Rear Main seal/Head gasket repair or save my money for a new 4runner.

[4runnerV6]

2004 4runner V6 2WD, 222,000 miles. Private party price if I sell is about $5000-$6500.
Is it worth while to get my rear main seal repaired for an oil leak ($1100).
Dealership also saying my head gasket needs to be replaced too ($4000), but I don't have any overheating problem, my oil does not have that milkshake color and don't have that sweet odor smell.

They said I can still drive with the oil leak just need to keep an eye on the oil level if I hold off on getting it done.

My question is, if I had them do both since they will be in the same area of the engine, would it be better to get both done at the same time so maybe I would get some discount on labor? Runner still drives great I am just torn on putting a lot of money in it or just save my money for a down payment on a new runner.

 

[fdbyrne]

If it's running fine and you don't have any symptoms that usually point to a bad head gasket, what makes the dealership think that yours is shot? Did they tell you?

 

[4runnerV6]

They did that chemical test and supposedly that is what it indicates and that is why I keep getting a check engine light it would stay on for a few days, then it would go away.

 

[fdbyrne]

Makes sense.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Honestly... if you're going to do the rear main AND the head gaskets, I'd probably find a shop that specializes in engine rebuilds and see what they'll quote you and/or find a low mileage engine to swap it with.

With the money you'll sink into the engine at the dealership you could probably pay a good engine shop for a fresh rebuild that will keep you going another 200K+

 

[gm350reratliff]

Honestly... if you're going to do the rear main AND the head gaskets, I'd probably find a shop that specializes in engine rebuilds and see what they'll quote you and/or find a low mileage engine to swap it with.

With the money you'll sink into the engine at the dealership you could probably pay a good engine shop for a fresh rebuild that will keep you going another 200K+

Exactly.

How is the rest of the 4runner?

 

[4runnerV6]

4runner still runs like a champ, no rust, I handed it over to my boy hoping to get at least thru high school (currently 11th grade) maybe thru college. We like going on road trips
at least 3 hours out or more and never had any issues or breakdown.....knock on wood.
I'm just not that comfortable with independent shops cause I'm afraid they will not use OEM parts, sure it would be cheaper but I don't like generic parts
specially on the mechanical side of the 4runner.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

4runner still runs like a champ, no rust, I handed it over to my boy hoping to get at least thru high school (currently 11th grade) maybe thru college. We like going on road trips
at least 3 hours out or more and never had any issues or breakdown.....knock on wood.

How bad is the main seal leak and how often is the check engine light coming on?

 

[4runnerV6]

Dealership said it is leaking pretty bad, but I have no indication of it on my driveway, unless I look under then I can view oil residue, I also don't get any low oil level indicator.
I always check the dipstick every 2 weeks and oil level is still the same.


Check engine light comes on maybe about twice (Cold weather) in a month would stay on for about 2 to 4 days, then it would clear by itself. But during warm weather maybe once in a month.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Dealership said it is leaking pretty bad, but I have no indication of it on my driveway, unless I look under then I can view oil residue, I also don't get any low oil level indicator.
I always check the dipstick every 2 weeks and oil level is still the same.


Check engine light comes on maybe about twice (Cold weather) in a month would stay on for about 2 to 4 days, then it would clear by itself. But during warm weather maybe once in a month.

So by the sound of things you have a few options here:

• Drive it until it gets worse, then deal with the issue (by selling or repairing, but basically keep running the truck until you get to that bridge)
• Have the dealership fix the issues (not that I am saying they will do a bad job, but dealerships don't rebuild engines usually, but they do come with a dealership warranty on the work; even though that is very pricey for what is essentially a partial top end rebuild and bottom end reseal)
• Shop around and find a quality engine rebuilder who will do a clean rebuild top to bottom for a what you'd pay for a partial rebuild at the dealership (most of them usually will warranty their work if they're any good) and have an engine that will run easily another 200K.
• Buy a low mileage engine and have the dealer/independent shop swap it in (your model year choices are limited and you could end up with one that will have a head gasket failure as I believe you're stuck with '05 or older 1GR-FEs due to a change in the camshaft gears in '06+ models as a couple members have found out.)
• Sell the 4Runner
• Have your son accidentally catch it on fire and claim the insurance

 

[4runnerV6]

Appreciate your input, I will observe the oil leak for a few months to see if it really as
bad as the dealer make it sound. (Maybe will try to get a quote from an Independent shop instead of another Toyota dealership, see what they have to say)

I forgot to mention I had another shop check the check engine light and the computer is
showed O2 sensor fixing to go bad and no mention of the head gasket, so maybe the head gasket issue may be just a way for the dealer to squeeze money out of me.

Then from there I would decide to have the rear main seal repaired or not.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Depends on the DTCs for the O2 sensors, coolant (from a failed/failing headgasket) could saturate the O2 sensors and damage them over time.

 

[4runnerV6]

Didn't think of it that way, so bottom line is have the other shops do a similar chemical test to get to the root of the problem, then from there decide to sink more money or just
drive until it dies or get whatever cash I can for a new one.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Didn't think of it that way, so bottom line is have the other shops do a similar chemical test to get to the root of the problem, then from there decide to sink more money or just
drive until it dies or get whatever cash I can for a new one.

You could also have them do a Leak Down Test to see if the head gasket is leaking. On the really borderline vehicles we'll just get an adapter and run shop air into the cylinder (usually around 100~150psi so it's not a big deal for the engine) and see if bubbles start coming through the radiator.

 

[4runnerV6]

I will do just that ask them to do a leak down test, before they start tearing into it so that I know if it would be worth while to dump a pile of cash on my 4runner. I sure hate to see my 4runner die on me, trying to compete with my boss's 2000 Toyota Tacoma, 275,000 miles, I told him I would catch up with his miles before the end of the year. Thanks again.

 

[Hapeacres]

I wouldnt dump any money into it. I would take it to a dealer and trade it in on something else. I would not sell it to a another person through a private party sale beause that person would be stuck with the mess. The dealer doesnt care cause they just get rid of it at the auction.

 

[fdbyrne]

I don't mean to be rude, but what do you think the auction company is going to do with it? Somewhere down the line an unsuspecting buyer will still end up with it and have the same problem.

 

[9494runner]

Fix it! Shes a 4runner, more importantly, YOUR 4RUNNER. I am not so sure I would call head gasket so quickly even with a chemical test.... If you don't have one of the big symptoms, smell of coolant in the exhaust, oddly colored coolant, milky oil, or anything like that I would pump the brakes pretty hard on a head gasket diagnosis. The gasket may show damage from the chemical test but head gaskets have been known to hang on and survive a little longer. Truely a leak down test and a compression check is in order.

I would take it to an independant shop for any work, especially engine work. There's a lot of guys making a living rebuilding these yota hearts and they do a solid job. Do your research, alot of them source oem parts anyways. You can be on the safety side and let them know you want all oem your price will jump a good deal on some goodies. But I am willing to bet you will get a better price from a shop that specializes in these repairs. Not a fan of dealers, I should say that with a caviot, warrenty work and little things sure take it to the dealer. Big stuff, seriously 1/2 the price at an independant and man are they quick to make stuff right if they create a problem. Both times an independent shop has fixed something that they found while they were doing other work for me, for just cost of parts since they were already in there. Just my .02 :fro:

Make sure you have AAA. When you're down and out and she just won't limp any further. Man does it feel good having AAA ask if you want to be towed home or to the shop of your choice, and if youre not in your max tow radius. Tow it to a parking lot push it a few spots over, then go eat lunch and reward yourself for all that hard work pushing, give them a call 30 min later and off you go again!:AK47:

 

[ebg18t]

Just run it till it gets worse. It may take years to get to the point of truly needing repair.