352Ford

The girlfriend is interested in getting a 91-95 4runner to go along with my 86. I have been doing some looking around and it seems the main thing wrong with these rigs (for a girlfriends daily driver anyway) is these 3.0 v6?s seem to blow headgaskets when you look at them funny. (if you guys know any other problems let me know)

What is the root of the problem? is it a design problem (weak head bolts, not enough head bolts, steam holes, etc)? a material or process problem (cylinder head warpage, bad factory gaskets, etc)? or something else?

How is it fixed? if you put on new head gaskets, headbolts, and have everything properly machined, is the problem gone, or will it just resurface later on down the road.?

and also are the engines in the 95's any better at this, I thought I saw that they were, but....

Thanks

WFO

Do a search on here for head gaskets. There are a few write ups on replacing them. Youll find all kinds of stuff. Toyota actually has a recall on the head gaskets and will replace them if it hasnt been done yet. Im in the process of replacing mine right now.

And yes the 3.4 out of a 95.5 & up is a good swap to do.

352Ford

I did a search and read alot, but no one actualy goes into the cause of the problem.

hmmm I havent been able to find the recall notice... got a link?

can you call a toyoda dealership with a vin number to see if it has been fixed?

so are you implying that the problem is faulty headgaskets from the factory and is 100% fixed with better gaskets?

Tigerstripe40

Look at this thread:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116/3-0-hypothesis-if-youve-had-headgasket-fail-read-if-you-have-headers-too-111612/

To make a long story short, the 3.0 V6 was originally designed for an Asbestos head gasket. Asbestos was banned and toyota had a VERY hard time coming up with a new material that could handle the heat.

To find out if the head gasket recall has been performed on the truck. call the Toyota Dealership with the Vin and ask their service manager if there is a record of it being done.

Most toyota dealerships Will NOT replace the head bolts when they do the head gasket recall.
Personally, with this truck the first thing I'd do to it is replace the head gaskets, head bolts, and timing belt before you even run a single tank of gas through it (unless you have service records stating that is has been done in the last 6 months).

352Ford

Thanks for the info

[QUOTE=Tigerstripe40;50491061]Most toyota dealerships Will NOT replace the head bolts when they do the head gasket recall. QUOTE]

WTH is wrong with them, not replace the TTY headbolts?????!!! I think the extra 25bucks is freakign worth it.

We Todd Did

Tigerstripe40

The dealership will not use aftermarket parts.
The OEM headbolts are $16 per each.
And there are 16 of them....

352Ford

Good point, but if my memory serves me SAE specs clearly dictate that all TTY fasteners need to be replaced every time they are loosened.

Has anyone had problems resulting from the dealer reusing TTY fasteners?

pruney81

I bought all new headbolts from the dealer here for 160 bucks. It may fail eventually or it may not if you reuse them but I'd rather not take the chance for a few hundred dollars

Tigerstripe40

Enough to justify paying $50 for a set of new head bolts....

stinger381

I just bought a 1995 with the V6 and blown headgaskets. I think I might have to call the dealership and ask about the recall stuff. The truck has 130 K on it though and I doubt they will do it with that kind of mileage!!!

stinger381

Well made the 1-800 call today and they told me they would fix the steering arm under recall but that was it. The motor was not a recalled item. dang that sucks.

352Ford

does anyone have the recall notice or a link to it?

boosted313

Im in the same boat i went to Toyo and they said there is no recall on the head gaskets....any help would be great...

4Run_95

ye, same here... Mine has 142k on it. What would you guys recommend me to do? My gasket hasent failed yet but there is coolant coming down from somewhere nere the exhaust manifold. My mech. dosent thing it is the HG but what else could it be? Is it worth to rebulid it? (cant do it myself) Or is it better to do a swap? Or something else?

Any help would be very, very nice!

olharleyman

talk to enginebuilder on here I understand that his head gasket and head bolts are the shi*. If you can find and afford a 3.4 thats the way togo for a new engine if needed.

ErikUSAF95SR5

Here's a great page. I called my dealer and they aren't honoring the hg recall as well. Oh well.

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

4Run_95

But the page says the recall ended 2004... well, well, its always worth a try.. what are you going to do?

Starlily

I had the head gasket recall performed on my 1993 4Runner in 1998 at 80,000 miles. The dealer that performed this recall said that they sent my car off-site to have it fixed. They had my vehicle for 3 weeks and drove it 20 miles, and they stole all my CDs in the car!

Now it is 2007 and 45,000 miles later. I took it to a different dealership and found out that I have low compression in cylinder #3, two blown head gaskets, and a burnt valve. Since my engine was being taken apart, the dealership recommended having a new timing belt, knock sensor wire, water pump, cap rotor wires, thermostat, and a new radiator. They estimate the bill at $4,100!!! I am in complete shock!

I talked to the service manager and he said that he doubted that the recall was ever performed on my car! He said that he would talk to Toyota and see what he could do. I am picking up my car tomorrow.

I am trying to decide if I should get the old head gaskets when I pick up my car. Do you guys think that someone could look at the blown head gaskets and tell if they are the updated ones that were used during the recall?

Starlily

Oops..sorry. I reposted what I wrote in the "86-95 Trucks & 4Runners" thread.