PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

@6 gearT444E
@ColoradoTJ
@shakerhood
@Taco critter

My truck does seem to have a slow a coolant leak somewhere, but it isn't affecting the operating temperature of the engine or the performance of the heater. The scent of residual antifreeze from the blown head gasket last year is gone. My truck is running better than it has in probably years, and is even getting better gas mileage (anywhere from 17 to 23 MPG depending on a number of factors; I was averaging 13 to 17, and exceeding 20 if I spent a lot of time on the highway); I would really like to know where my coolant is going, because every two weeks or so it seems like I have to add coolant to the reservoir!

I say again that the truck runs great and is showing no signs of head gasket issues. If it does need head gasket work again, I'm not worried because Thompson Toyota covers all parts and labor for two years. This means that I have until the middle of October 2024 to bring the truck back if something happens!

That said, I don't not believe that the head gasket fully "blew" until that night in September 2022 at the Wawa on 309 in Hatfield; I do, however, believe that it was on its way out as early as April 2021.

My truck experienced its first "temperature spike" in either June or July of 2022. That's when the temp gauge shot up to the danger zone and then rapidly went back down to the normal level; I believe that was more the thermostat starting to fail than the head gasket. I drove it to upstate New York and back in mid-July (so A/C cranked and speeds well over 70 MPH) with no issues. I think my engine ran so good for so long because I am so religious about maintenance. Hell, as long as I kept the coolant topped off, it ran with a blown head gasket!

I do believe that the poor gas mileage, misfiring, and fuel injector issues were all related to the head gasket in some way. As stated above, the truck runs great and the gas mileage has improved exponentially; I would not hesitate to hop in the truck and drive to California if I had to!

 

Take it back to TT and have them pressure test it and find it.

 

I would replace the radiator before I simply put a bandaid on what could be a decent-sized wound...

 

I'm going to do one more top off this weekend just to be sure; I think that this winter's wildly fluctuating temperatures might have something to do with it too. My truck has leaked coolant before and had to have a tiny little hose between the radiator and reservoir replaced back in 2018 I believe...

 

Second this. You paid Toyota to do it right, don’t be afraid to take it back.

 

X2

 

Filling the reservoir every 2 weeks on not normal.
There is an issue somewhere, the sooner you address it, the better.

Take it back

 

I'm going to make an appointment. That they way can get to it immediately instead of having it sit at the dealer all weekend. The truck is literally showing no signs whatsoever of a coolant leak. There is no coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant. I think there's probably some seepage from a hose somewhere that I'm not seeing; I seriously do not see or smell coolant anywhere, which is why I'm not particularly alarmed. It is also worth noting that that my truck's coolant level rises and falls...

 

And I'm going to top off the coolant tomorrow; I have a feeling something wasn't tightened when they put everything back together...

 

You are seeing the perils of owning a high mileage vehicle. You’ll sort it out, just takes patience (and money at times).

 

I'll take the perils of a high-mileage vehicle over the payments of a newer, low-mileage one any day of the week!

 

You don’t want to stimulate the economy by purchasing an overpriced new vehicle??

 

I’ll let you buy it new, and I’ll buy it used from you in a couple years

 

I bought a Tacoma for a reason. After the 4th gens roll out, 3rd gen values further skyrocket, and my 5 year old truck will be worth around original MSRP

 

So I’m not getting it for $20k?
Some friend you are……..

 

Maybe after I hit the lotto and buy a F150 Raptor in cash…

 

Everything is so overpriced lately too.

 

Except our salaries.