Bumpin' Yota

If you have a 3.0L have you done the head gasket recall?

I have not, but am assuming that when the head gasket goes, it leaks oil?

How can I make a damn poll....it wont let me...

Paul H.

Bumpin, just click on new topic, type in the subject. go down to bottom of screen where it says to post a poll . Click on box and then hit submit. A new window should pop up. Then fill in the blanks. Hope this helps.

Woodbert

My symptom was drips of water near where the AC condensation appears but further back on the left side.

Initially, you woyld probably have noticable white exhaust, becuae coolant is dripping into the cylynder.

Shortly after that, rough idle and POOOOF it's blown. Big puff of white smoke, nothing in the radiator. It's not a pretty sight!

Bumpin' Yota

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! My exhuast has a very very slight whiteness to it. Very hard to notice, but if the background is correct you can see it. Also, when Im in gear idling and not moving the engine idles rough. My yota has been going through about 1 quart of oil per 3k miles but I thought that was from the leak in the main seal....:cry: :cry: :cry:

Im hoping its something minor the the seals that would be covered....

Woodbert

Bumpin' Yota,

I really hope it's not the headgasket. But if your VIN hasn't had it replaced by Toyota you should have it done.

rabidbeaverbaby

how can you find out if you 4runner had it done...i just got mine in december

Woodbert

I think if you call a Toyota dealership, mention the headgasket and give them your VIN they can check and see if it's eligible and/or been done.

SSRacing

I called about my 1995 last summer. We got a letter from Toyota about our 2000 Camry V6 and it is a 3.0 as well.

When I started asking questions I found out they cover all 3.0 V6's. I asked about my 4Runner, they said it skips the '95 model year!? It covers '89-'94 and skips '95? I was a little upset. Yes, mine was leaking oil.

After 2 days on the phone with Toyota Corp, they agreed to pay half and throw in a rental car.

Better than nothing I guess...

rabidbeaverbaby

i have noticed that my oil has been going somewhere since i have to put about a pint in every 1000 miles....so maybe i will call the local dealer tomarrow.....does it matter if i'm not the original owner? do i have to wait until it goes to get it replaced?

CTB

SSRacing - ya the campaign actually doesn't cover my '95 as well. It was made it May of '95, so they must have corrected the problem by this point.

Rabidbeaverbaby - no, you don't have to wait till it blows to get the job done. And no, it should not matter that you are not the original owner. But check just in case..it may have already been done by the previous owner.

L33T35T 4Runner

ya mine wasnt covered either, but i still had the exact same problem


$2,600 later my car got fixed

SSRacing

Hey CTB, I noticed your 4Runner on the Readers Rigs Pics the other day, mine looks identical to yours...Same paint/wheels/stripe etc...

I don't think the problem was fixed in 1995. They were still having problems with the 3.0's in Camry's from '96-'01, that is why we got a letter in the mail from Toyota on our 2000 Camry.

So they covered the 4Runner from '89-'94 and Camry's from '96-'02, but HEY, WE GOT THE 3.0 RIGHT IN 1995!!!!! I dont think so...

They may have used another gasket in '95 4Runners, but MANY still have the same problems. I would talk to Toyota Corp and see what they are willing to do if you want it replaced.

SSRacing

Hey, L33T35T 4Runner

I like your driving lights, what are they and how do you install?


Shane

Robinhood150

Symptoms of a HG include but not limited to:
1. LOTS of white smoke out the tailpipe
2. rough idle
3. gurgling noise from the heater core (when the heater is on),
4. water in the oil evidenced by a milky substance on the oil filler cap
5. oil in the coolant
6. coolant overflowing even when cold

You may have any combination of these symptoms. For instance, the first time my HG blew I only had white smoke. The 2nd time I didn't have any white smoke but had a rough idle and gurgling. Don't get condensation confused with white smoke, usually the HG smoke is a lot and you know it.

Steve

91Runner

My '91 has had the HG Recall done, although it was done in November '99 (A little over a year and a half before I bought it). So unfortunately I don't know what the symptoms are like, and thanks Steve for posting the symptoms, now if I ever think my HG has blown, I know what to look for

-Braden

r2xj

First thing i did when i got my runner was call the dealer and check my VIN and see if the recall had been done. According to them it had, and i have been told that technically the head gasket should go bad, like, never... is that correct? im not much of a car genious, or anything remotely close. there was no water in my oil, my radiator never overflowed, it did however need to be refilled semi-often but i thought that was due to the pin holes in the top of the radiator. The "white stuff" (lol) comimg out of my exhaust only happened when my car was cold, and when i got my car the whether was starting to get cold, so i wasnt worried that much about it. i even brought up the fact that when i started my exhaust kinda smelt like coolant to my dad, but he never really acted like it was that big of a deal, so i didnt worry about it! well now my car is in the shop and they say i either have a bad head gasket or my block is cracked!!?!? grrrrr! so what can make a head gasket go bad? and is there something i should have done? i have had the car since september and its been in the shop for a month and a half of that (last time it was the MAF)

tpg013

It's normal for the 3.0 to go through oil. I called toyota Corp. and they said a quart every 1200 miles is normal. Has something to do with the low tolerances in the engine. I didn't like it but if that's what they say.......................

CTB

A quart every 1200 miles?? That seems excessive to me. I go through about 1/2 quart every 3000 miles or so, but definitely not as much as they say.

Are you actually going through that much? If so, do you have a pretty major leak, or are you burning it?

tpg013

Usually not that much, but Toyota says that a quart is normal. Where it goes, who knows. I guess it burns it. I have no leaks...anywhere.

Robinhood150

Usually, the cause of a blown HG is overheating. But the 3.0 had bad gaskets from the factory, I believe the material they used wasn't compatible with the iron block and aluminum heads. Supposedly, the recall used better material and so fixed the problem, I don't believe it though. There was nothing you can do.