Blown Head Gasket. Sell or Fix?

** new development: mechanic is offering me $5000 for my truck. Do I just take it and run?

This is my second Tacoma. My first was a 2003 prerunner. I love my trucks! Unfortunately, my current truck has a blown head gasket and a rattling sound when the engine starts and the weather is cold. The mechanic quoted $3600 to fix the HG AND replace the timing belt, pulleys, chains, spark plugs. This is my work truck for my dog walking business and it has 146K miles on it. So I’m hoping it has more life to give?

Do I pay to fix it in the hopes of not having to do much else ever again? Or see if a mechanic will take it off my hands for a low price?

 

Get a couple more prices from reputable independents first

Just to make sure youve got best options in hand

 

The "rattling sound" is probably a loose heat shield around the cat on the driver's side. There are threads here on how to fix this with a hose clamp.

 

$3600 to repair or 40k +\- for a new truck. Easy decision for me. Did you over heat it? The 2015 isn’t known for needing HG at 150k. I’m assuming this is the 4.0.

 

OP if you did overheat it, do you suppose you could post some details?

 

I’m pretty sure all 2nd gen’s run a timing chain

 

Is the coolant in the overflow bottle clean or dirty? I’m not feeling a HG.

 

Fix it, but get another opinion and estimate. Finding a low mileage engine from a scrapyard and just swapping is an option I'd look at even if it costs more. If the head gasket is gone this early I suspect other damage.

 

I would get a valve clatter first thing in the morning (cold engine) if I gave it more then mild acceleration for the first few min. Truck felt a little tired too, 150K mi/4L. I did a crankcase flush with seafoam for 300mi and the valve clatter went away before i even dumped the oil with the flush in it. Incidentally the truck no longer feels tired, it's peppier in the midrange, easily felt pulling away from a traffic light. I'm pretty sure the flush helped the VVT system. To me it makes sense since the system is susceptible to contamination from the oil. Better verify, pretty sure all the second gens use a timing chain and no timing belts. You may be referring to the serpentine, good idea to get one with the new pulleys. If he is mentioning replacing the timing chain there's lots of tacomas with timing chains with 250K mi on them. They aren't a common replacement item like a belt would be. Pullies, serp belt and HG would be all I'd suggest and flush the crankcase.

 

Side bar, I just bought a ford ranger with a bad head gasket. If you’re mechanically inclined and don’t mind taking your time it’s a job you can tackle at home. Especially if you have a 4 cyl (can’t remember what you said you had).

my second gen had 253k miles when it got totaled, as much of a first gen fanboy I may be I have to give 2nd gen props for reliability. No one can ever make guarantees but if you do fix it you should be relative my problem free…also what’s the truck doing?

if you’re in NC I have a pretty decent tool collection including cooling system pressure testers and block leak kit, I’d be more than happy to help you look at it

 

This

 

It does not have a timing belt. It has a chain and odds are the chain is fine . I would get another quote . Also 150 k on a second Gen is nothing , whether it’s a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder . If the rest of the truck is in good shape fix it . The then if down the road you want to sell it go for it . But running well you will get great money for it . But definitely get another quote

 

Yes it’s a 4-cylinder. here’s the mechanic’s diagnostic/estimate

Estimate Date : 11/15/2024 2015 Toyota - Tacoma - 2.7L, In-Line4 (164CI) VIN(X)

CUSTOMER STATES: ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN COLD STARTINGTHE VEHICLE/MISFIRE FOR A LITTLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON.

Diagnostic: FOUND COOLANT AND OIL MIXTURE IN OIL CAP DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE (OIL AND COOLANT MIXING). IN ADDITION, MISFIRE OCCURRING DUE TO COMPRESSION LEAK IN CYLINDERS. RECOMMENDED CYLINDER HEAD REPAIR WITH REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN KIT.
CYLINDER HEAD ESTIMATE:
$159.99 CYLINDER HEAD GASKET
$680.00 WATER PUMP/SP PLUGS/THERMOSTAT/TIMING CHAIN KIT/
COOLANT/ENGINE OIL/BELT
$2,700.00 LABOR
$81.89 TAX
$3,621.88 GRAND TOTAL
013170
120.00
Parts/Supplies: 0.00
$ 120.00

 

Get a second opinion.

 

I should also add I bought this truck used at 109K miles on it with routine maintenance. It was a fleet vehicle for Orkin so who knows how the previous driver handled it. The 40K miles I’ve put on it have been mainly city miles and going up and down steep hills for dog pick ups. Still confused as to what could cause a HG repair this early on

 

Never trust just one repair shop,I don't care how friendly they are,get a second or even a third opinion before deciding what too do.

 

Why is he putting in a timing chain, just because? I can see throwing in the waterpump to head off a future repair but the timing chain, not unless there's a compelling reason IRT the chain's condition which would be weird. Nothing about a head gasket failure puts the timing chain at risk, but if the OP is planning on a 300K lifespan....maybe.

 

He said bc Toyota recommends it at 100K miles and they’ll already be working on the engine that installing a chain kit would just be paying for the parts. If I were to need spark plugs, chain kit, etc. in the future it would cost similar time in labor. $680 for the chain kit.

 

Clean the cap and drive it for a few days to see if it returns.
condensation gets in the cap on colder days when not doing long rides.
Did they do a leak down test or a compression test?