Toyota V6 head gasket

[dremu]

Brother has a '94ish 4Runner with the blown head gasket. I know there's a recall, which may have already been done to the truck, so I'm having him look into that.

Failing Toyota doing it, the other affordable option is to have the wrench of the family, i.e. me, do it.

Anything I should know about this? Think I've got the idea down, though the prospect of a computerized smog-era engine is not pleasing to me. I figger I'll do head gaskets, timing belt, plus any other small stuff (valve cover gaskets, hoses, belts, whatever) while I'm in there.

I did a little Googling, looks like maybe the head *bolts* are part of the problem; along with a hopefully redesigned head gasket, should I replace the fasteners?

Any other gotchas?

Depending on how long it's been trying to burn antifreeze, I'm gonna advise he sell it as soon as we get it running, but it's not worth squat in the shape it's in.

-- A

 

[4X4HIGH]

Pull the heads, have them cleaned, tested and resurfaced. Not sure if that engine uses torque to yield bolts but if it does they need to be replaced. The new gaskets are MLS (Multi Layered Steel). The job is a pretty tedious job and will take you some time to do but if you take your time you can do it.

EDIT: definately make sure that the recall has never been done and you might be able to get the dealer to repair it for free. The recalls usually have a limited amount of time to have it repaired though.

 

[dremu]

Pull the heads, have them cleaned, tested and resurfaced. Not sure if that engine uses torque to yield bolts but if it does they need to be replaced. The new gaskets are MLS (Multi Layered Steel). The job is a pretty tedious job and will take you some time to do but if you take your time you can do it.

EDIT: definately make sure that the recall has never been done and you might be able to get the dealer to repair it for free. The recalls usually have a limited amount of time to have it repaired though.

Well, the truck ain't worth having any *real* money, i.e. machine work, put into it ... plus my brother's broke, as always. I'm begrudgingly willing to do the labor, but I'm not gonna front him any $$

We'll see what pans out on the recall side. I am hoping the dealer will deal with it and I won't have to

-- A

 

[Jason4x4]

they are torque to yield head bolts, they need to be replaced. Some service manuals I've seen say how to check them, But every thing I have ever been taught, is once stretched, they are garbage. Also, send the heads out and have them checked, not worth doing it twice, if it has a blown head gasket, it is because the head is warped. Also, mark the heads for left and right, you can't tell the difference till they go back together a ways, but make sure they go on the side they came off.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Sorry to differ with you but the distributor will only go in one head so you can't get them backwards.

Aaron, if you aren't planning on doing anything with the heads once they are taken off then don't take them off. It will happen all over again. Remember, i do this for a living and have seen and machined many of these heads and they are all warped. Also the surface needs to be perfectly smooth and flat for the new MLS gaskets.

 

[Jason4x4]

the distributor goes into the front camshaft cap on the drivers side. With the cams removed, they look identical.

 

[4X4HIGH]

That makes more sense but regardless you cannot swap the cam tower caps from head to head so like i said, you can't get a head on the wrong side (unless you've mixed the caps up from head to head).

 

[dremu]

Sorry to differ with you but the distributor will only go in one head so you can't get them backwards.

Aaron, if you aren't planning on doing anything with the heads once they are taken off then don't take them off. It will happen all over again. Remember, i do this for a living and have seen and machined many of these heads and they are all warped. Also the surface needs to be perfectly smooth and flat for the new MLS gaskets.

All duly noted. I'm doing all this through the parents, as well... I suspect so that Dad doesn't hafta foot the bill, but we'll see.

I figgered I'd do the research 'fore I tore into the thing blind.

-- A

 

[dleroy43]

get a japanise kid to do the work, they are the only ones who can get there hands into some places that bolts need to be removed. Thats my only suggestion I have after changing the starter on my 89 xcab last weekend

 

[bigbluesuburban]

Also, send the heads out and have them checked, not worth doing it twice, if it has a blown head gasket, it is because the head is warped.

This is not necessaryily true. The old head gasket design was so deficient that often times the gaskets would go when there was absolutly zero head warpage. If the warranty work has NOT been done then all you need to check the heads and block for is excessive electrolosys. It is unlikely the heads or block will need machine work. My buddy and biz partner was a Toyota Master Tech for 18 years and did over 300 of the head gasket recalls. He said that upwards of 90% of them needed no machine work and only the gasket replaced.

Just some FYI

EDIT:

get a japanise kid to do the work, they are the only ones who can get there hands into some places that bolts need to be removed. Thats my only suggestion I have after changing the starter on my 89 xcab last weekend

Toyotas are easy to work on. It's all about the right tools and 'if you can take it apart you can put it back together' theology.

Also DREMU was lamenting working on an EFI rig. There is nothing in fuel system or electronics that you have to really mess with. Everything has a connector or a bolt or a fastener of some sort. It is all mechanical and like I said before, 'if you can take it apart you can put it back together'

Good Luck

 

[4X4HIGH]

This is not necessaryily true. The old head gasket design was so deficient that often times the gaskets would go when there was absolutly zero head warpage. If the warranty work has NOT been done then all you need to check the heads and block for is excessive electrolosys. It is unlikely the heads or block will need machine work. My buddy and biz partner was a Toyota Master Tech for 18 years and did over 300 of the head gasket recalls. He said that upwards of 90% of them needed no machine work and only the gasket replaced.

Just some FYI

The recall entailed pulling the engine, surfacing the block decks, resurfacing the heads then putting it all back together. You better go do some more checking.

 

[bigbluesuburban]

I think I'm right on this one...

The recall entailed pulling the engine, surfacing the block decks, resurfacing the heads then putting it all back together. You better go do some more checking.

I have seen what happens to anyone who disagrees with you with regard to anything automotive on this list and so I say this with caution... not because I am wrong, but simply because I am not in need of a pissing match today.

If you are correct, and we are talking about the same 3.0L head gasket recall that dealerships were neck deep in around 2000, then I would have to say that all 6 or 7 of the Senior Master and Master Technician that were employed at my local dealership were all doing the recall incorrectly.

I am going to assume that you are reading about the [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (V06) FOR 1990 – EARLY 1995 TRUCK, 4RUNNER & T100 WITH 3VZ–E V6 ENGINES Under the Special Service Campaign Program[/FONT] on something like Mitchell or some other manufacturers recall update service. And although the recall MIGHT state that the block is to be pulled and the head and block machined, I assure you that the dealerships were NOT doing this on every single head gasket job.

Just to make sure that I am not misspeaking from what I remember I just called my friend and business partner, the Toyota Senior Master Technician with 23 years experience and he has reiterated and verified all the information that I have stated with regard to this particular recall. The blocks and heads were replaced based on damage, not as a blanket standing order. Technicians used a needle tip dial gauge to determine the depth of the electrolysis and only if it was out of specs were the block or head machined or replaced

I have included a few links to some supplemental reading and highlighted a few key statements. Although I know not all the referenced materials are factory or industry representatives. There is an obvious unity with regard to their information that is uncanny.

http://www.brian894x4.com/V6headgasketrecall.html

Toyota has had problems with the V-6 head gaskets since the beginning. They always seemed to fail early in the engine's service life for no good reason. I've heard this is due in part to the materials used in making the gaskets, such as a lack of asbestos or the design in the
gasket. Whatever the case, it caused a lot of V-6 owners heartache.

Toyota has committed itself to repairing each and every V-6 that has the original head gasket and falls
under the limited model year production. Toyota has even taken the extra step of repairing or replacing entire engine blocks where damage has occurred due to the faulty head gaskets. Dealers have been instructed to inspect the engine blocks for scoring or other damage. Typically, damage is found around the #1 and #6 cylinder walls. When damage is found, Toyota will either replace the entire engine short block with a brand new unit or bore out the cylinders and rebuilt the short block. All at no cost to the owner.

http://www.cartrackers.com/Forums/live/Toyota/688.html

Have a read of what 'Never Again' posts... the 6 post on the thread.

This article was written to share my knowledge and experience about the V6 engine and its associated head gasket “problem.” I want to first provide some background information about the maintenance that was performed on my engine. The engine oil and filter were changed at intervals ranging from 3,000 miles to 4,500 miles and the 30,000 and 60,000 mile tune-ups were performed that included changing the transmission fluid, transfer case fluid, differential fluids, replacement of the fuel filter, replacement of the timing belt at 60,000 miles, and a few other lubrications and adjustments. My truck had 95,000 miles on it at the time this article was published and has always run like a brand new truck. I checked the oil one day before a long trip and noticed the oil on the dipstick appeared “frothy.” I immediately canceled my trip and took my pickup to Maita Toyota in Sacramento the next business day suspecting that my head gasket had blown. After receiving a free 1999 Toyota Camry rental car, I returned to work and had a message from the dealership informing me that my engine block needed to be replaced due to severe “etching” on the deck/surface of the engine block. This took me by complete surprise considering that the truck still ran perfect and the amount of coolant I found in the oil appeared to be very minimal. The dealership informed me that Toyota would incur the cost of a brand new short-block V6 engine. Wow!
Later that same day I returned to the dealership to see how the engine work was coming along. The new engine was already installed in the truck and only a few items were left to bolt onto the top of the engine. I got an opportunity to inspect my old engine block and to speak to the mechanics working on my truck. The “etching” occurred on the deck of the block near cylinder #1. I could hardly see the etching, the block only appeared to be discolored. The mechanics said that if I had to pay for the repair, the block could have been repaired but Toyota didn’t want to run the risk of more problems down the road, so Toyota’s policy is to replace damaged engines.

This particular quote was taken from this web page. http://home.off-road.com/~kemanuel/V6-HG.htm


There are many more of these examples on the web but I am not going to search out each and every one of them.

I realize that I might pad a lot on this site, and I realize that I am n00b based on my minmal post count. But when I weigh in on a tech issue I do so cautiously and I try to have my ducks in a row. The only reason that I am rebutting your statement is that I interpretted a little bit of 'shut up n00b' undertone to your statement. If I interpreted this incorrectly then I apologize for going overboard with this particular post.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Yes, this is the recall that i'm talking about. I do work for all the dealers here in town including the Toyota dealer. I can't count how many of these things i've repaired for them in the exact way that i mentioned. They had sent me a copy of the recall order and what was to be performed way back when it first happened. Maybe by some chance each dealership dealt with the damage differently.

I had no meaning for any kind of Noob statement. Everyone here was a Noob at one point and like i've said before, there are some peole on here with a very high post count that don't know sh*t and there are others on here with a very low post count that know alot but only post minimally.

 

[bigbluesuburban]

I understand where you are coming from, after all the only ones that you see would have been ones that required machine work. You most likely did not see the many that didn't require machine work. Just a thought.