289,000 miles, unknown cooling loss. Gonna change the head gaskets.

Great Site. Tons of good info. Already removed my running boards.
Is there a place like enginebuilder on the east coast to buy parts from or am I better off to just get stuff from them? Time is not a big factor.
I am in SC
Thanks

 

Since you said, 'unknown cooling loss', I'm guessing you haven't diagnosed anything yet?

With just short of 300,000 miles, I would be looking at as much as possible before tear-down. I would want to make sure: 1. it is the head gaskets; and 2. head gaskets are all that is necessary, in order to prevent getting into the motor and finding out it needs to be rebuilt instead.

But that's just me. I hate replacing parts that don't need to be replaced, and I hate surprises also.

 

You really would only fix the head gaskets on a 3vz-e with 300k on it?

I would be thinking minimum full top end gasket set, timing belt, water and oil pump, fuel injector testing, throttle body cleaning, not to mention around $400 to have heads resurfaced, and valves reseated and checked (assuming the heads are in descent shape) Which leads me to say, you might as well rebuild the whole thing since time is not an issue lol.

Engnbldr ships free in the 48 states, Ted can get whatever you need! Also check into putneyscustommachine.com, they are very knowledgeable about the 3vze.

 

I also just started on my head gaskets. About 2 months ago it started billowing sweet white smoke from the exhaust and the oil cap had a milky residue on it. I ran some of that blue devil head gasket sealant stuff through it and it patched it up. It started doing it again today, so I started taking it apart. I have a 95 runner 205k with a 3vze. Good timing on the thread, maybe we can help each other.

 

You guys should check out this thread...https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...ctures-181237/

His findings made me scared to ever run that fix a leak stuff in my truck

 

man....the gasket sealant stuff dont works at all....I think it makes things wrongs. now you have flush your entire engine to get that stuff off....do it before you start taking it apart.

hey pismojoe, do you know how much putneyscustommachine.com charge to do the rebuilt for the 3vze engine?

 

Nope but you can email them for a quote, they'll help you out

 

Yep, been "diagnosing" the crap out of it. No sweet smell. Do have milky residue under oil cap. Engine oil looks good. Exhaust steams until fully warmed up, after barely. At this point using about a gallon a week. Runs OK.

 

When I said time was not an issue, I was refering to the shipping distance, sorry. Still has good oil pressure, runs good, but yes I would change timing belt, water pump is recent and I would change every gasket and seal that was exposed during the process. Yes I will check the heads with a straitedge and for cracks.

About once a month I have the weekend off and would have to be running again in that time frame. I had a lincoln with head gasket issues at 150,000. Got another 90,000 miles after just a head gasket change.
On a camaro that my son in law is still driving, changed them at 125,000. Still going strong at 220,000 plus. Thanks for the reply, I do realise the risks.

 

That's weird that you have the milky residue under the oil cap, but your oil looks good. Glad to hear that it's nothing too severe.

Good luck with it all!

 

Yea. I'm kind of suprised at the oil too. Every time in the past, it was good to go one minute, white vapor cloud covering the car the next minute. Gotta be just a pinhole somewhere.

Thanks

 

I'm starting on doing a head gasket for my 93 3vze too. Does anyone know how to actually solve the problem vs. just replacing it...ie) metal head gasket? Mine was done 10 years ago....so Toyota tells me.