Hi
I got a 94 v6 3.0 Vze Toyota truck with 221k miles. It started leaking coolant and running rough with a low idle. I took it to a mechanic. He said that the radiator was leaking so he put stop leak in it. He did a compression test and got:
#1-175
#2-140
#3-160
#4-145
#5-80-90
#6-105
He said the spark plugs had heavy oil build up and suspects coolant is leaking into cyl4 and 6 since the spark plugs in these had broken tips. His conclusions was that the engine is worn out and needs a new one. So I was thinking just to sell it as it is a little small for my needs anyway. Do you think this is fixable or should I say to buyers that it needs a new engine?

 

Just sell it as is. No use in putting all the time/money into a truck you're just going to sell anyway.

 

Just wondering if this sounds like a fixable engine problem or if I should advertise it as needing a new engine?

 

In the end, what you say to the seller doesn't matter. Anyone who would rely on a seller's word that "the engine is fixable" shouldn't be buying a truck. Or anything else.

You should absolutely tell the buyer exactly what the mechanic told you. Leave it to the buyer to figure out if he wants to take a gamble on a head gasket replacement.

 

Technically any engine is fixable, depending on how many parts you're willing to replace. So don't bother thinking of it like that.

You sell the car as is. You are not responsible for figuring out what a new owner wants to do or is willing to invest. You price it at what you want to get for it, you declare the vehicle is in as is condition, and if you want to, you don't have to, but if it makes you feel better, you provide the info you quoted above. There's nothing wrong with saying "i don't know". You're not a dealer or mechanic selling a service. You're selling a used machine with no warranties.

You have no idea if it's going to be salvaged, rebuilt, etc and that's not your concern. It is what it is, just don't lie and say it's more than that. But don't worry about saying less, it's a buyer's risk.

And certainly don't spend more money, or feel guilty about starting a negotiation asking what you want for it, or for taking more than YOU would pay for it. You are not morally obligated to provide a fair deal. Just not a dishonest one.

Here's another way to see it: if an old lady drive that the last few years, then it started running like crap, she may just park it, put a sign on it and buy a new car. Could she tell a buyer anything about what's going on in that engine? No, just that it ran good until yesterday. Like her, there's no way for you to predict the extent of repairs needed.

 

Find a new mechanic as well anyone that would put stop leak in a customers vehicle!!

Unless you told them too!!!

This is the old 3.0 some would not spend another dime .

Then others would think nothing of dropping $5000.00 plus in the engine.

About the only thing not fixable is when you have a big hole in the side of the block

 

i would pour some diesel in the cylinders, let it sit overnight, and then see if #5 picks up compression. also would do a blow-by comparison before and after. coolant in the cylinders present as white ash on the spark plug. broken off electrodes could be from them just wearing out for too long. chances are it needs a full rebuild, or at the least the heads off.