New Engine 145,000 miles

I have a 2017 TRD Sport with 145k on the odometer. Last week it overheated on the highway. Was close to the dealership, so I dropped it off. I also told them that for the last few days it was idling rough at start up for about 10 seconds and then it was fine, every start up. A day later they told me that I had a blown head gasket or a cracked head, either way, new engine was the only fix. Said they can't repair head gaskets because the block would have to be machined and even still, the repair was not guaranteed. Now, I have always believed 3 things about cars. Toyotas are rock solid for reliability. Routine maintenance will make you Toyota last almost forever. Extended warranties are a joke. This repair ($18,000) has made me question all of that. I now have the worlds most expensive lightly modified Toyota Tacoma. Frankly, any car on the road can make it to 145,000 miles. This is my 3rd Tacoma. I was anticipating getting my new 4th gen next fall. This has made me rethink weather or not I even want another Tacoma. GMC and Ford have better power, something that has always lacked in a Tacoma. I don't know, I am just ranting I guess.

 

I would have gotten toyota corporate involved. No way I'm paying 18k on that truck, hopefully they help you out. If not, I'd put the 18k towards a new truck

 

18k for a new motor?? That’s ridiculous. Go find one from a junkyard or do the head gasket work. Should set you back a few g’s, not 18

 

About your 3 things.
1. No extended warranty will cover you at 145k miles
2. Shit happens even in Toyotas
3. Same as above.


That said Toyota is insane for the BS they are pulling on the engine replacement costs in this vehicle. 25-30k for a 35k when new truck is completely wrong. They are destroying their consumer base that experiences a failure.

It should be a 5-7k motor, they are simply fleecing consumers. Nothing about it should be this expensive.

 

I wonder if you had a coolant leak. I do check mine levels. There is a pipe behind the engine that has been called out on this forum.

 

Why would the whole engine need replaced? Get a new cylinder head and head gasket and have the job done. Get a used head if you have too off a lower mile engine.

 

Not being able to replace the head is complete crap unless they’ve actually taken it apart and measured to see that the block is warped. 18K for a new engine is absolutely absurd.

If I were you I’d be looking for used engines and either learning how to swap yourself or find a mechanic who will swap it in for a couple grand.

 

Dude, Roadtrip https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-complete-2gr-v6-engine-pnw.810636/

 

Even if they were up for it, I wouldn’t have a dealer do a head gasket job, it’ll cost 2-3 times more than a good mom & pop shop. Should be a $2000-3000 job with a competent mechanic for both sides. None of this $18K for a whole new short block shit, they’re just trying to bend you over and ram it up there if they can. The block/heads may ned to be resurfaced, but that’s not a big deal for a good shop.

 

There is a lot of "I would have done this" out there. The fact is I called several shops in the area. They all said the same thing, replace the engine. Nobody said they could fix the head gasket or replace the heads. I got bids from several of them. None of them were $2000 less than the dealership and the dealership gave me a loaner vehicle. As far as 18k being out of line, I didn't get a short block, I got a complete new engine. There were no short blocks available. Still, I was just ranting and sharing my Tacoma life. I will probably continue to drive Toyotas for years to come.

 

Surprised the stealership didn’t try and sell you a new taco instead.

 

Grab a used engine from the junkyard and install it, way less than 18K.

 

Why did you spend 18k on it? Why did you not go new at that point?

 

Damn, $15K cheaper than the dealer.

 

what's considered a complete new engine ? new in crate ?

 

That's what they told me. Everything new. I really didn't want a new Tacoma at this time. My 3rd gen is my least favorite of the Tacoma's I have owned. It is nice, I like the looks, I never liked the powerplant/transmission in it. I am going to get this one tuned. maybe it helps as much as I hear on this site, don't know.

 

It does, it makes it drive like a different vehicle.

 

agreed with others on this forum. go buy a used engine from a junkyard or someone local. car-part.com is great.

get some mom and pop shop to install it.

i blew my headgasket on my 4runner. found a engine for $1100 (very lucky). had a mechanic swap it in for $500. and i spend a extra $300 or so on a new radiator, belts and fluid. so i was all in about $2000 parts and labor

 

that stinks, and I really am not trying to pour salt in the wound, but you chose to drive it (even for a short distance) while it was overheating and to ignore other signs of issue before.

Again, no trying to be a D here, but let's assume some responsibility here. Overheating an engine is never good, and ends extremely quick.

 

For whatever it’s worth, they didn’t install a brand new crate engine, Toyota doesn’t sell those. They sell short blocks with the idea of reusing your old parts and assembling them to the new short block and replacing whatever is necessary.

I’m curious where “new” ends and “reuse” begins on yours. New heads? Valves? Timing chain? Upper and lower oil pan? Intake manifold? Cams? Cam/VVT gears? Etc. “new engine” doesn’t really tell anything because there is no such thing as a new engine sold by Toyota, as the expectation from Toyota is to reuse as much as possible. As such, there are a lot of parts that are typically reused and they’re all sold separately.

Tune might make you like the shift points better. It’s not going to do anything for longevity, that’s all in the quality of the motor build and of course assuming it isn’t going to be overheated at some point.