Update: Finally did my head gasket. And then the very next day, my 1 year old radiator failed. I haven't had great luck with this truck but hopefully this is the last headache.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Could be the HG issue damaged the rad, or something got tweaked during the swap? Would seem an odd coincidence...Update: Finally did my head gasket. And then the very next day, my 1 year old radiator failed. I haven't had great luck with this truck but hopefully this is the last headache.
View attachment 3339064
Could be the HG issue damaged the rad, or something got tweaked during the swap? Would seem an odd coincidence...
Hey, the more you fix, the less there is to go wrong. Make sure you have the proper Toyota pressure-relief cap on the rad; 14# I think it is.Yep, my hunch is the hotter temps and higher pressures with the bad HG caused premature wear on the radiator. With the new HG, maybe the cooling system was subject to even higher pressures with no "leaks" to alleviate pressure. I'm just hoping that after a new radiator these issues are over. I've sunk more $$ into this than I ever imagined. Not sour about it.. I just want to enjoy it for what it was intended for.
236k on my ‘97 original motor and HG. I’ve done all the fluids and I am Planning on a few big trips this summer. Should I be worried abt the head gasket failing? Been reading all these posts and it’s got me nervous.
In 5 decades of being a auto enthusiast Mud is the only place that I hear people refer to a HG job as PMUse case matters. IMO, if you're driving in town, close to AAA access and the truck shows no signs than just don't worry about it.
Some use it almost exclusively for trips into areas where alternatives are limited and some real physical difficulty can occur with such a critically disabled rig. In that use case, PM is cheap insurance. Peace of mind is worth it. Lost time on a trip is worth more than a HG.
Things can happen on the trail, and you need to diagnose and resolve. So, PM is logical with that mindset.
If you do it as PM, HG also is an opportunity to do a lot of other things on the motor that are difficult and expensive to do otherwise.
So, its a chance to really refresh a lot of parts.
If you plan on keeping the truck, maybe build a budget and parts list for PM on your timetable.
Your truck blew it's hg at 270k.In 5 decades of being a auto enthusiast Mud is the only place that I hear people refer to a HG job as PM
In 5 decades of being a auto enthusiast Mud is the only place that I hear people refer to a HG job as PM
I know all this stuff.I am one that 'can' see it being a viable Preventative Maintenance item for some people.
But before explaining what I mean by that....let us consider some unique aspects of the Land Cruiser that might cause an owner to consider replacing items that they normally would not on other vehicles.
Now....let's visit the practice of 'Preventative Maintenance':
- MANY Land Cruisers will easily go 300K (or more miles) even with marginal engine maintenance. Most other manufacturers (of the same era) don't enjoy that same longevity. So the average L/C engine is up there in age and usage.
- More than a few owners have been long time owners OR plan to keep their vehicle a significant amount of time.
- L/C's with cast iron blocks and aluminum heads experience widely dissimilar expansion/contraction rates. This is hard on head gaskets. Especially those gaskets created at a time when asbestos was phased out and 'new' materials had to be found.
- The polls taken on this site (anecdotal as they may be) show that your 'original' gasket WILL fail at some point.
- The L/C being a capable off-road vehicle is used that way by a fair number of owners. Having a head gasket fail way out in 'BFE' isn't the same thing as having it fail in the supermarket parking lot.
- A head gasket failure depending on how it failed and how quickly you realized it, can cause additional damage to rings, cylinders, rod and crank bearings, etc....
Why do PM on ANYTHING? Why not just wait until it breaks?
The reasons in favor of P/M are normally three:
1. A failure will/can result in an unacceptable inconvenience
2. A failure will/can result in additional damage to the vehicle
3. A failure is likely to create a significant safety concern
With respect to replacing a head gasket (proactively) it really comes down to personal decision and how it would affect you.
But the same can be said for replacing/servicing other parts. The difference being a head gasket replacement, the attendant labor costs and other (while you're in there items) is expensive.
That is where most folks balk (understandably).
IF someone were to offer the service for free.....everyone here would jump on it. Nary a person would say "Naw, I just don't think it needs it, I will wait until it breaks".
Seriously though, each person carefully consider what your L/C means to you, how you use it and how a head gasket failure might affect you. Proceed from there.
In MY case....the HG failed right after an engine block flush, so no big deal. It was sitting outside my shop and I have other vehicles to drive. It lasted 316K miles....but clearly it was about to go at any time and the engine flush just pushed it over the edge.
I've owned the vehicle since it was three years old (turned in off a corporate lease) and have all the service records from that time and my own maintenance on it. It has never been overheated or abused. I've had the L/C since 2000 and plan to keep it until I die.
So maintenance (regular and preventative) are important to me. But this might not be the case for everyone.
Think for a minute about being on a long road trip far from home and especially if you happen a few miles off the beaten path and that HG let’s go. I’ve talked to a couple folks who had this happen. Luckily they were with in reach of a tow truck. Vacation ruined and major expenses to fix it where it is or ship it home where the owner can do it themselves. No thanks.In 5 decades of being a auto enthusiast Mud is the only place that I hear people refer to a HG job as PM
Same reason you don't hear too many folks planning their 120th birthday bash: everyone else is dead by then.In 5 decades of being a auto enthusiast Mud is the only place that I hear people refer to a HG job as PM
This makes no senseSame reason you don't hear too many folks planning their 120th birthday bash: everyone else is dead by then.
This is the only forum where you read about HG change as PM because many (most?) other engines/vehicles are dead before the HG blows. We plan on running these long past the point of HG failure, which is typically ~250-300k (by which time probably 95%+ of all other vehicles are dead, sold, or traded in). Likewise, for some of the folks driving these rigs, a sudden HG failure could strand them in a fatal environment, like Death Valley or Downtown L.A.This makes no sense
What that has to do with 120 year birthday bash I have on idea.This is the only forum where you read about HG change as PM because many (most?) other engines/vehicles are dead before the HG blows. We plan on running these long past the point of HG failure. Likewise, for some of the folks driving these rigs, a sudden HG failure could strand them in a fatal environment, like Death Valley or Downtown L.A. So...PM.
I know all this stuff.
With all due respect you did not do yours as PM, you have been on Mud for almost 20 years where the HG issue has been widely talked about !
At that point why just do the HG just do a complete rebuild for peace of mind !
Good night Sir, sleep well.I'm done with this whole HG PM nonsense Good night !!