*** V6 Head Gasket Action Request ***

[Elan750]

I posted in here a little over a year ago having suspected head gasket issues. The first time I posted I was having misfires and was/still am going through a gallon of coolant every 2-3 months. Since then I've changed all the coils and pugs and the misfire problem stopped after that, but still burning the coolant.. A couple of months later during the summer with this Texas heat I could only drive 30-45 min or under 25 miles w/o my rig over heating or at least spraying some coolant out of the overflow tank. I've also changed the thermostat, air filter, and have done a couple of radiator flushes just to make sure there wasn't and crud backing up the cooling system. Now i'm starting to smell what seems like oil in the radiator. I'm at a loss for what could be the problem, but almost certain my gaskets are shot.

I don't have milky oil or loss of power. Just slight overheating during long drives and spraying some coolant out of the overflow tank.

Advice is much appreciated since this is my daily driver.


2004 Sport Edition V6 2WD 188,xxx

didnt you answer your own question?

 

[iBison]

Can you just use something cheap like https://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-61839.html to take a peek? Then possibly return it to HF?

You should be able to, but the ones for phones are much less expensive.

 

[YetiX]

didnt you answer your own question?

Exactly. Mario, you have a head gasket leak.

 

[cpayne5]

I also posted a thread but these questions come to mind as I read thru this.

1. How many miles since your repair?

2. What brand head gasket did you use?

3. Anyone had to do the repair twice?

4. What to look for it identify if the repair has been done if previous maintenance history isn't given?

5. Another thing seems the gasket is the weak point, has that gasket manufacturer/manufacturing process had inconsistencies in quality/quality control?

I repaired mine 6 years and ~40k miles ago. No issues so far. I used a Toyota gasket set.

I question whether the heads were machined properly during manufacture. Mine had to be milled (just .001" out of spec, if I remember correctly), yet my engine never overheated. I've heard the same thing from others. Everybody looks to the gasket, but I've wondered if that's not just a symptom of something else.

 

[by-tor]

Me too...

2004 SR5
4x4
188K
#1, #3

Noticed it about 9 months ago and it got worse and worse. I pulled the plugs and siphoned out 50ml of coolant from #1 cylinder, and about 20ml from #3...

$1800 later it runs like a top!

 

[The Yin]

2004 SR5
4x4
188K
#1, #3

Noticed it about 9 months ago and it got worse and worse. I pulled the plugs and siphoned out 50ml of coolant from #1 cylinder, and about 20ml from #3...

$1800 later it runs like a top!

$1800 for the HG replacement? Did you take it to a shop? Was this the total cost or was there a Friend/Family discount applied?

 

[by-tor]

$1800 for the HG replacement? Did you take it to a shop? Was this the total cost or was there a Friend/Family discount applied?

I took it to an independent shop outside of Charlotte, NC. They were awesome to work with and they used all Toyota parts (even coolant). Pulled the engine and replaced all the gaskets including rear main. They also put on the new pulleys, belts, and Water Pump that I supplied.

 

[cpayne5]

I took it to an independent shop outside of Charlotte, NC. They were awesome to work with and they used all Toyota parts (even coolant). Pulled the engine and replaced all the gaskets including rear main. They also put on the new pulleys, belts, and Water Pump that I supplied.

Wow, that's a pretty good deal. I had close to $1k in mine doing it myself 6 years ago.

*$250 of mine also was tied up in milling the heads, though...

 

[YetiX]

Buyer Beware

I'm currently looking for a 4th Gen for my daughter. We looked at two 2004 V-6's, one with 187k the other with 205k miles. Because I've been through this, I insisted that both be cold when we showed up to look at them. Both had low coolant levels and both did the rough idle and waterfall sound on start up.

Lesson: Buyer beware.

 

[T4R_SH]

I took it to an independent shop outside of Charlotte, NC. They were awesome to work with and they used all Toyota parts (even coolant). Pulled the engine and replaced all the gaskets including rear main. They also put on the new pulleys, belts, and Water Pump that I supplied.

Mind telling me which shop? I live in Belmont, NC and my brother's 04 4R is having some of these same issues. Trying to find somewhere to look at it. Thanks

 

[mtkey1121]

sheesh

My friend with an 04 4x4 just had this problem. I believe he said cylinder 6 was misfiring... it was really rough at startup for maybe 30 seconds then evened out. He has 170k miles on his 4Runner. Y'all should've gotten the V8! Just kidding it's the head gasket with you guys and the headers with me :ybrick:

 

[iBison]

Wow, that's a pretty good deal. I had close to $1k in mine doing it myself 6 years ago.

*$250 of mine also was tied up in milling the heads, though...

Same here.

 

[Iluvboost]

I'm currently looking for a 4th Gen for my daughter. We looked at two 2004 V-6's, one with 187k the other with 205k miles. Because I've been through this, I insisted that both be cold when we showed up to look at them. Both had low coolant levels and both did the rough idle and waterfall sound on start up.

Lesson: Buyer beware.

I think its just that all are gonna need this done. When I bought mine, it was fine till 8 months after when it started missing at startup and then while driving. I would look at a 2007 and up if you wanna eliminate the possibility.

 

[YetiX]

I think its just that all are gonna need this done. When I bought mine, it was fine till 8 months after when it started missing at startup and then while driving. I would look at a 2007 and up if you wanna eliminate the possibility.

That's partly why I ended up getting her a V8 that had recently had the timing belt replaced. :nod:

 

[ray k]

Does anybody know when the HG problem was corrected? I got an 07 thinking I would be safe(manufactured 10/06). I currently only have 118,000 miles.
Yesterday after sitting for a few days a got the rough start for a few seconds and noticed the coolant level is low. My next step is the coolant pressure test but I'm pretty sure I already know the answer. I know it would be very expensive but it would be nice if Toyota would man up and fix this.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

 

[YetiX]

Does anybody know when the HG problem was corrected? I got an 07 thinking I would be safe(manufactured 10/06). I currently only have 118,000 miles.
Yesterday after sitting for a few days a got the rough start for a few seconds and noticed the coolant level is low. My next step is the coolant pressure test but I'm pretty sure I already know the answer. I know it would be very expensive but it would be nice if Toyota would man up and fix this.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

The new head gaskets rolled out in trucks built December of 2005. Any truck built 12/05 or later should be safe. I've only read about 1 other 4Runner that was built after that which had a head gasket failure.

Makes me wonder if yours ever overheated or had low coolant.

 

[ray k]

The new head gaskets rolled out in trucks built December of 2005. Any truck built 12/05 or later should be safe. I've only read about 1 other 4Runner that was built after that which had a head gasket failure.

Makes me wonder if yours ever overheated or had low coolant.

Thanks for the response. No, mine never overheated. I'm completely confused.

 

[YetiX]

Thanks for the response. No, mine never overheated. I'm completely confused.

Bummer. The reality is that some headgaskets will fail, sadly it sounds like you're the unlucky winner.

That said, it may be something else. You could have a coolant leak somewhere, maybe the water pump, or your coolant just got low over time? If you didn't hear the waterfall sound and no CEL you may be ok. Does your coolant smell like gasoline? Mine sure did. The minute I took the radiator cap off it was like, "Oh wow, that smells like f'ing gas!!"

 

[ray k]

Bummer. The reality is that some headgaskets will fail, sadly it sounds like you're the unlucky winner.

That said, it may be something else. You could have a coolant leak somewhere, maybe the water pump, or your coolant just got low over time? If you didn't hear the waterfall sound and no CEL you may be ok. Does your coolant smell like gasoline? Mine sure did. The minute I took the radiator cap off it was like, "Oh wow, that smells like f'ing gas!!"

Yay. Lucky me[emoji16]. You're right I'm not positive it is the head gasket. I know it's lost the coolant fairly quickly as I have checked it within the last few thousand miles. I have not seen any leaks or smelled it burning up. I did not know that about the gas smell but at least mine does not have that. The oil fill cap looks clean too.

I wonder if it is the HG how long it would take for the CEL to turn on? The symptoms just started but I don't want to keep driving and damage the engine. I did that to an old Plymouth and broke some teeth on the flywheel.

 

[YERT4R]

When you guys replace the head gasket on your own. Does the old head gasket come off clean from the block or it leaves some residue and you have to scrape it?