My 2006 blown head gasket problems

My 2006 Tacoma head gasket blew destroying the engine. The engine over heated as a result and it was recommended to install another engine. I was out of town 1200 miles from home and with no other recourse had it towed in to a local Toyota dealer.

The new engine was and is running fine, however, I have persistent codes C1201 and P0420. These indicate a bad O2 sensors and damaged catalytic converter. The same dealer that did the engine exchange said to run cat cleaner through it and that may fix the issue. But now driving the Tacoma home the lights are still on, CEL, VSC, TRAC, ABS.

According to the Toyota dealer the radiator fluid that was pumped through the right side cat may have ruined the catalyst and that if the cat cleaner does not fix it I will need another catalytic converter installed.

I thought to change out the O2 sensors as a first step, then look into a new cat.

Any thoughts? Are the much less expensive aftermarket cats okay to use?

My lifted (Toytec) Tacoma has very little if any rust, never abused, regular 5,000 mile oil changes, no dents, paint and interior are excellent. Has run reliably with no issues for 133,500 miles and then kaboom.

 

Sometimes aftermarket converters aren't "strong enough" to satisfy what the computer wants to see performance wise. In my opinion, anything less than OEM and you risk a return p0420.

Coolant can damage converters (and oxygen sensors) .. but you should still check for exhaust leaks and test the oxygen sensors

 

Yeah, I figure that non-OE parts might be more trouble than they are worth. But, my neighbor is a Toyota guy also and he has an older 4-Runner with aftermarket cats in it and no problems. I lean to OE.

 

I started advising cat damage on all engine replacements a few years back, its awful for the customer to spend up to 10k just to have a nagging engine light on.

P0420 is a bastard, and if no exhaust leaks the only solution is replacement of the cat. We're seeing a lot more 2005-2010 models replacing them now.

 

Yes, I am unlucky enough that nothing short of two new O2 sensors and an OE cat will solve the plethora of warning lights problem. Hope the new engine does not decide to blow a head gasket, my trust level in (my) Toyota Tacomas now is pretty low.

 

I replaced a cat a few years ago for the P0420 code. I took the cat to a local scrap dealer and he checked the numbers on the side and it falls under a category called "low grade foreign". Toyota designs them to only last long enough to make federal standards. Mine was 4K miles past the warranty, I got $40 for it.
Anything aftermarket would be an improvement, I went with a dorman from rockauto and it's been fine so far.

 

Go with a good brand cat and sensor and replace them . It should be fine . As far as the head gasket goes 133 k miles is not a lot of mileage but the truck is 16 going on 17 years old . Gaskets degrade over time .

 

the cheap aftermarket converters don't last very long. at the lower prices, they probably don't even have any platinum.

you could install a spark plug spacer on the new o2 sensor to trick the sensor, so that your cel goes away. that doesn't actually fix anything, but it's a good idea to keep your cel off, so if you get a real problem, you'll see the cel come back on

 

how long was your head gasket leaking?

they usually leak slowly at first, causing foam in the oil, which is a good warning.
i caught mine in time before any damages. put some magic bottle in the coolant and it's actually still working.

 

Did this on a civic with 200k on it. It did fix the CEL and still had great MPG.

 

the post cat o2 sensor doesn't effect the air/fuel mix.

it's the pre cat sensor that you definitely want working correctly. a bad cat won't set off the pre cat sensor

 

Didn't the 05-06 Tacomas have some issue with the head gaskets that was resolved by the 07 model year?

 

As far as I know the head gasket failed catastrophically. There had never been any water in the oil. I check the oil before the trip and then along the way. I had freshly changed the oil and filter (Mobil 1) before the trip. I had just most immediately to the failure checked the oil and coolant leaving Key West and in Fort Lauderdale the engine failed on the freeway. Some places in the world it is not simply possible to pull over immediately, the engine overheated because all of the coolant went through the engine as I was trying to reach a safe exit in an unfamiliar place. Approximately 10 miles before total failure all CEL and VSC, TRAC and ABS lights came on. I was trying to get directions to a Toyota dealership when the engine failed leaving me dangerously stranded on the side of a busy freeway. I am an A&P mechanic, also went to diesel mechanic school, I know a little bit about engines. There were no warning signs that would indicate a leaking head gasket or imminent failure until all of the CEL lights came on. Pretty poor for a vehicle that has been babied it's entire life.

I have ordered a new Toyota OE right side cat and will either do the work myself or have a local mechanic do it. The Toyota dealership here in Wichita is beyond horrible. I do not think there is anything wrong with the new engine or the work done by the Toyota dealership in Fort Lauderdale. The engine is running fine, better than ever, just all of the lights! Hopefully the new cat and if needed after testing new O2 sensors it will be good to go.

Looking at the new Colorado and of course the new Tacoma is supposed to be for 2024. Maybe just sell it and move on to something more reliable. There is no excuse for a head gasket failure on a vehicle with 130,000 miles. As far as head gaskets degrading over time, nah, if so then the (low miles) 2006 used engine installed by the dealer will likely fail as well.

 

The fix happened sometime within the 2006 year, I think by February-March 2006 (but I could be wrong), they had replaced the head gaskets going onto the assembly lines.

 

I ordered my Tacoma in summer 2005 and it was delivered for Labor Day of that summer. It apparently has the bad gaskets but there is no warranty for it. I really was not expecting help on a vehicle that is 17 years old but regardless it is a low mileage, well cared for vehicle and there is no excuse. I might as well get a Colorado if 130,000 miles is all a Tacoma is good for reliability. My concern is that the new engine might fail in the same manner in an even worse location. Of course it has a one year warranty but the dealer is 1,200 miles away and the local Toyota dealer refuses to honor or contact the dealer that did the work, if there was additional issues not now known related to the engine install per them I would have to take it back to the installing dealer!

New cat with integral manifold on the way.

 

Not every 2005-2006 is going to blow a had gasket, the odds are pretty low actually (but higher than post 2006 Tacomas)

 

Well, hmmm, the OE cat manifold assembly is on back order with no definite shipment date.

Can anyone help me confirm the right side cat/manifold assembly is now PN 17140-0P100 for a 2006 4.0 TRD O/R 4.0 V6 engine? And the gasket? Thanks in advance.

 

The chances you got a NEW 2005 or 2006 engine are slim to none. I’m betting the NEW engine is newer than you think.
I’d say the engine will out least the frame. If you bought a good cat, it will probably be fine for a long time.

I’d be doing maintenance on my transmission, differentials and transfer case.

I think everything will be just fine
I wouldn’t worry about the engine

 

I am sorry, when I said new I should have said another. The dealership cannot per them install an engine not listed by part number as acceptable for the truck. They cannot install a 2016 engine in a 2006 truck for example. The "new" to me engine has 58,000 miles on it and was supposedly checked over for compression and other basic parameters by the supplier and listed as Grade A and was removed from a Tacoma that was totaled by a rear end collision. Not sure how the parts people know all this. Had this occurred here in Wichita I would have gone another route but when 1200 miles from home and stuck, well, this is what happens. Besides, a rebuilt engine rebuilt with who knows what parts vs a factory used engine, I think I would go with the used Toyota built engine.

I now have a 171400P260 integral cat and manifold being shipped, seem to be rare. This assembly has two O2 sensors installed into it, one in front and one behind the cat. These parts were recommended by VIN per a Toyota dealer and hopefully will cure the CELs.

 

Forgive me if I'm incorrect, but I seem to remember reading that the head gasket change happened at the end of 2005, December possibly, so any 2006 built in the year 2006 were manufactured with the improved head gaskets. I remember being relieved when I saw the April 2006 manufacture date on mine.