I love the smell of radiator fluid...

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Temetka · #1 Post by **Temetka** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:42 am

As it comes shooting out the side of my engine.

Coming home from work on Friday I blew the head gasket on my 1992 4-Runner. Although I love the truck greatly and I think it fits my personality, it must go.

It's always bad timing. Now I need to double check my finances to ensure that I can afford repairs (or another vehicle) as well as new LCD for my T60.

Why is it that bad things happen to good people at the worst possible time? I help people out all the time so I know my karma is good.

Sigh.

NorrisCell · #2 Post by **NorrisCell** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:31 pm

Sorry to hear it. How many miles were on it?

Cars never blow up at a convenient time.

mattbiernat · #3 Post by **mattbiernat** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:22 pm

i bought a used honda civic 95 at a blue book value. 1 month later my head casket cracked... go figure... now i am trying to seal the casket and sell the car... oh wait, let me rephrase this, i am trying to reseal the casket and sell it....

ajkula66 · #4 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:27 pm

If miserable car stories from other people are going to make you feel any better, just let me know, I've got a couple of dozen from my past 25+ years of driving and car ownership...

My main question being: cars usually don't blow head gaskets because they just felt like it, especially not Toyotas and Hondas. Any idea of what actually went wrong?

Temetka · #5 Post by **Temetka** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:13 am

I have no idea of what caused it to fail.

I haven't had a chance to get it looked at yet.

#6 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 5:50 am

You need to bring your head to an automotive machine shop and get it checked for flatness. Likely it is warped. The machine shop will mill the surface of the head just enough to true it up. NAPA stores often have an automotive machine shop.

You need to do this to avoid a repeat of the problem. It is not that expensive to have this done (at least this was true the last time I did it). I have had to do this several times (on different automobiles).

mattbiernat · #7 Post by **mattbiernat** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:29 pm

well the car was originally bought at an auction, and so my mechanic told me that most likely the car was sold because somebody really overheated it at one point of its shot life.

#8 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:18 pm

Usually when a car overheats, it warps the cylinder head. Hence the need to get it trued up. If the head is cast iron, the machine shop should check it for cracks before they true it up. AFAIK, aluminum heads don't normally crack.

skitty4gzus · #9 Post by **skitty4gzus** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:30 am

when it comes to cylinder heads and blown gaskets, there doesnt necessarily have to be a "reason" for a head gasket to blow other than just pure miles on the motor. The constant pressure on the gasket will eventually take its toll. If you do decide to do the repair, you will need to obviously pull the head and take it to the machine shop to have it deck honed to check for plane. Not sure about the 4runner it may have an aluminum head, it may not. Some motors are aluminum block and aluminum head. some are iron block, aluminum head. some are iron block, iron head. All heads can crack, doesnt really matter what composition they are. Bottomline is you will have to take it somewhere and have them take a look at it. From there they will give you some options and hopefully a ballpark estimate.

dsigma6 · #10 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:37 am

I guess this proves that Karma isn't real!

Good luck with getting it fixed. I bought a 1991 Cadillac STS on a whim, and checked the codes on the computer when I got home (dumb me). Overheat was one of the many. Needed head gasket, intake manifold, exhaust manifold...lol.

paintstikker · #11 Post by **paintstikker** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:09 pm

Hmm...did you have the V6 model? As far as I know the V6's in that general period of time weren't all that great.

I lost the head gasket in mine ('92) about 9 months ago and getting it home destroyed the engine so I dropped in a re manufactured engine but since then the thing has been a lil' pain - the valve covers that came with the engine were warped and caused a large oil leak, after I replaced them the power steering pump went out - twice. Then the AC went out so I fixed that and the A/C pump has a hole in it as of now.

Last week the gauge cluster started to act up, the speedo doesn't move, the tach goes up and down randomly and some indicator lights just keep flashing on and off.

I may just sell the thing, drop one of my 318's laying around in the ol '83 Dodge W150 and use it in place of the 4-Runner. Of course the steering is whack, it has a lift, large tires and being a vehicle from nevada all the paint is gone in place of rust (it fits in nicely with our "junkyard") but is still better than driving the extended cab, long bed '03 F250 gas guzzler.

Wentworth · #12 Post by **Wentworth** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:11 am

@Temetka. You probably have the 3VZE engine in the 1992 Hilux 4Runner, this engine has a known head gasket problem.

http://www.toyotaholics.com/support/top ... PIC_ID=250

The replacement is not just going to be restricted to head gasket, there are lot of parts to be replaced and refurbished. This model of vehicle is really common in Australia, and most people would recommend you either get an new engine head or sell the car. This replacement is going to cost a you at least 2000 to 3000 USD, for new parts and labour.

Have a look at the Australian discussion regarding the engine:

http://www.toymods.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11772

I love the smell of radiator fluid...

I love the smell of radiator fluid...

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