96 3.0 minimal head gasket job (1 Viewer)

[69LC]

My daughter has a history of killing Toyota truck engines.

The first one was my wife’s 95 fzj80. Now she’s likely blown the head gasket(s) on her 96 4Runner.

What could be the least amount of parts and work to fix that? I have no experience with that engine?

On both trucks the rear heater lines rusted and blew out while she was driving. Instead if being mindful of the guages she just keeps driving.

 

[ClevSix]

What engine is in it?

 

[69LC]

3.0

 

[pappy]

'96 should be 3.4L, 5VZFE. See chart.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

How did she kill them?

 

[69LC]

She never checks the fluids or vitals like I taught her to. She’ll drive the (insert vehicle name) until it won’t.

So there was a slight rear heater line leak and she didn’t pay any attention.

I’ll ask her boyfriend to check the engine size to clarify.

 

[ClevSix]

3.0

If it's a '96 4rnr V6 it should be a 3.4L 5vz-fe unless you don't have actually have a '96.

The kits for parts are fairly cheap...
https://www.amazon.com/95-04-Toyota-DOHC-5VZFE-Gasket/dp/B00Z7XZJLU

I've never had to do a head on my 5vz but it looks relatively easy compared to other engines. Looking for a how-to on the 5vzfe should help.

 

[69LC]

It is a 3.4. I remembered incorrectly.

 

[bigredmachine]

get a head gasket set, t-belt, water pump, and d-belts. the head gasket set from the dealer will have all the gaskets you will need, itll be a little more expensive but you wont realize later that you forgot something when its all going back together.

 

[69LC]

Any ideas of cost associated with the listed parts? It’s not my money to spend.

 

[ClevSix]

Any ideas of cost associated with the listed parts? It’s not my money to spend.

Head gasket kit $60-100ish from what I've seen.
https://go.skimresources.com/?id=31...nd-cruisers.107/&xtz=300&jv=13.6.1-2&bv=2.5.1

Belts, water pump and other associated parts. $100-600ish.
https://www.amazon.com/Toyota-Timin...g+belt+kit&dpPl=1&dpID=51IQNY2x8YL&ref=plSrch

You're also going to want to do an oil change and coolant change. Might as well do pluggs and wires, air filter and clean the MAF.

I'm not suggesting that you actually buy the kits I've listed. I did very little research into the quality of the kits I picked, just using them a reference for the parts you will want. If you go to the dealership it will cost you but you will be sure to have what you need and it will be good quality. Otherwise you can shop around a bit and have everything for a couple hundred $ but no guarantee on quality of the parts.

To answer your initial question, I have no idea what the absolute minimum for a head gasket job would be but if you're digging in that deep you might as well do everything else. So I'd guess that you're looking at $100 in parts and materials at a minimum and something in the $1k range on the high side.

 

[69LC]

Thanks @ClevSix i appreciate the input.

 

[bigredmachine]

factory headgaket set will be between 200-300 dollars and about 150 for t-belt and water pump. you can get a aisin water and t-belt set from rockauto, personally id go with the rockauto et over the factory set as its from the same manufacture and will cost less than at the dealership
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1798452&cc=1272552&jsn=421&jsn=421

 

[White Stripe]

Hopefully the heads aren't warped or cracked.

 

[pappy]

personally id go with the rockauto et over the factory set as its from the same manufacture
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1798452&cc=1272552&jsn=421&jsn=421

What he said. Aisin is OEM. In fact if you go this route check out the water pump. It will say Aisin on it, but the word Toyota will be ground out.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

How did she kill them?

Not trying to be funny here. This is the closest I would get to a knowing mileage it can go when one runs a Toyota to failure. What was the miles?

 

[morganism]

dont u need to get replacement, new , head bolts too?

I know a lot of them stretch when tourqed, and then you never get a good seal again.

 

[69LC]

Not trying to be funny here. This is the closest I would get to a knowing mileage it can go when one runs a Toyota to failure. What was the miles?

With both trucks it was because she didn't pay attention to the engine temp guage. Both trucks happened to have the steel rear heat lines rust through. The 80 had 300K on it and the 4runner over 200k. We had just given her full ownership of the 4runner before it started having issues. I'm still working to get the 80 back up. We love that truck and won't give up on it.