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Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Turns into Nightmare

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by taco terror, Oct 25, 2022.

  1. Oct 25, 2022 at 4:08 PM
    #1
    taco terror

    taco terror [OP] 1st gen = best gen

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    1996 Black Tacoma, 3.4L
    4.56 ECGS regear, Wheelers 6 leaf pack, Eibach coils, Bilstein 5100s, AR Baja wheels, 33 BFG ATs, Line-x
    What are the odds my engine is toast?

    I made the mistake of crossing my coolant line with my vacuum line on the IAC under the throttle body. Tore down my upper intake and yep... coolant puddled in the lower plenum and some in the pistons.

    I am putting off the rest until tomorrow, but it spun freely with no plugs and I didn't hear loud knocking. Really hoping it didn't suck in enough water to bend my rods, though it did idle rough and stall. (Then cranked over after)
     
  2. Oct 25, 2022 at 4:11 PM
    #2
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    You're ok, it takes a lot of water to wreck an engine, usually its being forced in. Just crank the engine with no plugs, blow it all out, do an oil change and you're good.
     
  3. Oct 25, 2022 at 4:11 PM
    #3
    mechanicjon

    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    Supercharged, AEM FIC/6, Meth Inj, ION Alloy's, Radio & Phone steering Wheel controls,Fabtech AAL, Billie's wrapped with 880's , Tundra big brake conversion, bully bars and Pioneer DDin Stereo/dvd with exterrnal usb ports. 290K and going strong.
    Yikes! Only one way to find out. Put it back together and start it.
     
  4. Oct 25, 2022 at 4:30 PM
    #4
    taco terror

    taco terror [OP] 1st gen = best gen

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    1996 Black Tacoma, 3.4L
    4.56 ECGS regear, Wheelers 6 leaf pack, Eibach coils, Bilstein 5100s, AR Baja wheels, 33 BFG ATs, Line-x
    Yep, I know this is the real answer. I was just trying to make myself feel better until I know for sure haha.
    I will report back tomorrow with my findings.

    Hopefully for anyone doing this job in the future, they don't rush in the home stretch of getting it all back together and do this.
     
  5. Oct 25, 2022 at 4:33 PM
    #5
    ChargedSHOTaco

    ChargedSHOTaco Well-Known Member

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    you'll be fine.
     
  6. Oct 25, 2022 at 5:33 PM
    #6
    Area51Runner

    Area51Runner Well-Known Member

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    Northern California, Bay Area
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    I need to replace the VCGs as well. They were done once before (not by me) back in 2014. Of course they're leaking again. I'm at the tail end of swapping to 4WD and about to put the transmission back in. I considered doing the valve cover gaskets myself since I am doing so much work now but I think I'll put it off for a little bit longer until I wrap this current project. Don't want to rush with too many items on the to-do list and :censored: up because I got ahead of myself.

    Hope it works out for you.
     
  7. Oct 25, 2022 at 5:35 PM
    #7
    Speedytech7

    Speedytech7 Toyota Cult Ombudsman

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    It's less Tacoma and more mod
    It's likely fine, if you wanna be Uber safe, take the plugs out and crank it to get all the water out.
     
  8. Oct 27, 2022 at 7:49 PM
    #8
    taco terror

    taco terror [OP] 1st gen = best gen

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    1996 Black Tacoma, 3.4L
    4.56 ECGS regear, Wheelers 6 leaf pack, Eibach coils, Bilstein 5100s, AR Baja wheels, 33 BFG ATs, Line-x
    So as an update, all seems well with my 3.4! I honestly think it runs better now than when before I tore it down, though I attribute that to new spark plugs replacing ones that had at least 60k miles on them.

    What I did to correct it is removed and dried the intake, and vacuumed the standing coolant out of each cylinder. This was achieved by taping small diameter fuel line to a shop vac hose and fishing it through the spark plug hole. Simply cranking it over wasn't enough to expel the coolant out through the spark plug tubes.

    I would have been seriously upset had I ruined a 5VZ with 135k miles.
     
    zank90805 and Area51Runner like this.
  9. Oct 27, 2022 at 10:20 PM
    #9
    homegrown_xt

    homegrown_xt Well-Known Member

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    1996 Tacoma Xcab 4x4 V6 MTM
    Rancho Quick lift. Wheelers Off Road Progressive AAL with Rancho RS9000's, braided brake lines & clutch line. BFG 32x11.50 15 All Terrain Tires Deck Plate Mod. Flowmaster 60 series muffler and Marlin Crawler Short Throw Shifter.
    Did it steam a lot when you first fired it up? Some of the coolant/water must have gotten into the catalytic converters. Glad you got it fixed!
     

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