V6 4Runner Head Gasket/Overheating Issues

[Toyo Truck]

Hey Guys,

Just writing on behalf of my mate with the V6 4Runner again.
Original 3VZE motor started overheating in the end (after all the knocking
sounds and stuff) so Mate ended up buying a new motor from a
reputable motor place in QLD (I'll find out the name) and we swapped it in.

To make sure everything was 100% he got the radiator cleaned out and
reco'd at a radiator place, bought a new thermostat, water pump, and
temperature sensor.

Engine ran OK for a short whle, then started overheating again!!
The car was taken to a local Natrad place and they tested it and found
that one of the head gaskets was faulty.

Firstly, what should my mate do? I would've thought this would be a
warranty issue, covered by the engine place? Where does my mate stand
as he bought the engine for $1400 and doesn't wanna get screwed again.


Secondly,
We have been doing alot of research and it appears that the 3VZE has a
small issue of the alloy heads pulling away from the block or something
which causes premature head gasket failure.

This makes a bit of sense cause if my mate drives it really gently, the
car runs sweet, once you load it up for a while, the heat starts to shoot up.

I was wondering if anyone on here kows about this issue,
or better yet has found or knows of a way to fix this inherent problem
we would be most greatful.

Cheers,
Bart

[rixrunner]

The head gasket on the 2nd engine should be a warranty issue with the place that supplied the engine you would think.

Also...... these motors had a recall with Toyota to repair the Head Gasket and any subsequent damage that was caused by its failure. Find out if the recall was done on both of the engines. Call Toyota with the engine numbers and they should have it on record if it was done (they should be honest). If it wasn't, chase it up to see if Toyota will still fix it under their "Customer Care Program". This was a long time ago though.... I'm doughtfull they will still cover it.

Ricky

[Toyo Truck]

Thanks Ricky,
I will get my mate to check with Toyota wether this current motor has
had the warranty work done on it.

He did call Toyota about the issue for their angle on things and I think
they admitted there was a problem with these motors head gaskets.

The guy from Toyota also said that he read somewhere that the
original gaskets supplied with these motors was faulty, and Toyota did a
complete recall on all these gaskets and redesigned another gasket to
stock on shelf.

Other than the 2nd release Head gasket from Toyota, are there any other
redesigned head gaskets on the market that might stop this from
happening again in the future?

Cheers,
Bart

[-Nemesis-]

I was lucky enough to pull the pin before she popped. A freshly built 3VZE will cost almost as much as my complete engine conversion.

Having said that, the conversion is alot of mucking around and time off the road.

I doubt there would be many or any aftermarket options for this motor. It's a relatively low volume engine and the lack of demand would probably mean no aftermarket products. Though varients of the engine were in the Toyota Camry (3VZFE) which had different heads, not sure whats compatible or not. Might be able to drop some twin cam heads on there with a bit of mucking around? But is anything ever that simple....

[millers1]

Common problem with these motors if you get more than 200k out of the motor before the heads go you doing well, they normally go on average at about 150/170k mark, we to a stage at one point were they were coming through the door on average 1 car a day with blown head. Usually the rear passengers side go, only way to do properly is do both sides at the same time and there is a genuine modified gasket from toyota, very far and few between these days as most of them have been done. Toyota use to charge about 3k to do both total rip off and they didnt tell customers of it being a manufacturing problem so customer had to cough up the money. Bastards. Similiar to the old VL commodore head, holden had a thing that if the customer jumped and down enough they would fix it providing vehicle was under 5 years old and less than 100k but didnt tell customers that was only if you knew some body in the know (holden)Regards Steve M

[Struth]

Shat, my V6 clocked 200,000k last week.

How do I tell the missus it's conversion time

Please let me know if Toyota still do the fix.
Mines only got one recall sticker on it which was for the steering about 3 months ago.

Cheers Struth.

[-Nemesis-]

Shat, my V6 clocked 200,000k last week.

How do I tell the missus it's conversion time

If the motor is still running sweet it's worth a few grand to sell. With a blown head its worth a few hundred.

[Struth]

It's sweet as, had an easy life on road before I got.
That,s what makes it hard, it is a good motor.
And I treat all my motors as gently as possible.

Struth.

[rixrunner]

Common problem with these motors if you get more than 200k out of the motor before the heads go you doing well, they normally go on average at about 150/170k mark

But once the heads have been done you can expect a lot more out of the engine...... Can't you

Mine got done at 80,000 which included a top end rebuild. I am about to click over 200,000 but the motor is going great.... No problems (uses a small ammount of oil). I am thinking another 6-12 months before I do the conversion. I really want to be able to get the $$ for the V6.... hoping it will still be in good nick

Ricky

[stumpjumper]

mate... my 93 4runner did its head gasket on the left hand side at 180k.
the biggest problem was when it went it leaked water into #1 pot so every time i started it it was hydrlicing and ended up bending #1 conrod.
tryed to get toyota to pay for the damage but as normal i payed for a rebuild.
it cost me $2600 for new rings,bearings,conrod,heads checked and labour.
the original head gaskets have been given the name of the blue devils,
if your new motor came from toyota itself you might have a chance of them paying but dont hold your breath. try and find out if the head gaskets are the blue devils and if they are there was a recall on them about 8 years after production.

hope this helps.

[Toyo Truck]

Thanks for all your help guys,

And keep the great info coming. We are compiling as much data as we
can on this issue, and will post all findings up on here to let y'all know
the outcome.

[joey2389]

mines done 256k. has never been rebuilt and i give it a good thrashing bout once a fortnight. but on the other side i do take care of it and tend 2 look after fairly well. im not sure if mine had the recall but i dont really care because i have no problems with it. wouldn't b suprised o it goes to 300!

[MS-75]

Hi there mate.

Have a look at Paradise racing (www.paradiseracing.com) and LC Engineering.

Both can supply Cometic multilayer head gaskets and ARP head studs.

The only problem with a cometic MLS gasket can be the high degree of surface finish required. Even just going a std gasket with ARP head studs is a massive improvement over the standard plastic region head bolts.

Also, check with Rocket Industries and VPW for the above parts-shouldn't be a problem. (performance wholesale are also very good)

Cheers
Sean

[DEZ]

yeah those engines are to big for the engine bay and the exhust cuts back close to the block whcih doesnt allow the heat to dispate easy, usually a set of extractors helps alot with it

cheers dez.