New Engine 145,000 miles

Something else had to have let go… allowing the engine to overheat. If it was due to fluid breakdown there would be a TON of toyota and Lexus vehicles with blown motors at 101k miles.

 

And this is why i stick around tw , im always learning shit

 

Im surprised the truck doesn’t chime or flash a light when it reaches near dangerous temps.

 

New head gaskets require machining? New engine is the ‘only’ fix?

Did the dealer (any of them) explain what exactly happened, how they came to that conclusion, and show you concrete evidence supporting their conclusion?

$18k. Well, show us pictures of the new engine when it’s in. And photos of the damage on the old engine.

 

I an addition to the coolant temp needle gauge, with a red zone, there are these indicators, that I believe also have a chime.
I am only guessing here, but I would think many overheating situations are exacerbated by some thinking they can make it home/to the shop,,,, or not wanting the expense and inconvenience of the tow. I know I know, there are times people hit something, causing a sudden oil or coolant leak and it is not safe to pull over. That is not who I am talking about though, I am referring to the ones that acknowledge the lights and sounds, and take the gamble, truly don’t understand,,,, that any engine cannot make it seconds without oil, or minutes with excessive temps.

 

I would take it to an independent shop. Dealers are just part swappers on your dime.

 

Well there you go. Sometimes I forget how fancy the 3rd gen is compared to the 2nd gen.

 

Get Toyota corporate involved? It's a 2017 with 145k miles. Toyota ain't doing sh!t about that

 

When you mention the pump, do you mean a leak that just got worse over time or something else? Just curious.

 

Leaks that get progressively worse when left unchecked.
The GR water pump isn’t an uncommon leaker. Left long enough they can totally fail where the impeller breaks free

 

I suspected you meant leakage. Long ago I had a GM Quad 4 that leaked, I babied it along for a bit until I could afford to get it done. Hindsight not the wisest but I had some of the sealing tablets my friend gave me. That job cost me a small fortune ugh.

 

heads can warp if they overheat. That was the big fatal flaw of the 3.0. Engine overheats, heads/block warp, and you can keep swapping head gaskets after machining but that engine will never be right again.

2 head gaskets and 2 full rebuilds in 6 months

 

So any time a OHC engine is machined, it’ll throw timing off. Hence the no spec for resurfacing heads or blocks…
Back In the day before VVTI It wasn’t a huge issue. But vvti is sensitive

It can be done. But a dealer won’t because thicker aftermarket gaskets will be needed to keep everything happen. And Toyota doesn’t make those.

 

Thanks for the info - good to know!

 

Most mech injected European car diesel engine head-gaskets come in four thicknesses. Flycut the head, measure the new height, and choose the correct size. Interference engines need the room to run.

 

Yea. Toyotas anti repair on that front. Don’t know why. But factory does not offer any thicker gaskets.

 

Ok guys, got the truck back today. Wanted to clear a few things up and share something the tech told me. First, I follow the maintenance schedule, I changed my radiator fluid at 100k, actually a couple of hundred miles before. I did not drive the vehicle to the dealership hot when it overheated on the highway, I pulled over and let it cool before proceeding to the dealership. Luckily, I could see the dealership from where I was so I didn't have to go far. I talked to the tech that installed the new engine today and asked him what might have caused this. He said that he knows the manual says 100k on the antifreeze, but by 100k the head gasket is already corroded about half way through. He recommended 50 or 60k intervals. Don't know how true this is , don't have anything except what a Toyota tech told me in the parking lot when he saw me and volunteered this info. I have a new engine now and will be driving this truck for at least another 150k before getting rid of it. I really don't care what you would of done if this was your truck, a new engine is what I did. I do think it was repairable, but none of the shops I got quotes from were willing to go that way. In the end, I have my truck back and don't have to drive that dam Highlander that Toyota loaned to me anymore.

 

Head gasket corroded half way through at 100k….? Not sure if I buy that

 

Amen, and those highlanders hybrid look nice ,my neighbor has one and it it has me thinking sometimes