Please dont tell me my headgasket is blown....
- Thread starter maxs4runner
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maxs4runner
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Sorry, its a 2006 V6 with about 78k. No coolant or overheating issues that I can see. The radiator does have an extremely minor drip around lower driverside.
Martinjmpr
New member
I would think if you had a blown HG it would have lots of other symptoms, too.
Funny story, I had a 1999 Subaru Outback with the 2.5l flat 4, which is also known to have HG failures. Well, I didn't discover that until after I'd owned it a while and was paranoid about having the HG fail. Took it in for service to a Subaru dealer and after service they said "Oh, we have bad news for you, your HG is failing, it will be $2800 to fix it."
I said "well, I think I'll get a second opinion before I commit to that" (note that I was having absolutely NO symptoms of HG failure: no overheating, no white smoke, no coolant-in-oil or oil-in-coolant, etc.)
That was at 80k miles. At 110k (still running strong) I took it in to an independent Subaru dealer to have the T-belt replaced, along with the water pump and various pulleys that always seem to need replacing at the same time. they made no mention of any HG problem. I continued to drive the car for another year before finally selling it at 120k with no issues.
I don't know if the dealership was trying to rip me off or if they genuinely though I had an HG failure, all I know is I drove 40k miles past my "failed HG" diagnosis. I'm pretty sure that if I actually DID have a blown HG, I would have had some symptoms in that 40k miles.
My point in all this is: Don't drive yourself crazy worrying about HG failure.
Funny story, I had a 1999 Subaru Outback with the 2.5l flat 4, which is also known to have HG failures. Well, I didn't discover that until after I'd owned it a while and was paranoid about having the HG fail. Took it in for service to a Subaru dealer and after service they said "Oh, we have bad news for you, your HG is failing, it will be $2800 to fix it."
I said "well, I think I'll get a second opinion before I commit to that" (note that I was having absolutely NO symptoms of HG failure: no overheating, no white smoke, no coolant-in-oil or oil-in-coolant, etc.)
That was at 80k miles. At 110k (still running strong) I took it in to an independent Subaru dealer to have the T-belt replaced, along with the water pump and various pulleys that always seem to need replacing at the same time. they made no mention of any HG problem. I continued to drive the car for another year before finally selling it at 120k with no issues.
I don't know if the dealership was trying to rip me off or if they genuinely though I had an HG failure, all I know is I drove 40k miles past my "failed HG" diagnosis. I'm pretty sure that if I actually DID have a blown HG, I would have had some symptoms in that 40k miles.
My point in all this is: Don't drive yourself crazy worrying about HG failure.
maxs4runner
New member
Yeah I really havent experienced any other symptoms. Im going to clean it up this weekend. One thing I should add...I recently had issues with the steering so I flushed the power steering system, still had issues. I eventually tracked the issue back to the u joint assembly portion of the steering. However, my thinking was maybe the PS pump blew gasket or something awhile back. Although the sludge is black and chunky not red.
BCfish
New member
I had the exact same mess last spring that had been bugging me for almost a year it's from the steering pump bearing pretty sure just slings it around. I used some stop leak since I think it's just seals and then some degreaser and a a brush got looking pretty spiffy, I have only had to clean it once since but doesn't seem to be leaking anymore.
maxs4runner
New member
The only thing that concerns me is that im not losing power steering fluid.
BlackWorksInc
New member
So... "Its not the head gasket" that's what you want to hear right? Because you asked me to say that... 
On a more serious note, I would keep an eye on the oil level and power steering fluid levels. That could be a valve cover gasket leak, but it does seem like the power steering pump could be the cause. The 1GR-FEs do have a history of leaking timing chain covers, which could be the culprit as well.
At this point I would buy some strong de-greaser and clean the engine off as best as you can, top the fluids off and keep an eye on the fluid leak. If you're really feeling adventurous, buy some engine oil dye and add it to engine oil, then drive about 100-200 miles and use a UV Light to see if you can find the source (if the UV light doesn't show the engine oil as this sort of highlighter yellow, it would point to the steering fluid being the source since you only add dye to the engine oil).
On a more serious note, I would keep an eye on the oil level and power steering fluid levels. That could be a valve cover gasket leak, but it does seem like the power steering pump could be the cause. The 1GR-FEs do have a history of leaking timing chain covers, which could be the culprit as well.
At this point I would buy some strong de-greaser and clean the engine off as best as you can, top the fluids off and keep an eye on the fluid leak. If you're really feeling adventurous, buy some engine oil dye and add it to engine oil, then drive about 100-200 miles and use a UV Light to see if you can find the source (if the UV light doesn't show the engine oil as this sort of highlighter yellow, it would point to the steering fluid being the source since you only add dye to the engine oil).
IOP25
New member
HG failure goes like this. Check engine will light up. No other symptoms. Check engine might go off. You'll think, damn Yotas are awesome.....they fix themselves. lol. Then you'll start her up one morning and she will shake like hell for about 25-45 seconds and the CE lights up. Next step, start saving your money bc cylinder #6 is a POS. Had an 04 V6 and it crapped out at 110k. Paid the damage and bought a V8 several months later.
wnelax04sr5
New member
my first car was a 99 outback with the 2.5 h4. the hg failed at 270k, and i drove it with a blown hg for almost 2k after that. thing was a trooper. then i tried to do the hg myself, and that went....well...we sold the car for parts.
maxs4runner
New member
I wonder if the gaskets would still be under warranty. I registered with toyota awhile ago and havent seen any recalls and I am the second owner. Either way I have done valve cover gaskets in the past, so once I clean it up hopefully I can get a better idea where the leak is...
