2016 Tacoma SR5 4x4 Engine Problems

Hi All,

I'm new here, but was intrigued by how many of you are fellow Tacoma owners. I have a 2016 SR5 that died on my way to work this morning. I had it towed to the local dealership, and they said that transmission fluid had leaked into the oil and into the cylinders causing severe overheating. They quoted me ~$2000 to take the engine apart just to find out what needs to be replaced. The tech said that best case scenario it could be the cylinder head and gasket, worst case is the engine needs to be replaced. Given that the truck is 6 years old with over 100k miles, I'm debating if it's even worth looking into. Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks!
Jack

 

Given prices on new it's cwertainly worth fixing no matter what but the dealership is the last place I would take it.
Also the possibilities you give don't normally interchange with a single failure.
Are you sure transmission is part of this?

 

How would the transmission fluid get into the engine? I can’t think of a single way. Into the coolant, sure.

ummm that is very steep for just a diagnose. Not sure if you can shop around?

 

Good point! However, I'm in Vermont where engine/transmission specialists are few and far between and those that are honest are even more rare lol. As for the transmission, the only indication that I have is that the truck alerted me of a transmission fluid temp issue just before it quit on me. Aside from that, the only evidence I have is what the dealer told me.

 

Sorry to hear that OP. Boy these 3.5 motors are dropping like flies!

 

Was there a puddle under the truck at any point?

I’m thinking maybe you were low on fluid and the truck shut down. And low fluid would case it to get hotter more quickly. But then again…..the transmission would not “drive” with low fluid. There won’t be enough fluid to pressurize the clutch packs inside.

this is a tough one.

 

Thanks all! I'm impressed by your immediate responses. To Paul's point, I wondered how transmission fluid would get to the engine myself. I'll try to get some clarification tomorrow. As for the 3.5L, I haven't had any other issues in the 6 years I've owned it.

 

Thanks Paul. I did not notice a puddle, but the transmission certainly decided to stop driving in a hurry lol

 

Find out where all the kool kids take their hot rods and ask them for help, chances are they'll tell you a shop or take it on themselves, they can prob. change an engine out as easy or even faster than a dealer as you have no warranty.
Dealers in remote areas are jerks, yea, I said it.

 

Thanks John! I'll do some digging and see if I can find a local shop or something. VT is difficult because the dealership where my truck is now is the only Toyota dealership in the county. The closest others are about 1 hour north or 2 hours south. They really have us against a wall over here!

 

Something is fishy.

The description you offer is illogical.

 

Don't think the transmission fluid is your problem I would check with repair shops tell the the problem you are having don't let them see it just ask about what they think you will find your answers you need. For Free. Good luck with getting past this in your life.

 

Thanks Billy and Eltee. I'm going to make a few calls tomorrow. Billy, I agree something seems weird as I am not 100% convinced either.

 

I'm guessing the engine overheated. This could have caused the radiator to become super hot. Which in turn could cause the transmission temperature to rise, resulting in the trans light you saw.

Still doesn't explain the "transmission fluid leaked into the oil" part. Doubt you have trans fluid in the motor.

 

https://external-preview.redd.it/c8...p4&s=1c7f780505382bb2e31781d75cf1920849ce9114

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

Welcome to TW!

 

I’d get a second opinion from a non-dealership

 

Ok folks, quick update. I received a call from the dealership today that my 2016 Tacoma needs new valves, a new cylinder head and a new radiator along with new tires oil change air filter transmission service etc. that I expected it would need to pass VT state inspection anyway. They quoted me ~$6000 for the engine work, (sounds steep, I know) plus the cost of the radiator, tires, and other work to pass inspection. They also offered to give me about $1000 over what I owe on the truck as is. They do not know what I owe as my loan is through my financial institution rather than Toyota financial. I'm considering taking it and paying off my note and purchasing another vehicle anyway.

 

As stated above, I'd see another mechanic.

Why do they want it so bad? To fix and sell because they have no inventory?

Not saying they do this but I have seen shops that would get old peoples cars from them for cheap by saying their cars were shot and then fixing them and selling from their parking lot.

Radiators are 100 bux, get a shop to throw in a junkyard engine...drive it til the wheels fall off. This is a horrible time to buy another.