TacoTaco97

Hello! Looking for some advice please. I have a 97 Tacoma SR5 V6 with 176K miles. I was driving about 55mph on the freeway when I heard a spark plug blow out. This has happened before so I was familiar with the sound and loss of power. I decided to exit the freeway and drive about 8 miles to the mechanic who had last changed my spark plugs. When I got to his shop, I popped the hood and immediately noticed oil all over the passenger side of the engine. The middle spark plug was out as well and the rubber boot was disintegrated and no where to be seen. My mechanic noticed that the spark plug had a heli-coil attached already, which was likely the repair that was done the other time this had happened. He took off the air intake, and found the source of the leaking oil. It was coming out of the throttle body area! I am now kicking myself for "trucking on" and not stopping or having my truck towed after I heard the plug blow out. Did I make matters worse by driving the 8 miles without the spark plug? Do I need a new engine now? Really worried about my truck and am seeking support on this forum because I can't take it to a Toyota specialist that I have in mind because they are booked up until next week. Please help! Thanks.

Texas_Ace

It is hard to say what all is wrong with it. If it was already repaired once you might be past the point of fixing it and a new engine be the best option, or at least a new head.

The problem with trying to fix it is that you will get shavings into the cylinder if they didn't get there already and that is no good.

I have no idea where the oil is coming from. Was it coming out of the PCV valve, the hose from it runs to the throttle body.

TacoTaco97

Thank you so much for your reply Texas_Ace!! I can't say for certain where exactly the oil is coming from. Just that a bunch had poured out after the air intake was removed. I have basic skill and knowledge, so will be deferring the job to a Toyota specialist in San Francisco. Yeah, the helicoil did look very big already, so I couldn't imagine that an even thicker one would work again at this point.

TacoTaco97

Just thought I would add an update....So it was determined that I cracked the passanger's side head after the spark plug had blown out. I had a few options in terms of getting a new engine vs. getting a new head vs. finding a good used head. Went with the used head option that my mechanic selected and thoroughly inspected. So now I am up and running $2K later. No problems thus far after 5K miles...Hope it will last a while.

vital22re

iTrader: (2)

Oil in the throttle was just blow by due to the cracked head. Glad its back on the road where it belongs.

TacoTaco97

Thanks for the reassurance vital22re! I'm glad too it's on the road again!