Another leaking headgasket (2006): new engine or bail?

OP- Sounds like the new gasket didn't seal properly and youre getting oil seeping into a cylinder. Possible causes could be the heads weren't resurfaced before installing them, they were not torqued down correctly, or there was a problem w/ the gasket. If you didn't have any oil problems before this I wouldn't suspect bad piston rings or valve seals as the primary suspect. Pulling sparkplugs and finding the one(s) with oil would narrow down which areas of gasket are the problem, but regardless of what the problem might be - gasket, rings, head - repair would mean removing the heads again and doing it right. Imho try to pursue the warranty repair & if he's hesitant to go back in there and fix it maybe you can negotiate to pay for parts @ cost if he does the labor for free. I know that's not ideal but may be your least-cost option.

 

Thank you! We don't know what he'll do. We didn't pull the spark plugs (scared to and have one or more break off) but have determined the truck is burning oil (it's oily black in the tailpipe). The truck has 330,000 miles on it, but do you know it is STILL getting great gas mileage even with burning oil. I have talked with two mechanics (both of whom live half a continent away, so they can't do this job), and they both say with this many miles on it, we should just keep adding oil and driving it until it dies (they say we could get another year out of it) and in the meantime save up our pennies and look for something else. I like your suggestion about negotiating to pay for parts and have him do the labor, but I wonder really whether that's worth it? How much more use could we get out of it if have everything done you're talking about? I understand that the additive he's been putting in will eventually screw things up anyway, so it sounds like everything will have to be replaced? More $ even for parts than we can afford to waste, really. What do you think?

 

I guess the other question I would have is: if he didn't do it right the first time, what makes us think he would do it right the second time?

 

Oh, and he did say the heads didn't need machining, so that wasn't done.

 

Sounds like rings to me.

 

what area of the country are you in? its possible there is a TW member near you that can help pull plugs and take photos for other members to weigh in, and also for people to help find reputable mechanics in the area or source other parts

 

I'm in Northwest Arkansas. We're pretty convinced now that it's rings. We're going to talk to the mechanic who did the work tomorrow and see what he says about fixing this. Then I'll report back. This is a good suggestion, though. Thank you!

 

If you are doing rings then I would say complete rebuild. But I tend to err on the side of replacing things once the engines is opened up. Bummer.

 

If you need any mechanic references for Arkansas or want a second opinion, I lived in Missouri on the border close to Bentonville for many years and all the Toyota guys in my area would cross the state line and brought there stuff to these guys, they also did some modifications to my Honda at the time and they where great guys. They are located in Springdale area.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/O...8521c08e55c886!8m2!3d36.1781387!4d-94.1719122

https://www.ozarkimport.net/

Hope you get it sorted

 

I think the mechanics who suggested just keeping oil in it until it dies make a valid point; at 330k+ miles you're well into the bonus-round for any gas engine and (unfortunately) nobody can accurately say how much more time you'll get out of the engine if you fix it! But that doesn't mean it isn't worth it, it's just up to your situation. I'd personally be weary to let someone you don't trust tear it apart again and attempt 2nd or 3rd repair.

If you're planted on the idea to keep the truck you'd probably get most longevity if you 1) found low mileage engine for swap or 2) found someone to rebuild your engine. Let us know what you do!

Also, have you posted in your regional forum for shop recommendations or help? https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/south-central.48/