Engine going bad? Keeping or selling?

Hi guys,
- I inherited this truck recently. It's a 2007 Prerunner 4.0, 300k miles, no rust. Engine looks dry, no visible leaks. The truck still run great. My uncle changed the oil every 5k miles. Spark plugs changed every 30k miles. Transmission fluid changed @ 100k & 200k.
- I replaced the spark plugs yesterday. According to his record these plugs have 50k miles on it. While removing the plugs I used a borescope to take these photos of what they look like inside.
- My questions to all Tacoma experts:
Is the engine going bad? Do I need head gaskets, valve seals or something else? I am hoping to keep the truck for another 50k miles.

Thanks in advance for your help/input!!!

 

Those plugs are showing it's burning oil to me. At 300K that's to be expected. Some gunk and carbon buildup in the cylinders (from oil burning), but like I said it has 300K. Keep the oil in check and drive it! Some people here are gonna say it needs a piston soak, decarbonization, etc... etc. Nah, just run it. Check the oil frequently, as anybody should with any vehicle that age/miles.

 

Thanks

 

I think this is good advice.

 

They look as expected from a 300k mile engine.
#6 “might” look odd. But I think it’s just from the camera angle/shot.

I’d throw plugs in it and run it until you have a “real” problem.

I haven’t borescoped my engine.
But I suspect it has it’s share of carbon build up too.
I run 87 E/10.
And unless I’m towing, I never really run it hard enough to keep any carbon burnt off.

 

300k, looks like that. Put plugs in and keep driving.

 

I have about 145k on my 4.0 (just bought it a few months ago), and it is more carboned up than that.

The plugs didn’t show any oil usage. I think some older guy had the truck and drove it easy everywhere..

I have run some Techron through it since then and changed the plugs. I’m going to run some more Techron in it (right before next oil change) and look at it again just out of curiosity…I’m not really worried about it though.