*** V6 Head Gasket Action Request ***

[YetiX]

This is great information, I am very thankful for everyone's input. I came sooo close to closing a purchase on a 2005 V6 4Runner last night but while doing so I recalled some info I had seen regarding the HG issue. The vehicle was absolutely immaculate and was maintained at the dealer religiously. The dealer assured me there was no such issue and he asked the mechanic about it who said that was only a problem on much older 4Runners. I didn't purchase and then today came across this thread which convinces me I made the right choice. No doubt this vehicle had the 'old' HG. Based on the information in this thread it seems that you have to be at a production date of Dec 2005 or later to get the new HG. I'm not sure what month they would start making the 2006 but it would be before Dec 2005. So even a 2006 model isn't necessarily safe. Gotta know that production date.

One question I have, is there a way to determine the production date from a VIN#. I did see a post here that mentioned going to a VIN decoder site but I can't seem to find one that provides manufacture date. Anyone know? Thanks.

The manufactured date is on the door plate. You are correct, they changed the head gaskets in December of 2005. As you can see from the picture below, mine is a November 2005 build and my headgasket leaked. In fact, I feel like I have seen more November 2005 4Runners with the leak than any other month . . .

 

[jay333]

You can see the production date on the sticker that’s on the door jam on the driver’s side. Also you can go on Toyota’s site and put your VIN in, and it will give you all that information as well.

https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle

It will just be a month and year, i.e. 03/04 is mine.

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Thanks!

 

[jay333]

The manufactured date is on the door plate. You are correct, they changed the head gaskets in December of 2005. As you can see from the picture below, mine is a November 2005 build and my headgasket leaked. In fact, I feel like I have seen more November 2005 4Runners with the leak than any other month . . .

I am sorry you were unfortunate. But, at least you know what you have and what needs fixing and once fixed a great vehicle.

 

[YetiX]

I am sorry you were unfortunate. But, at least you know what you have and what needs fixing and once fixed a great vehicle.

Yup. Mine was done about 9 months ago. I figure it's now good for at least another 200k miles now!

 

[FFlores]

Head gasket fixed

I'm glad I bought the warranty (paid $200.00) 3 months or 3k miles blew at 1k into warranty, it covered $1300 and The Used car Dealer who sold it to me put in $600 and I put $600 out of pocket . Thankfully that the dealer helped me out when he didn't have too. hoping I get at least another 150k out of it .
The thing that upset me the most were some shops wanted to put a new engine in for 10k or head gasket for 7k which out of line for a gasket replacement.

 

[YetiX]

I'm glad I bought the warranty (paid $200.00) 3 months or 3k miles blew at 1k into warranty, it covered $1300 and The Used car Dealer who sold it to me put in $600 and I put $600 out of pocket . Thankfully that the dealer helped me out when he didn't have too. hoping I get at least another 150k out of it .
The thing that upset me the most were some shops wanted to put a new engine in for 10k or head gasket for 7k which out of line for a gasket replacement.

Glad it only cost you $600. $7k for a headgasket is insane!! :sad:

 

[easyeatlanta]

159k 2004 v6 looking at headgasket, having the rough idle on startup after sitting for a little bit, coolant smells like gas. Worst part just bought from a small dealer in town, saw it when I drove by and called to take it for a ride and when I got there it was in a different spot, guess they knew they needed to start it up close to the time I went to start it up.

 

[iBison]

This is great information, I am very thankful for everyone's input. I came sooo close to closing a purchase on a 2005 V6 4Runner last night but while doing so I recalled some info I had seen regarding the HG issue. The vehicle was absolutely immaculate and was maintained at the dealer religiously. The dealer assured me there was no such issue and he asked the mechanic about it who said that was only a problem on much older 4Runners. I didn't purchase and then today came across this thread which convinces me I made the right choice. No doubt this vehicle had the 'old' HG. Based on the information in this thread it seems that you have to be at a production date of Dec 2005 or later to get the new HG. I'm not sure what month they would start making the 2006 but it would be before Dec 2005. So even a 2006 model isn't necessarily safe. Gotta know that production date.

One question I have, is there a way to determine the production date from a VIN#. I did see a post here that mentioned going to a VIN decoder site but I can't seem to find one that provides manufacture date. Anyone know? Thanks.

Had it on my 04. When it got totaled I bought an 07.

 

[YetiX]

159k 2004 v6 looking at headgasket, having the rough idle on startup after sitting for a little bit, coolant smells like gas. Worst part just bought from a small dealer in town, saw it when I drove by and called to take it for a ride and when I got there it was in a different spot, guess they knew they needed to start it up close to the time I went to start it up.

That sucks man. You might go back to them and try to get them to pay for it or at least contribute to the repairs. If they won't, give them a bad Yelp review.

When I was looking for one for my daughter, I told everyone the car had to be completely cold when I got there or I wouldn't even look at it. Every V6 we looked at (4 or 5) had symptoms of head gasket leaks. That's a bog part of why we ended up with a V8.

 

[easyeatlanta]

That sucks man. You might go back to them and try to get them to pay for it or at least contribute to the repairs. If they won't, give them a bad Yelp review.

When I was looking for one for my daughter, I told everyone the car had to be completely cold when I got there or I wouldn't even look at it. Every V6 we looked at (4 or 5) had symptoms of head gasket leaks. That's a bog part of why we ended up with a V8.

I wish I had looked into it deeper. I will get back to the dealer after I have my shop confirm. Hopefully, he can make it right because the book time on the labor for this is 20 hours, might as well find a newer engine.

 

[Johns06yota]

So I tuned over 150000 miles about 2 weeks ago and I just checked and my coolant overflow tank is empty, I did not see coolant in the radiator and it had a faint smell of gas. Along with this the oil cap had some white buildup on it that I had not seen before. I have also been getting the occasional waterfall sound behind the dash but no engine codes. Mine is a 2006 model but was made in 11/05 does this sound like a head gasket issue?

 

[YetiX]

So I tuned over 150000 miles about 2 weeks ago and I just checked and my coolant overflow tank is empty, I did not see coolant in the radiator and it had a faint smell of gas. Along with this the oil cap had some white buildup on it that I had not seen before. I have also been getting the occasional waterfall sound behind the dash but no engine codes. Mine is a 2006 model but was made in 11/05 does this sound like a head gasket issue?

Sorry to say it, but yes. Sounds just like mine. Never had a code.

 

[Johns06yota]

Sorry to say it, but yes. Sounds just like mine. Never had a code.

Dang well I guess I need to get an appointment to get it checked out. Has anyone attempted to do this job themself or has everyone just gone to the dealership?

 

[bombventure]

Dang well I guess I need to get an appointment to get it checked out. Has anyone attempted to do this job themself or has everyone just gone to the dealership?

Is your oil milky looking? That’s another good indication of a blown HG. But yeah, it sounds like with what you’ve described it’s definitely a blown HG.

Sorry to hear that dude!


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[Johns06yota]

Is your oil milky looking? That’s another good indication of a blown HG. But yeah, it sounds like with what you’ve described it’s definitely a blown HG.

Sorry to hear that dude!


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I just checked the oil and it looks normal. But I need to get coolant for now because I can’t even see coolant in the radiator when it’s hot.

 

[YetiX]

Is your oil milky looking? That’s another good indication of a blown HG. But yeah, it sounds like with what you’ve described it’s definitely a blown HG.

Sorry to hear that dude!

My oil was never milky looking. That's a different kind of head gasket leak. What happens with our engines is a leak between the 4 and 6 cylinders that allows exhaust gasses to enter the coolant passage between the cylinders. This causes the coolant to burn off, which is why it disappears from the radiator and overflow tank. You can see the missing black from my head gasket that was allowing exhaust gasses to escape into the hole which is a coolant passage:

I just checked the oil and it looks normal. But I need to get coolant for now because I can’t even see coolant in the radiator when it’s hot.

Like I said above, you won't have milky coolant.

Some people have done the job themselves, but you'd need to be a pretty good mechanic. I would not (did not) take mine to a dealer. Find a reputable independent who is local to you, it'll be much cheaper.

 

[bombventure]

My oil was never milky looking. That's a different kind of head gasket leak. What happens with our engines is a leak between the 4 and 6 cylinders that allows exhaust gasses to enter the coolant passage between the cylinders. This causes the coolant to burn off, which is why it disappears from the radiator and overflow tank. You can see the missing black from my head gasket that was allowing exhaust gasses to escape into the hole which is a coolant passage.

Thanks for the clarification Yeti! I was just suggesting what I’ve read/learned from looking up info on HG failures, but actually now that you mention it, I’ve never read anything about a blown HG on our 4R’s where someone reported a milky oil, just all the other symptoms like waterfall sound, rough start, white goo built up on oil cap, etc..

It’s good to know that with our rigs the milky oil isn’t a thing, so if I ever need to self-diagnose I know now not to even bother looking there. Thanks for teaching me something new! [emoji1303] Makes a lot more sense now after explaining how it burns off.




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[Johns06yota]

Thanks for the clarification Yeti! I was just suggesting what I’ve read/learned from looking up info on HG failures, but actually now that you mention it, I’ve never read anything about a blown HG on our 4R’s where someone reported a milky oil, just all the other symptoms like waterfall sound, rough start, white goo built up on oil cap, etc..

It’s good to know that with our rigs the milky oil isn’t a thing, so if I ever need to self-diagnose I know now not to even bother looking there. Thanks for teaching me something new! [emoji1303] Makes a lot more sense now after explaining how it burns off.




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My oil was never milky looking. That's a different kind of head gasket leak. What happens with our engines is a leak between the 4 and 6 cylinders that allows exhaust gasses to enter the coolant passage between the cylinders. This causes the coolant to burn off, which is why it disappears from the radiator and overflow tank. You can see the missing black from my head gasket that was allowing exhaust gasses to escape into the hole which is a coolant passage:

Like I said above, you won't have milky coolant.

Some people have done the job themselves, but you'd need to be a pretty good mechanic. I would not (did not) take mine to a dealer. Find a reputable independent who is local to you, it'll be much cheaper.

Okay so I just added Toyota spec coolant to the overflow tank and to the radiator. Fingers crossed it stays at the level that it is at now otherwise I am going to make an appointment to get it checked.

 

[bombventure]

Okay so I just added Toyota spec coolant to the overflow tank and to the radiator. Fingers crossed it stays at the level that it is at now otherwise I am going to make an appointment to get it checked.

Best of luck man! Hoping it’s nothing serious for you!!


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[hlpressley]

I am contemplating traveling about 6.5 hours to look at an 06 Sport with a V-6. It is clean as can be and exactly what I want but the HG issues have me extremely apprehensive. I have asked the seller to send me a pic of the door sticker so I can see the build date. He sent me the VIN but the only thing I can find on the Toyota Owners website is the "order date". Is that the same as build date by chance? If so, it's 07/06, which should be good?