2006. 4.0 V6 head gasket overheating > REBUILD

2006 Tacoma 4x4 190k miles

Shes overheating

so it all started a few months ago. I began to smell coolant. noticed i was loosing coolant so i assumed my cap was bad and maybe my thermostat was not opening properly.
replaced radiator cap and thermostat.
performed coolant flush.
a few days later i was getting hot again. pulled over to take a look and seen that my coolant in my reservoir was boiling. i let it cool down and refilled with coolant.
performed coolant refill and burped the system again.

i thought maybe my water pump is going out since i was driving with my lady and no hot air was coming out of the vents on heater full blast. until i actually drove the truck hard and hot air would come out.
thought maybe heater core was bad but no fluid on bottom of passenger carpet.

replaced water pump and thermostat again.
performed coolant flush and burped system again.

now im to the point where im stuck.
i dont see white smoke coming from exhaust.
no coolant in oil changes.
i dont have a loss of power.

what else should i be checking for?

i have the ability to work on my own rig, and learning as i go.

Thanks in advance for the help.


------------------ EDIT -----------------
Helpful videos.

https://youtu.be/pGq72QGa-Bk

https://youtu.be/EDtgcoYFl3s

+++++++++++ THE JOB ++++++++++++++++














*PICTURE ABOVE. The right side intake cam is the only one that take the bottom half shell.








========== SPECIAL NOTES TO TAKE ============
1. The right side intake cam is the only one that takes the half shell bottom. pictured*

2. keep your cam bearings in order. Left and Right side.

3. make sure all your timing marks are EXACT! Even the bottom crank sprocket. i was 1 tooth off and had to redo.

4. The water pump and the oil cooler DOES NOT need to be removed in order to remove the cover.

5. Be patient. BREATHE. and label everything

YOU CAN DO IT!

 

i should add that whats happening that i can see. is that my coolant gets so hot it boils and blows out of my reservoir and thats why im overheating. Loss of coolant.
what could be making my coolant so hot that it boils.?

radiator is not clogged.
i can see through my radiator.
thermostat is new. water pump replaced. radiator cap replaced as well.

 

Pull your plugs and see if any are wet. I’m yanking the motor outta my 05’ as we speak.

 

Copy that. I'll check them. If they are, bad headgasket?

 

You got it

 

Damn. This has been a headache. Are you yanking the engine for a head gasket or other stuff?

 

I’m dropping a 4.0 with less miles wile I get into this and see how far I wanna go with it. Excuse to do other things

 

Where did you find your engine.?

 

Took my truck into Toyota they said both head gaskets blown. They will not replace head gaskets bc I drove the car and water got into the engine
They reccomend a 12k rebuild engine with 8k miles.

 

It's very likely a head gasket.

One way I've confirmed a HG on a 4.0 is to get it red hot, then pull the plugs. As it cools off the coolant will enter the cylinders if the gasket has failed.

 

Yea just got a call back from Toyota. I just said F It and let them diag it.

 

Shitty, it's not a simple HG to do for a first timer. I wish you luck.

 

Depending on cost, I'd opt to do a low mileage engine swap from a wreck. I'd look for 2007 and up donor as 05-06 did have head gasket issues. It is easier to do a swap than to pull both heads, machined, etc for HG.

 

Thanks fellas. I don't doubt I can do the work. I have friends that are willing to help me along the way. But I'll keep a look out for a 07 engine.

 

Took it into Dealership and they said both head gaskets where blown. They recommended a remanufactured engine and the total came out to about 12k.

So I will be rebuilding this engine.

 

Started the removal process today.

 

Both head removed today.
Progress...
Will take them to be resurfaced in the morning.

 

Since I'm here. Should I replace the timing chain with OEM? Or will aftermarket be fine.?

 

If it was me, I would go OEM. Wouldn’t want to do all that work and have an aftermarket chain fail.

 

I just needed some motivation to pay toyota $300.
So the only OEM items will be my head gasket and timing chain.
The rest I dont think should matter. As in valve cover gaskets and all other small easier gaskets.