust port but there would still be damage.

Chances are you've still got a good 5 cylinder engine that needs one cylinder and a combustion chamber repaired. A routine repair for a good engine mechanic. That's the big trouble. Try to find a good engine mechanic outside of a race shop is almost impossible. That is why repair shops always say throw another motor in and it will be fine.

Personally I would rather open up what I have and examine it. If it can be repaired successfully and at reasonable expense I would repair the stuff I already own. That way you know the history. As far as used motors go and the "low mileage, excellent running condition" sales pitch you'll get, you really never know what you're going to get. I do agree with Peter78 in that buying a remanufactured engine from a reputable engine rebuilder is a better choice than a used motor. Rebuilders build engines every day. That's all they do so they know how to do it and know what they can reuse and what to replace.
 
That’s easier said than done. While I understand many of you on these boards are experienced persons, I bet over ½ are bolt on guys like me. You also have to realize that the majority of these trucks in question here are primary transportation, not the weekend rock climber that’s in the backyard for Saturday outings. The other issue for me is I just relocated to Orlando and I have little knowledge of surround shops vs. back home. In addition, I’m not sure if I can afford to keep towing it around for second, third and fourth opinions.

As for the spark plug routine, let’s assume that the spark plug was just installed “wrong”. That could mean, stripped, not tight enough or cross threaded right? Assuming that the spark plug got lose in the socket, is it possible that it could have broken off? I would think so, although it seems very strange to me.

Assuming that it did and that was the cause, then no, I never felt a power loss whatsoever. The truck was fine on the way out in the morning and on the way back I heard a small ticking for a few moments and then a massive banging the next followed by huge amounts of smoke from the oil that exploded all inside the hood.

The engine that the mechanic is referring to is was never spoke of as “rebuilt”. In addition, I bought my truck used 4 years ago, so the “history” on my own engine is only partial. I also went up to the shop this morning to have a look. The engine hasn’t been opened up so I don’t know what he is looking at to know that the push rods and some valves are toast. Several spark plugs were removed and the one that is broken was sown to me with the understanding the bottom piece is inside the motor. So I don’t know how they know what is messed up.

I’m just pissed about the whole thing. I mean it seems insane to me that a $2 part could cause so much damage by vibration. I really don’t know what to do because several people are suspicious and I need the truck back ASAP.
 
So I made some calls this weekend and I talked to a machine shop about a rebuild. The only big issue here is getting someone to pull, delivery and reinstall plus of course time. With a rebuild I would have a better warranty plus a brand new polished engine and all new arts inside which would be hop ups of course vs. the used engine stock parts from the 99.

At the least, I think I’m going to have it towed to the other shop for a second opinion on the cylinder damage. The other shop said it’s possible that by looking more in-depth that the 1 cylinder could be fixed but he doubted it. I think I’m in a better position now and I’ll keep you updated.
 
What caused oil to get all over the place? Where is the hole in the engine? The block, valve cover, head?

I'g get the 2nd opinion. The current mechanic may be trying to scam your engine out of your truck, fix it, and sell it to the next person.
 
Smoke and oil all over the place.
I'll bet you wasted a rod bearing first, then the piston came up higher and whacked the spark plug causing to break.
Then the rod broke and busted through the block.
Whatever, it still sucks!
Good luck with you decision on the repair.
 
I haven't gotten the offical word yet but I think I'm going to need a new engine or at least that is my cheapest route. Has anyone ever ordered an engine online? If I can find a mechanic to do it I was wonder what my price point is on a 3.4 DOC. I still may call the other garage and take the guy up on the 99' for $2700 installed.
 
Well how is this for a turn of events on the 4Runner? I needed a second opinion since this was such a large amount of money and such a big decision. I got it towed over to another garage in town a few days later. The new garage spent an entire day looking over the engine. Turns out… there isn’t a single thing wrong with the inside of the engine!!!

The first mechanic was right in diagnosing the stripped spark plug but wrong on the engine trouble. What happened was the last time the engine was tuned up, one of the spark plugs wasn’t tightened up under the started coil. Over time the pressure inside the engine moved the spark plug in and out, stripping the spark plug threads on the engine. The spark plug and coil were eventually blow out last week causing a lose of power and fluids to go loose.

The fix was simple to boar out the sparkplug socket, out in a insert and ream the threads back into place. All in all with parts the bill only came to $570!!! I couldn’t believe it. And to top it off the repair only took about 6 hours. The truck is in the garage and life is good again!
 
mrbee2828 said:
Well how is this for a turn of events on the 4Runner? I needed a second opinion since this was such a large amount of money and such a big decision. I got it towed over to another garage in town a few days later. The new garage spent an entire day looking over the engine. Turns out… there isn’t a single thing wrong with the inside of the engine!!!

The first mechanic was right in diagnosing the stripped spark plug but wrong on the engine trouble. What happened was the last time the engine was tuned up, one of the spark plugs wasn’t tightened up under the started coil. Over time the pressure inside the engine moved the spark plug in and out, stripping the spark plug threads on the engine. The spark plug and coil were eventually blow out last week causing a lose of power and fluids to go loose.

The fix was simple to boar out the sparkplug socket, out in a insert and ream the threads back into place. All in all with parts the bill only came to $570!!! I couldn’t believe it. And to top it off the repair only took about 6 hours. The truck is in the garage and life is good again!
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Are you saying they re-taped the threads in the head?
If so I wonder how they kept metal from falling down into the head?
 
Yeah they board it out and put in a sleeve which they re-threaded. Crazy huh? I have no idea how they kept out the shavings, but I'm sure they have their ways.
 
Wow that is great news. I am glad you got a second opinion. The original engine should last forever. Thanks for sharing your story.
 
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