Look what i found beneath my intake (could this be causing my head gasket symptoms?)

Update: pulled heads yesterday, found a crack between the valves. Looks like I’ll need to find a new one. The other is getting machined and tested this week.

Looks like the bypass pipe was not the complete issue. But I am wondering if one is the symptom of the other? Is that possible?

 

Did the coolant level ever get low? If the leaking bypass pipe was ignored and the coolant got low enough to overheat that could crack the head

Or it just cracked from bad luck. Who knows

 

The jiggle valve is inconsequential. If your engine is running hot you've got bigger problems than a tiny little hole in a thermostat that should be wide open anyway

Hondas are always at 12 o'clock and they overheat for the same reasons as every other car on the road

 

Again....as I've said.....about 1 out 4 is not just a gasket leak.....its the other evil twin.....

On the 4 bangers the egr controls the heat feedback from the heads.....and then it doesnt...
that's what causing those....

Not sure on the 5vz's........but we sure have seen a bunch of those in the last year for sure......

no shortage on those heads........business is booming....

 

Shop - Powertrain Products

Damn....I see they even have a 5vz engine in stock now...


5 yrs/1,000,000mi warranty on that engine....best I've ever seen

 

I think you’re exactly right.
The coolant did get low multiple times over the course of two years but I was pretty good at monitoring it. And I would only notice it low every couple months, so it was a very slow leak. It must have gotten too hot just a minute too long cause if I ever noticed the temp gauge start to creep up I would stop immediately. Maybe that repeated cycle finally cracked it. This truck has had 3 owners so who the heck knows if it ever overheated during their ownership.

 

Those are a little pricey for where I’m at! But not impossible. Thanks for the rec. Do you have any experience with these guys?
https://www.headsonly.com/product/toyota-tacoma-5vzfe-3-4-rebuilt-cylinder-head

 

I think any of those that do high volume would be fine....

they'll have some kinda of warranty....

....my guess is if you have trouble.....should show up first couple K.....



I'd make a point of checking the valve clearance either way before you button her up....

 

Worth a watch. One of the best instructional video I ever watched. Cracked head was the final diagnosis.
https://youtu.be/voLBRDZL9fE?si=oPjFl1UqRt-EUHQr

 

Don't know how much it really matters, but you should put the proper dual electrode plugs in when you reinstall the heads.

Edit: you don't happen to live in Anthony by chance?