1GR-FE Head Gasket Failing - Options

I am 99% sure that my Tacoma's head gasket is failing at cylinder 6.

Same symptoms as most others I have read...
Rough start in the morning for a few seconds. Clears up and runs fine.
Code for misfire on cylinder 6

I have changed all spark plugs. Swapped the coil from cylinder 6 with cylinder 4. Same error and symptons.

Also, slowly using coolant...


What I would love from all of you good people is some help sourcing a donor motor, truck or opinions on fixing the current motor.

2005 Tacoma
165K miles

So do I
1.) Fix the head gasket and replace the water pump
2.) Find a used low mileage donor motor and do a motor swap
3.) Find a totaled Truck, swap the motor, use whatever other parts I can and then part it out myself hoping to recoup what I can.

2 - The question is what is the latest year motor I can swap into my truck.
3 - What would a good price be for a totaled truck

Drinking my sorrows away...ha ha

Thanks in advance for everyone's help/advice.

 

I would crack it open and let the condition of it determine the next step.

 

So the 165K miles would not discourage you from fixing the gasket and buttoning it back up if the inside looked good.

 

i had one like yours at work and i did the hg and stuff and it was fine
think it cost the customer like 1500

 

Just do the head gasket properly. Inspect the tops of the pistons and cylinder walls for any abnormal wear. If all that is good then install the head and everything else and go with it. There is no need to replace and engine because it blew or is slowly blowing a head gasket. People have them done all the time.

 

On a tacoma? U must of come from a long line of gm vehicles. Its a scientifically proven fact that tacomas have/can/will run upto but not limited to 50,000 miles with absolutely no gaskets, seals, or fluids with only minor issues reported. Bottom line is its a toyota, fix it and drive another 200k+ miles one that thing.

 

You are correct, this was my first Toyota...

 

Really appreciate all the input...

 

With normal wear I wouldn't worry about 165k. Like stated above I would inspect everything just for good measure and put a new head gasket on it. If your not able to do a professional job like this pay to have it done. Good luck and let us know

 

This option is the best, cheapest and easiest one.

 

Again, thanks for all the input.

I dropped off my truck at the shop today. We will see what they have to say about the head gasket. (Block Test and leak down or compression test)

 

I just went through your exact same issue last month. My Leak was SUPER small, and the only test that confirmed a bad gasket was an OVERNIGHT coolant pressure test. It's tough to decide what to do- get a new motor or rebuild yours. Heres what i figured when i did mine

New engine- Minimum 2k plus mechanic cost to swap it, maybe another 1k.
Rebuild your engine- $3050 from toyota (real quoted price), maybe less from a small shop. This doesnt include other random parts, so it will likely be alot more when all is said and done.
Rebuild it yourself- about $1700 including head work and random parts youll want to replace

You can do up to 2011 for sure, not positive about the newer ones but theyd probly work too. From what i know, 05-07 have the same issue with head gaskets, and it's unclear about 08- some say theyre updated and some say theyre not. if you get a new engine, be safe and get at least an 09.

I ended up doing the head gasket on my engine rather than replacing, because i did it myself in my garage. roughly $1700 in parts and head work. The cool thing was that the engine still looks GREAT inside and i have 217k on mine. Be sure to check your exhaust manifolds while you have everything apart and make sure the cats arent blown out (mine were). I now have a great running engine about 1000 miles later no problems.

It's def worth the fix on these trucks becuase i am confident i wont have any other major issues with the truck for a long time now, and shes in great shape. Plus they hold their value. Hope that helps

 

LOLZ...........someones drinking the cool aid


if Toyota quality is Sooooooooooooo great why have their trucks frames been recalled for the past 20 years?


Ill never be blindly brand loyal like many here are. Toyota builds junk just like every other brand. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes not.

Oh and I got my new 'used' engine for $1,200.00.

 

Toyota has to have some weak point, or no one would ever buy a new one, same reason ford stopped using the 7.3, they made sure to replace it with the 6.blow so there would repeat buyers every couple years. (Btw my alabama frame looks fantastic, other than being covered in red clay most of the time)

 

Time to go diesel. There is no other viable option.

 

How are you spending 1700 on parts for a gasket replacement?

 

Gasket kit, water pump, cam chain, head cleaning and testing, plugs and coils, 10 Qts synthetic oil and 2 filters, coolant, main engine belt, a few wheels on the engine that were seizing up, it adds up quick.

I replaced some things I maybe didn't need to but I wanted it done right

 

The shop is still trying to diagnose what I believe to be the head gasket failing.

Block Test was inconclusive
Overnight coolant pressure test did not leak down.
Scope did not show any drops of coolant.

Still waiting, man I miss driving my Tacoma...

 

Good luck man!

Cylinder six is where my issues started. It's scorn and loses compression.

 

Damn that sucks. try coolant testing the engine while hot... this might be the only time your issue rears its ugly head.

Also you said that you swapped cyl. 4 and 6 coils, but i would try swapping coils off the other bank just to be safe. Other than that i'm stumped. maybe some kinda vacuum leak?