'05/'06 Tacoma Head Gasket Failure Poll

You all should put your build dates. The build date is on the sticker on the driver side door jamb. Apparently the ones built before 12/2005 have the bad head gaskets. So that's why early 2006's have bad head gaskets.

Mine is 2006 built 1/2006. No problems yet. 80k miles.

 

Stay up on maintenance and do it all yourself so you know it’s done lol I don’t drive it gingerly either

 

Mine was built 10/05, but no issues yet at 268k so... maybe I'm lucky for once?

 

Great point.

Mine is definitely in the problem range (12/04). I bought mine in Feb. '05.

 

According to the date range posted earlier, you may have gotten one of the first of the re-designed HG's.

Or one of the last bad ones...

In either case, 268k on that motor is already a success story.

 

So mine is dated 10/05, any more specific method of finding which design my truck got?

 

Very true, but I plan on putting at least another 200k on her. No plans to ever get rid of her, maybe just relieve her of duty as my DD.

 

I'm currently engaged in a race to 300k with my family. My 06, Dad's 04 Taco w/ 269k, sister's 03 4Runner with 236ish, and Mom's 01 Land Crusher with 284k. Let's just say we like our Yota's.

 

Short of removing the heads and physically inspecting the gaskets you have, against a set of the updated design? No.

 

*Begrudgingly adds that to the already very long list of things to do*

 

Just went out to check lol 04/06 so I got the redesigned head gasket

 

A typo I'm sure, but you might want to change it for new arrivals who are not up to speed on this issue.

 

Mine failed at 260k. Very slight leak

 

Yup, thanks

 

From what I’ve read, don’t let them overheat ever...

 

Not always, Mine had none of those signs.

 

Mine failed around 137,000 miles, A very small leak in the left side gasket. After having it repaired I now have over 200,000 miles and its runs like a brand new truck.

 

Can you elaborate on your failure and diagnosis

 

Every once in awhile after driving home from work in the evening (45 minute drive) I would hear boiling in the overflow bottle. Temp gauge would be reading normal. I started building a white crusty material around the cap for the overflow bottle. I went and talked to a mechanic I know about this after about 6 months. We used the Bubble test first, Take the cap off of the radiator, Start the truck, Look in the radiator and watch for bubbles, If you have bubbles you have a problem. Yes I had bubbles. Then we used the Blue fluid tester and it turned green. Yes it turned green. He also said the white crusty material is what lead him to believe I had a problem to begin with. So, If you think you have a problem, Make sure your radiator is full, Take the cap off, Start the truck, Look into the radiator, Watch for small bubbles, Give it a little bit of time. Good Luck!!!

 

I have a February built 2005. Bought from original owner meticulously maintained at 89k. Currently at 103k and no issues. I actually wasn't aware of this issue when I bought it...but hey you can't always have it all haha