Head gasket blown

Well... The mechanic just hurt my feelings by telling me the head gasket is bad. 2011 with 240k miles. Seems like a reasonable lifespan, no? The internet suggests the life of the head gasket is around 200k miles. White smoke from the exhaust occasionally, and coolant about halfway gone from one oil change to the next.

He didn't give me the estimate yet, I called and he said he was running behind and had not had time to write it up yet but I would guess... $2000ish?

The truck still runs great otherwise. It's never overheated even while burning through coolant. So I guess I'm just going to bite the bullet and have them do the repair.

Any thoughts on the subject? I've never had a head gasket repaired before. Prior to this my vehicles were never worth the expense. Any other repairs I should request while they've got it taken apart?

 

With that millage I would do the timing chains, tensioner, guides and phasers while your there if your budget allows it.

 

Maye consider putting a newer/lot less miles used motor in,or rebuild your current motor.

 

My 2008 with 69,000 miles has similar symptoms. I'm taking it to a friend who runs an import repair shop tomorrow so he can evaluate it. I hope its a big ole' bag of nothing but we'll see.

 

Oh no!!! Hope it's no biggie.

 

https://youtu.be/pIbeoMpGxEc

 

Tbh. You will be fine and the engine will continue to run fine many more miles after you decide to replace the head gaskets. i personally have replaced many sets on high mileage engines and they never came back for anything but oil changes.
depending on your location, hourly rates differ. Average is about $150/hr. You’ll be looking at $2500 the least!
If it were my truck, i’d repair it!

 

Thanks for this man!!!

 

I wish Toyota sold crate engines...

 

It would be bonkers expensive. Like 10 grand.

 

Probably.

 

I'm absolutely getting it repaired. This makes me feel a little better. I do trust the shop I'm taking it to, one of those locally-owned shops that is always busy, parking lot is always full, they had to schedule my appointment a week out. But they don't cheat people, they've got a solid reputation and I've taken it there before and the estimates were right in line with what I expected after googling. I think I recall their rate at around $100/hr but I can't say for sure. I guess I'll know tomorrow morning when he calls with the estimate. Thanks for the info.

 

This is super cool but I think I'd better get someone who knows what they're doing. lol that's not me. I can do little stuff: oil changes, spark plugs. Opening the engine terrifies me

 

Yeap,400 steps,and the entire top and front of the engine has too come apart just to change the head gaskets !

 

I fixed my 99 grand am 3.4L v6 engine that blew a headgasket DIY for around $800. Head resurfaced, purged the coolant and oil and then new gaskets all around and back together with new fluids. Maybe not the best or right way, but it ran just fine till the day I sold it, another 50k miles later.

 

The Toyota 4.0 is quite a bit more involved to do a HG on than the GM 3400 due to it being dual overhead cam and using 3 timing chains, not saying it can't be a DIY project but there's alot more disassembly involved.

 

Just comes down to personal tool/skillset

 

For sure

 

A Toyota crate motor wouldn't have to be that expansive. Just because they rape us on OEM parts doesn't mean they have to.

 

wow you mean it's not hidden at the back of the motor and can be accessed without having to pull the engine from the car?
sounds easy

and exactly $20 of that will go to the mechanic.
Very financially smart way of spending