The Fun Begins

Loving the 4wd feature on my new to me 2005 TRD. Bought it because it had fantastic service records, and it was from a family member.

However I'm learning a valuable lesson. Never buy a truck for a steal from a family member lol.

It's eating Radiator fluid

It has a couple of class 1 oil leaks I'm just now finding. Transfer case, Timing cover on the left side. Timing cover leak will be super easy to repair by shaving a tad off the power steering mount.

The Rad fluid is getting me pretty worked up though.

The exhaust has a normal smell, it's not weeping from the pump, and there is no condensation around the rad cap or the overflow canister. The heater inside the cabin also doesn't have an odor.

Gonna check the usual suspects when I get home like the rear of the motor where the piping crosses, hoses, ect. I'll also take all the plastics off the radiator and check around the seals for leaks. Don't know of anything else I could be missing. Maybe freeze plugs ect.

Just keeping an eye on the needle and topping off the Res' with 50/50 till I make it home.

I will not be off roading this weekend till I find the culprit and repair it.

 

I would strongly suspect a head gasket problem. '05s were noted for it.
Get that fixed and you should be good.
Jeff

 

Yep, probably head gasket. One of your other posts mentions 184K miles. Seems most TW members have reported head gasket going on '05-'06 4.0L Tacos at about 178K miles.

 

Just curious....how many miles?

 

so how much money did you pay this said family member??

 

...and did said family member leave town?

 

Lol

184,000 miles

$10,000

This family member is my step Brothers Dad.

I'm not complaining. I knew I'd have to repair something with it being a 15 year old 4x4. Was just hoping for the regular Tacoma issues like leaf springs, rotors, ect. I've replaced a few head gaskets, and rebuilt a few motors from the bottom bearings up. Just not very fun doing it in the Summer sun.

 

I let it at idle for about 3 minutes when I returned home. As the temperature on the thermostat rose by a 1/4" the reservoir began to overflow. At normal running temps the reservoir maintains a steady amount of fluid. I'm getting about 2 small bubbles per second in the reservoir.

I was think a combo of water pump impellar, thermostat, and radiator cap could be the easier culprits, but I ordered a top end kit from Toyota on the way home. Better safe than sorry. I'll rent a tool and check the compression in the next couple of days. We have two other vehicles so I'm not in a bind by any stretch. Thanks for the tips !

 

To share a similar experience, I have a coworker who tried to sell another coworker his Tacoma that didn’t have any motor oil! People are shitty!

 

Lol, I had a guy come buy my old tires today. I told him about the experience, and about the head gasket and he said he'd give me 10 grand for it. I laughed. Even after replacing the HG, water pump, thermostat, rad cap, hoses, I will only be into the truck $10,800. After selling the topper and tires I'm down to $9,800. With the new tires and mud flaps I'm up to $10,580. I still think I got a good deal for a 4x4, I'm just gonna have to sweat a little bit for it.


I still don't miss my 2008 PreRunner. Living by a lake, and in clay soil I was getting stuck in my yard way too often.

Here is my girl, if a bit crippled. I'll have her rebuilt in about 3-4 days once I start the work. I'm adding in two days incase I find a cracked block, or a warped head. That'll take some duct tape to fix

 

Very nice Tacoma!!

Family is family. Until there's more involved, then it's business!

Sounds like you have it all thought out.
Good for you
Let us know how it goes

 

Just an update. I replaced the radiator cap with a new one, and changed the fluid. The fluid level is staying between cold-hot lines while driving and the reservoir is not overflowing. This may have fixed the issue, but I'm not counting on it. I ordered an exhaust gas tester from Amazon for the reservoir and if it doesn't have exhaust gases in the tank then I may be okay.

I pulled the plugs and they are all dry, and I'm still not burning coolant.

Drum roll.......

 

Hopefully that fixed. Even if it didn’t you still got a steal of a deal

 

Thanks, I think so.

 

I completed the exhaust gas test on the radiator and it was leaking so I have started the tear down. Will have the heads off tomorrow. I've taken my time really. Every component that I've pulled off I have gone through and cscrubbed all the gunk off/out. When I get the heads I'll check them for warp, and will replace the valve guides after I get the valves cleaned up. I performed a compression check and the cylinders we're all even so I've still got good seats. She should run well when it's back together.


Weee doggie

 

Way to take the bull by the horns on this one. GL with everything.

 

After getting down to the heads, I've come to the conclusion that this engine is really easy to disassemble. Now I am working on assembling it.

 

I'm Happy to Report that the head gasket repair was a success. We are heading into Talladega National Forest for some trails.

 

Nice job man! I do my own timing belts, water pumps, brakes, shocks, etc but I don't think I'd have the stones to do that. I think I'd just rather swap the engine....
Kudos, brother.