'05/'06 Tacoma Head Gasket Failure Poll

sorry to bring that anxiety back! I know what you’re talking about. I’ve actually been wanting an FWC for a while now, and throwing around the same question between getting a tundra for it or trying to outfit my tacoma. Unfortunately I can’t answer on work with head gasket issue year anymore because apparently mine was made outside that range. But I do hope that your trip is successful and problem free!

 

Sorry if I missed it - I didn't look at every single post but I wonder if this situation applies to a specific engine? When I was looking at 4Runners a while back I heard the same 2005-06 years with the same V6 engine as the Tacoma had some tendencies to have head gasket trouble. I've seen a couple reports of head gasket failures with the 2.7L, but I believe more with the V6.

 

I believe this is specific to the (single) VVTI 1GR-FE, not any of the “high output” dual-VVTI 1GR. I forget when the 4Runner switched to that.
I think there is a separate thread(s) for the 2.7L.

 

As far as pushing my motor goes, I will be sure to update this thread if anything happens between now and after my road trip in (May ‘23). I also run my camper for weekend ski trips so I’ll be testing this truck all winter lol. For the current moment I will do a combustion gas test when the kit arrives and will update on that too

 

You don't have to wait for that. Take your radiator cap off, Start the truck, Look into the radiator and watch for bubbles, If you see little bubbles coming up out of your radiator where the cap should be you have a Head Gasket Issue, Ask Me How I know, That is the Exhaust Gasses escaping through your radiator.

 

When mine started to go the tester I had would not detect the gasses in the coolant but an oil test showed trace amounts of coolant in the oil.

 

Thats what mine did as well. Blackstone labs showed trace amounts of coolant in the oil, but everything else looked fine

 

I will try that. Do I need to warm up the truck with the cap off first? I would think this test won't work until the thermostat opens?

So at that point, did you get your head gaskets done? Or did you keep running it? I have zero signs of issue and block test passed. I’ll do a Blackstone test next. But I’m at a crossroads here, assuming that test passes too…I’m at the point where I need to stop overthinking it and enjoy my truck, or cop out and get rid of it in fear something could happen

 

It will work with the engine cold or warm, The Exhaust gasses need to go somewhere.

 

I don't see what the big deal is, I've changed head gaskets on my cherokee 4.0 and also on my 96 bronco with the 5.8. I've never had and issue with them after replacing them, always and I mean ALWAYS take the heads to the machine shop to get milled and cleaned always gives you a great surface to work with along with new head bolts of course

 

I changed mine because of coolant loss.

normal day to day driving no problems, go up some steep mountain roads and it would start spitting coolant.

I take my truck camping in the middle of no where. I do not want it breaking down on something I could fix beforehand.

 

I haven't done anything yet... it still drives fine, has never overheated. I'm thinking of getting the gasket and water pump replaced. Blackstone said everything looked excellent minus the coolant and i'm at 227k miles. I'd rather take my chances rebuilding my engine versus putting in an unknown junkyard engine

 

This last page of info has been very helpful everyone. Always good to hear the different scenarios and what people ended up doing (or not doing). It at least makes me feel better about running it for now. And maybe a little less frantic about the whole situation. What's that thing people say when you practically "webMD" yourself to death lol

 

Mine drove fine and never over heated. One thing I would notice, When I had the heater on I would have good heat until I came to a red light and had to stop, The heat would get cold until I would get moving again. I also had Bubbling in my coolant bottle 3 or 4 times in about a years time. It didn't matter if I drove the truck for an hour or six hours when that would happen. My head Gaskets went around 136,000 to 139,000 miles.

 

What engine is yours?

 

I have a 2005 with the 4.0

 

Hopefully now it'll be fine for 100k+ miles.

 

Since the work was done I am sitting just under 250,000 miles and she is running like a new truck.

 

Good deal! I should not have assumed the repair was done recently.

 

Oh No, I would have to look back to see when for sure, But I think it was 5 years ago at least.