Head Gasket Blown?

Hey y'all,

So, I have a 2006 Toyota Tacoma V6 4.0L and I think I have a blown head gasket. I was driving through the mountains in California and when I came to a stop at a local gas station, I popped the hood and realized that my coolant was bubbling and nearly overflowing. I couldn't truly tell if there was oil in it because the coolant I use is yellow so kinda of difficult to tell. My truck runs fine with no issues and my oil level is a bit lower than before but she always burned a little oil. Suggestions?

Edit: I will say that there appeared to be some oil in the coolant and I did put head gasket leak repair in the reservoir to temporarily fix it so I can just get to work. Along with that, it was 109 degrees and steep inclines.

 

If at all possible, don’t drive it. Call in sick and take it to a real mechanic.

 

You think it is a blown head gasket?

 

Definitely sounds like it could be a bad head gasket... Agree with getting a proper diagnosis though, so you know for sure. Look on the bright side... now you [probably] have a project to keep you busy for a weekend or two!

 

At this point there is no way a internet mechanic can tell. From your description you have an over heating issue. Could be a loose belt, thermostat, could be a water pump, radiator etc. You also say you think there is oil in the coolant, definitely not good. Take it to a mechanic, get a professional diagnosis.

 

Do yourself a favor... If you want the mechanic to replace the head gasket, go in there and tell them you have a blown head gasket.

If you want the mechanic to solve the issue, go in and describe all the symptoms.

Only telling ya this because yeah, it sounds obvious, but it's also an expensive job and you'll be paying for their diag work either way. It would be a nightmare to replace a good head gasket and not solve the issue. Best not to lead them.

 

A stuck thermostat could have caused the high temps, or blown head gasket, or a coolant leak. You can buy yourself a leak detector kit to check the coolant for exhaust gases. Or take to a mechanic if you don't know how to check for all these possible causes.

 

Were the bubbles smoke filled or just bubbles?

Like what's already been said, it needs to be diagnosed with a block tester. If you don't have one, buy one or take it to a shop. If you bring it to a shop, don't say fix it, say let me know what's wrong, there's probably a diagnosis fee you'll need to pay.

 

Autozone lends out block testers no charge

 

they do, you just got to purchase a small bottle of the blue chemical...

watch the YouTube videos.

 

Just curious...what is the build date on your 06?

 

It sounds like overheating, for whatever reason. No real evidence to say a blown head gasket, with the yellow coolant, but a blown head gasket would also cause a low coolant level. Definitely take it to a good mechanic and ask for diagnosis rather than repairs.
Those “fix a gaskets” and using improper coolant can lead to more headaches than necessary also!
Best of luck to you.