Blown Head gasket

I have a 2002 toyota tacoma with a 3.4l motor. 230,000 mikes. I recently got a p0300 check engine code on it. Took it to a mechanic and he told me I have a blown head gasket. I drove it home to figure out what to do with it. I know I won't get much for it in this condition. I've been trying to price out my options. Any suggestions or mechanics in SD willing to give me an estimate for repairs?

 

Did the mechanic that diagnosed it as a blown headgasket give you an estimate?

 

The FSM lists quite a few things for a p0300, compression is indeed one of them. First confirm that is the problem. Do a compression test yourself or get a second opinion. Head gaskets are a big job but not huge, in a shop I'm guessing thousands.

 

What other symptoms are there?

 

The mechanic I took it to said he noticed white smoke and a misfire on cold start. Runs smooth when hot. I did not see this until I picked it up. He did do a compression test. #4 was at 175 the rest were between 190 and 200. He also ran a camera through it and found coolant on #3 cylinder. He works from home as a side job after work he told me this would be a big job for him to do from home and never gave me an estimate. I'm assuming he doesn't want to. He also warned me that when he opens the motor the cylinders could be cracked and to expect to pay more money.

 

This is cylinder 3 I believe. I'm not able to post the video he sent me.

 

Yeah what he said sounds pretty accurate.


You could get it fixed, and i would expect it to be a couple thousand.


The alternative would be to find another motor and put that in - way less labor intensive and probably cheaper overall. The trick is finding a good motor, but they are out there.

 

If the truck is in good shape, look for a used engine.

 

That what people keep telling me. I'm not to truck savvy so I have no clue where to start to look for one. People keep telling me to look for a crate motor. I'm also lost at where to look for that. That's why I posted here to see if I could get any resources. Any maybe a mechanic recommendation. Or if anyone knows what a fair price would be to sell it.

 

If I find one at a junk yard how do I get it out of the truck its already in?

 

If you can't do an engine swap yourself, pay a competent mechanic to do it. Do some research online, do the "legwork" ask the mechanic any questions you have and let him install the engine. Cost of engine + mechanic labor = if you should swap engines or start looking for a new vehicle.

 

Which SD are you in? My mind goes to South Dakota..

Pulling a junkyard engine is going to be tough. Toyotas get picked over fast and you never get much history on the vehicle.

You can find JDM (Japanese domestic market) motors that are already removed and ready to go, but do have differences from the original so they need to have someone skilled swap over the necessary parts.

I would probably ask your original mechanic if he has any ideas about finding a motor.


I think @1997tacomav6 swapped a motor once, maybe he’ll chime in with other places to look.

 

For me it's too big a gamble on a JDM motor,
No history on these and plenty of bad motors being sold even tho most are good.
I found a motor running in a rolled truck that had 95k miles and carfaxed it.
I was lucky .
I'm not spending hours and money on a motor unless I'm 100 percent It's good

 

Im in San diego. CA

 

A 5vz 6 cyl with only 230K and that high compression...

I would not put a junk engine in there...

Just bite the bullet and have a new head gasket installed.....

However be prepared to check those heads super careful for cracks forming in-between the valves...

a cracked head ends up being the culprit about 25% of the time.....
especially if the coolant loss is irregular....

You probably got the better part of a year or more to think and scheme...

 

Give Richard at Action Cylinder Heads in Santee a call.

 

Shit I’m almost tempted to do the head gasket job for you. I live in San Diego and I did my head gasket in January.. twice. Same 3.4 motor as you. If you bought the parts I’d charge probably a fraction of what a shop would quote you for labor. Just a thought.

 

Do you think if I repair the head gasket it will continue to have gasket issues. Would it be better to get a rebuilt motor put in?. I'm going to call action cylinder tomorrow. Most people I talk to about the repair tell me to sell it.

 

That’s cus the cost to fix it is usually pretty close to the cost of the car itself. That’s if a shop is doing it. But if you’re willing to do it yourself, or can find someone to do it for cheap as compared to a shops price, then it’s a no brainer.
If you did repair the head gasket you’ll probably get a gasket kit which would have all the other gaskets you’ll want to replace anyways while you’re in there. And as long as it’s done right you shouldn’t have any gasket problems for awhile. Mine is running better after the HG job even at 300k miles.

 

I followed Worsethanchiggers YouTube videos on it and now Timmy the tool man has a video on it too. Conveniently after I had just finished doing mine!