Hello.

It seems that I have an internal head gasket leak on my 3.0 1994 4runner. I am trying to decide what to do with it.

The runner is next to mint - but high mileage. Has recently had timing belt, water pump, clutch, ball joints etc. lots of recent money spent. Recently found the headgasket leak during an unsuccessful tune up (cap, rotor, wires plugs.. 5th plug fouled).

engine has 280,000 km on it - has valve tick but no other noises knocks or concerns. Compression is 170 psi on all cylinders. Options I know of include:
1. Head gasket repair @ $1500 done by Toyota
2. Rebuilt engine @ $4500
3. Thermagasket or similar
4. used engine @$1000 to $2000

I am not mechanically inclined enough to do the work myself and a swap to 3.4 seems to be out of the question for me also.

I wonder if anyone here could advise me on what is the best route to take. I love my truck and I'm not looking to just give up on it - but I'm getting the feeling that this 3.0 engine is not one of toyota's better examples of their superior engineering.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Get the head gasket done, sounds like you don't need a rebuild just yet. They are actually good engines, the reasons they had so many head gasket problems was because they undertorqued the bolts at the factory.

 

3.0 with headgasket problems? No way.

I'd say just replace the HG.

 

Where are you located? Parts for the head gasketsonly total somewhere around $400 to $500...if you're close I could do both heads for $1000. I've done 12 of them myself and motor swaps in the teens to twenties.

Tom

 

How do you know the headgasket is bad? Just curious.

 

lol..
my friend bought an entire gasket kit for his 2.9l in his ranger for 70 bucks, so idk where this guy is getting the 400-500 dollar figure..
and to cchange the headgasket it's relatively easy.

edit: and if you have 170psi over all cylinders, then how is it a headgasket?

 

Check if that Runner has had the headgasket already done. Call up Toyota with your VIN and ask if it is eligible for any outstanding service campaigns (recalls). Its definitely worth a shot. My fingers are crossed!

My Runner has 308K kms on it and its still eligible for the headgasket recall and the steering relay rod.

 

I thought that headgasket recall was over. I'd like to know if that's not the case, tho', because I think mine's original.

 

I called up Toyota a month or so ago and they said both of my vehicles are still eligible.

P.S. Nice 4Runner . Wish mine was a 5Speed.

 

Sweet. I'm calling Toyota tomorrow to see what (if any) free work I'm eligible for. This 4runner is the only rust free vehicle I've ever owned (Arizona truck). Now if it would just quit breaking down. . .

 

A full 3.0 gasket kit is $207 at Advanced Auto...
New head bolts $75..a must...DO NOT REUSE STRETCH TO YIELD BOLTS OVER
Timing belt kit...around $143 I believe...unless you just want to change the belt for $25..again...you're investing all this money...change the two idlers while in there
Exhaust gaskets...$10-$15...not included in the kit
water pump....(your choice...but you'd be crazy not to change it).
Oil change...2 of them to flush out the motor


Be my guest if you wanna go cheap and reuse everything...you'll be wasting your time. Those figures don't include doing anything to the heads...no valve work...no manga flucting for cracks.


Parts ain't cheap....call factory toyota and see what they'll charge for the parts...better sit down!!

 

If you think doing HG on a 3.slow is easy...then you've never done one. Why do you think there's not a garage around that'll touch them for under $1500??

Good luck...

 

i've always been told the 3.0 headgasket problem was due to the Exhaust crossover pipe and the block material being so thin at cylinder #6..

if you have continuing headgasket issues..then there is something else wrong..you're block should have been decked or you're heads should have been shaved..they are obviously not true (straight..within spec)

and i think just cuz you blow a headgasket..doesn't mean that you have low compression in a cylinder..although i could be wrong LOL

 

mines gonna be easy as hell...cuz my whole motor is getting rebuilt..LMFAO

 

Yea there are so many ways you could attack this , all depends how much you want to spend.

you say you have a new water pump and timing belt , then I think youed be crazy to do buy them again.

Where are you located , I have someone that can do it for you for $300 plus parts . this is just gaskets no head work or anything and will be done in a day guaranteed . No BS!!!!

 

Hmm...$300...hell I'd have that guy do it. Factory Toyota techs hate this job...they're "ONLY" alotted 10hrs. on this and that's all they'll be paid for...anytime over that and it's on them. Toyota allows 10hrs. regardless of what happens. Try that in a Northern state where almost every exhaust nut or stud will most likely break off and then you're left to fix'em. Can't blame them for charging that much....


$300 thats a hell of a deal....thats like $30 and hour....I'd pay him and go golfing!

 

yea I know , this guy loves that crap, I hate working on the 3vze thats why I took one of mine out .1 more to go..

 

I thought about it...but I'm so use to them now...they don't bother me anymore. Well, I can't say that totally I absolutely hate working on the starter!! Unless you have the arms of a 10yr. old...they're a bitch to get at....Lol

 

congrats on that man.. The engine bay with the ADD and the ABS along with the 3vze , Nightmare..

 

The best thing i did to my 91'pu was a SAS with a T100 oil pan...loads of room now! and its rides so much better than the IFS IMHO. All that extra crap is gone to the scrap yard.

I do the head gasket jobs for extra $$.