2016 Tacoma Radiator Issue leads to engine Issue

Also, I took a copy of my service record to the dealer. Oil changes every 5k, transmission, differentials, xfer case at 50K-all Toyota fluids. Tires rotated every 5k miles. All fluids checked every 5K miles.

 

Sounds like its a prime time to LS swap it.

 

Lol thats still not an answer though. I'd be getting a second opinion ASAP.

 

I don't think the block blows up I think the head fails or a piston seizes.

 

I know, right.

 

Sorry man. Hopefully USAA takes good care of you. They have a good rep, i'm sure you know that though.

 

The head will warp causing a piston to seize

 

If the head warps then basically you have no compression, right?

 

Yeah, I'm just not sure what they can do. Since the loan is through them though they have vested interest in the truck. Hopefully they can advocate for me. My first Toyota and always heard they had a good rep and stood behind their products. Doesn't seem to be the case. The dealer is supposedly advocating for me to Toyota Corporate but not sure if I'm buying this.

 

If your head warps you have nothing. Your hole top end is done they need to take apart the top end of your truck and replare the heads which is super expensive your probably better off putting in a hole new block.

I'd check your engine oil for coolant. Are you blowing alot of smoke out of your tail pipe because if your head gaskets are toast you will have alot of white smoke. And there is a good possibility you can wash out your cylinders

 

Have you called corporate yourself to open a case? I wouldn't trust any dealer on a deal like this.

 

I did and they just called the dealer and said they would work with me whatever that means.

 

That's why I asked them to replace the engine. Also, no smoke, no coolant in oil.

 

I'm think with these cafe standards causing manufacturers to make drastic changes in their engines it is causing problems like these and even a once consumer oriented manufacturer like Toyota is dropping the ball.

 

Wait, you asked them to replace the engine. In your first post it sounded like they were telling you that you needed a new engine and you had to pay 9k. So, what is going on here?

 

They did tell me I needed a new or rebuilt engine. They asked me to pay for it. I asked them to pay for it.

 

I would think under a microscope it would be clear if the leak came internally (failure) or externally (puncture), but with the pressure of the leaking coolant maybe not, but worth a try.

 

That's what I got from it.

If you have a dead hole you will not have any heat coming from the exhaust manifold on that cylinder. I'd be checking that next.

 

do not, under any circumstances, trust a Toyota dealer with this kind of thing. I took my van, a Sienna, into the local dealer for a recall repair, and they identified some things they saw as issues. This included a torn boot on the steering gear, which they suggested I replace for ~$1400. I thanked them for finding the issue, completed the recall repair, and took the van immediately to my mechanic, a total of ~1.2 miles away.

He found that the steering was fine, but that the boot needed replacement. He did say that it's possible to be an issue in the future, but if so deal w/ it then. However, he found that I was almost out of coolant, and found that I had a bad head gasket. Just 1.2 miles prior, the dealer checked and found the coolant level fine.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but I think the dealer mechanics follow the same kind of 80/20 rule that applies everywhere - 80% of the time, you're dealing with the bottom 20%, they are the ones that are always available and cheaper to employ. I pay my mechanic a premium, but when I leave I feel confident that I got the work that was needed, done right, and I feel confident putting my family in that vehicle. Unlike the dealership where the garage is the profit center to make up with the tight margins that new car sales are known for these days.

 

I might do that when all avenues are lost. Right now it is sitting at the dealer and I have a courtesy vehicle. If they tell me they aren't going to fix it and Toyota Corporate tells me that aren't going to stand behind their product then I'll probably do that. I'll never buy from that dealer again though.