?? 2.7L Head Question ??

I have blown 2 head gaskets in the past year on my 1996 Tacoma 2.7L engine. While removing the head this second time, in the front yard, a passerby stopped and I told him my story, which is , I had taken my head to a machine shop the first time and they saw damage on the bottom so they milled it down, gave it back to me and now about a year later I have blown another head gasket.

The passerby told me that you can not mill the aluminum heads on a a Toyota 2.4 or 2.7 liter engine that you have to replace the head. I have the head out and ready to go to the machine shop but am wondering now do I need to replace the head ?

followed Haynes manual instructions on head bolt torque specs and tightening sequence.
a compression check was done to verify . fyi .

Any feedback will help thanks.

 

If the head is warped again,I would purchase a new one...A good machine shop SHOULD tell you if they can or can not mill your head...
Have you checked the top of the block itself,to make sure everything is to spec,while rare.you definitely have a recurrence problem....

Toyota did have a major recall on defective head gasket sets but it was on V-6's and some of them were still floating around..( did my sons 4-runner twice)..could it have been a defective gasket???

Is there any lead up in symptoms before it goes????
Good luck and hopefully you "Find it" so you can have peice of mind on your rebuild...


S

 

Was he implying that you can't mill it because it's that particular head, or because it's aluminum? (British translation: aluminium ) I can assure you there's no issue with milling aluminum heads.

If you've been using the stock head bolts, maybe try finding headstuds that work with out engine and use those. They'll hold everything down better, with less stretch, might help your issue.

 

Thanks Snoope and otter : Was he implying that you can't mill it because it's that particular head, or because it's aluminum? He was just telling me that you can not mill the Toyota aluminum heads and when I asked him why, " he said they are not made to be milled." either way I thought I would come here where some people " know " what they are talking about. not to discredit the guy though. =). I may take it to the machine shop and get them to tell me what they think this time. I will also look into the haynes manual for the block specs to see what I can find. good info and thanks again for your time and for helping.

 

Thanks 98tacoma27, that should be a big help for now and in the future, I got my new gasket today and Monday I wil be on the way to the machine shop. Thanks all.
Greg

 

Did the passerby mention he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express?

I'd call a dealer, and the machine shop to get an informed opinion.