2tr-fe 2.7L dirty coils

So last week my engine started to idle rough on cold start and then the CEL came on. P0300 followed by P0301... bad coil cylinder 1. I switched the coils between cylinders 1 and 2 and the code changed to cylinder 2, bingo issue diagnosed.

So I bought a replacement coil(Denso) and Denso spark plugs from my auto store and commenced to swapping them out. I did the spark plugs a year ago or so but when I was in there switching the coils for cylinders 1/2 I noticed they didn’t look too hot so I figured wth.

It was all going fine until I pulled the coil packs for the back two cylinders and saw all this oil/rust covering them! Wtf! They didn’t look like this when I was in there replacing the spark plugs last year.

Any thoughts what’s happening? Valve cover gasket? I had the VCG done by the dealership when they replaced my frame 4 years ago.

Plugs/coils, left to right cylinders 1 through 4.

 

Welp for a day or two after replacing the cylinder 1 coil the engine ran much better. No misfire on cold start. No codes or misfiring showing up on my OBDII reader. Then it started again. Misfire cylinder 1. Coolant low. Misfire cylinder 2. Oil scum on the radiator cap. I ran the exhaust gas leak test on the coolant system and it looks like I need a new head gasket. Damnit.

At the moment I am weighing my options and could use some input. The truck/engine has 205K miles on it. It has a new frame and many other new parts. I would love to drive this truck for another 200K if I can. With that in mind these seem to be my options...

1) Pay someone to replace the head gasket? Still waiting for a quote but it seems like it will cost about $1500 from what I am reading. This is my DD but I do have a car I can borrow for a couple weeks if needed.

2) Do the job myself? This would be the most difficult repair I have ever done but I do feel like I can with the information available on this forum and in other places. Doing it myself would allow me to splurge for some upgrades if I think it makes sense (Aftermarket header etc, thoughts?)

3) Buy a remanufactured 2TR-FE. Currently priced around $3000 plus install if I have someone else do it. I have never installed an engine myself but hey what the hell

4) Send my engine out for rebuild and reinstall or have someone install. Don't currently have any pricing for this option.

5) Buy used engine and install it. Current prices I am see are around $2200 for engines with 100k plus miles. This is the option I like the least.

So what do you think? I can probably afford any of these options but it will take a bite out of me. That being said I love the truck and want to drive it for the foreseeable future.

Does paying to have the head gasket replaced on an engine with this many miles make sense? Does putting on any aftermarket upgrades such as a header make sense? Interested to hear from anyone who has been in this situation with this engine.

 

Trying to put myself in your shoes. Tough call. 1 or 4 seems like logical choices. 2 would be fun but scary. I think i coukd do it but not sure i would want to.

If you go swap.. I agree with 3 over 5.

My condolances. God speed in your fix. I look forward to seeing the udates

 

I am thinking the same thing.
I’d love to learn and do it myself.
But not on a daily driver or with out a little help.

 

Thanks for the support guys. I am still waiting for some prices and probably won’t hear anything until Monday. I am seriously considering doing it myself though.

I just orders the gasket kit and head bolts from LCE engineering as was suggested in another thread. What else am I forgetting?

Throwing in some pics of my truck and taco dog just so you can see what I am saving. The dog is very sad about the truck being out of commission.

 

Truck is definitely worth saving.
Hopefully you can get it back up and running soon.

When was the water pump last replaced?
Maybe change that if it’s been a while.

 

Thanks.

I did the water pump, thermostat, and coolant bypass tube two years ago. The old plastic coolant bypass tube let go forcing me to open up the coolant system.

 

If you have a loaner you can borrow for a bit I would do it myself. You will learn that truck very well, and with it being the 2trfe you should have enough room to be able to do it without much issue.

 

Ok guys I am going for it. Put the truck in the garage last night. Head gasket and head bolts are on order from LCE Engineering.

Does anyone have advice for where to buy the timing chain/sprockets and anything else I should be replacing while I am in there? The local auto stores had kits but I am always wary of their products for such an important part.

Also a good write up on how to replace/work on the timing set up for this engine would be helpful.

 

God speed....

Shop maual would be a good place to start.

For parts dealer rock auto or napa.

 

Does anyone have a link to the shop manual? A PDF of it would be nice

 

I'm not going to lie. This thread has me a bit concerned. The issue he ran into with the oil pump bearings requiring him to replace the entire timing cover seems ridiculous.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ment-w-pictures-tacoma-2005-2-7-vvt-i.357418/

 

I understand that.
Reading through that, I see he mentioned using a FelPro Gasket set.
I’m not seeing a Timing Cover Gasket for the 2005+ trucks?
But if the earlier 2.7 (2004 and later) will work, I’d maybe consider using it?
I would hate to get it back together and have a leak?
Either that or make sure you use enough sealant when you reinstall.

If you do decide to tackle this project.
Keep us updated. This may be a learning experience for us all here on TW.

 

So I am definitely going to do the head gasket. Unsure at this point if I am going to do the timing chains etc. I guess I will inspect the timing chain and look for any leaks around the timing cover. In a perfect world I would love to replace everything but what I have read has me spooked.

Usually when I get into these things my confidence increases. I will do my best to document and provide updates. This is going to take me awhile. I will only be working on it at night. I am rehabing my home and working during the week. Nnow I am racing to get the outdoor stuff completed so that will take up my weekend days.

If I can I will try to put a "write up" together when I am done assuming all goes well. Unsure exactly what that means by the definitions of this forum? A multi-page step by step summary in PDF form that gets stuck in a link on the home page somewhere? Still trying to figure out the jargon here.

 

I don’t know that there is any criteria for a DIY or Write-Up.
I’d be happy with just helpful bits of advice along the way.
Such as, if you run into a hidden bolt or thing to look for.
With a job this big, the last thing you’d want is to make it a bigger job by missing something and breaking more stuff.

The link you posted earlier had a helpful piece of advice on 2 hidden bolt on the timing cover.
That’s actually a really good write up, but he never finished up on if he finally got it all fixed?

 

http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old/files/05FSM/repair.html

 

Ok back with an update.

I started tearing things apart and have made some progress. Taking lots of pictures to refer to during reassembly.

I am currently working on removing the timing cover but it is resisting me. Not sure at the moment if it is just adhesive/gasket maker or if there is a fastener I have missed somewhere (I got the two hidden ones around the corner).

At first glance after removing the valve cover gasket there was quite a bit of slack in the upper timing chain. After I rotated the engine to TDC the slack was all taken up and the chain was tight. Not sure if that is to be expected but it surprised me.

After digging into it I am pretty surprised and disappointed by how much oil was leaking around the timing cover. Hopefully I will be able to do a better job of sealing it than the factory did.

Another concerning thing I have noticed since really looking at the truck is the amount of rust even on my 5 year old replacement frame!!! Basically all the welds are rusting. Looks like while I have it in the garage I will need to replicate the frame treatment procedure I saw posted on here using a needle scaler, phosphoric acid, and POR15, followed by fluid film. It’s hard work keeping theses trucks in good shape in the NE. One thing is for certain. If the frame looked like this on my 5 year old truck I would be PISSED.

So some parting questions until the next update.

How and what product should I use to seal the timing cover during assembly?

Does someone have a link for a decent timing chain/sprockets/tensioner kit? I see a few advertised but am unsure which manufacturer to go with.

Is there a link or part number for the o-rings needed for the timing cover?

Does anyone have a budget needle scaler they were happy with that they can send a link for?

 

I use Permatex RTV and have never had an issue- I've done oil pans, oil pump covers, manual transmission cases, etc.

Needle scaler- I have one from HF and it works fine. It's not something I use more than once a year so it's certainly not seen much use. And it's ~5 yrs old so it may not be the same as what they're selling now- although it looks the same. Anything else is going to cost 2X as much.

They make a small one which should be all you need for the welds.

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Toyota FIPG is some really good stuff.
It can be expensive, but some say it is just about the best.
I myself have just used Permatex.