4.0 V6 Reliability

Hi I have a 2009 Tacoma I just turned 122,000 miles on it and now I’ve got a blown head gasket!!! It has never ran hot or had any problems I keep hearing that the 4.0 had problems. I pull a trailer a lot for work around 3000 pounds , not sure if that has anything to do with it. It seemed to pull fine.

 

67k on my 15 only issue was a misfire due to a bad plug swapped them out runs great. Hoping for 300

 

2011 here and just passed 156,000 miles. Engine has been solid. Mobil 1 5w30 , OEM Toyota Filter every 5,xxx miles. Love my truck and hope to someday see 300,000.

 

I think the newer engines are safer from that head gasket issue you guys with 2011s and 2015s probably don’t need to worry, I seems to remember Toyota redesigned the gasket at some point seemingly that would admit some fault, but of course don’t help owners with older models in repairs.
Mine was a 2004 4Runner 4.0, had the head gasket issue at 165,000 miles, meticulously maintained, synthetic oil etc.
Seems the problem is the worst in the 03-05 4.0 4Runners.

 

2005 TACO TRD 386,000 head gasket problems, coolant leaking into #5 cylinder.
Added gasket sealant to coolant once at 350,000. Thinking about doing it again to get 400,000 out of it.
Also looking at installing new motor. Just thought I’d post high mileage taco.

 

2014 Ted off road double cab, just turned over 111000. 0 problems, regular oil and filter every 5000. Only other maint is a coolant flush at 105000

 

08 155k and still going strong

 

You added the gasket sealant at 350k? But you had gasket troubles t 386k? Were you just trying to prevent issues? or did you have gasket failure at 350k and now made it to 386k?

 

My 2006 4.0L was reliable but at 110k developed a loud rattle on cold start that only went away at full operating temp, Sold it with 161k. Aside from wear items it needed four idler pulleys, a belt tensioner, a waterpump and an alternator. Not bad at all!

Considering a 5th gen 4runner when I sell ny Frontier Pro-4x in a couple years. Hopefully I get a quieter 1GRFE this time because the VQ40DE has been really nice.

 

Ill say this, i bought a used 05 with 150k on it odo, first of its gen. Ran great idled at 800 in park and 1600 in drive, no misfires, no pinging. Nothing. I drove it for about three months before one day i noticed that the coolant res had bubbles blowing in it. knew exactly what it was. Gas from a cylinder running in the coolant passages. Checked thr oil. Clean. No milkyness. No noticable power loss. But i knew the head gasket was shot.

Long long long story short, i got to look at the lower end of the engine a month later and it was rusted and scarred beyond belief to where there was no repair beyond dropping a new engine in it. So, i had them button it back up, drove it two more months, passed an inspection and sold it to somebody that didnt care for the price i paid.

Dont know any engine that would run that good in that bad of shape that somebody would still be willing to pay for to drive until it finally took a sh*t.

 

My 05 just threw a rod at 152,000. It was well maintained and I still owe $10,000. Looking for a used motor now, been out of work 2 months already.

 

My 2010 4.0 has 128K and no probs. Frequent oil changes with synthetic oil.

 

2011 with 121k, use Castrol GTX high mileage 5w-30 and OEM filter, and did plugs a while ago. Other than that, zero issues

 

How long have you had this truck in your possession?

 

2011 with 89000 miles. First owner, TRD Supercharged it at 5000 miles. I’ve done a lot of maintenance, but all preventative. Nothing at all wrong with the engine. Just a few months ago put a 2.0” pulley on the supercharger, increasing boost to 13psi. Put about 4000 miles since then, no issues.

I read that around 100000 miles (I think) you’re supposed to check lifter clearances and replace buckets if required. Might do that in the next year or so. And maybe while I’m at it, put more aggressive camshafts in....

 

230k on my 06, bought it at 229k. Owner kept up with all the maintenance for the most part, but I did have to replace the u-joints. Otherwise, has the relatively common 25mph vibration and it runs smooth. Got new plugs on the way that I’ll throw in too.

 

Just bought an 06 4.0 with 226000 miles for $8500 and it runs great.

 

241,000 miles on mine. A bit of a noisy motor but it runs really strong and burns no oil.