2011 Land Cruiser-bad head gasket? Maybe looking for a new engine...

[scottaskinosie]

Hey everyone,

My father-in-law has been having issues with his 2011 LC. It started as the check engine, trac and 4 lo lights coming on and it running a little rough, but not terrible, from time to time. The code he pulled was for cylinder 8 misfire. He has had it looked at by 3 different shops and 2 of the 3 have said it is a bad head gasket and coolant is leaking int cylinder 8 and he should purchase a new (used) engine. This was after replacing the coils, plugs and testing the injectors.

The engine has 260k on it. And it sounds like the head gasket will be about 6k and a new engine around 10k, at least that is what has been estimated.

What do you all think? Replace the engine?

And if so, anyone have any good leads on where I could look?

The shops we have spoken to have not been able to find one with their distributors...

And if more information is needed let me know and I will get it

Thanks guys!

 

[scottaskinosie]

Hey everyone,

My father-in-law has been having issues with his 2011 LC. It started as the check engine, trac and 4 lo lights coming on and it running a little rough, but not terrible, from time to time. The code he pulled was for cylinder 8 misfire. He has had it looked at by 3 different shops and 2 of the 3 have said it is a bad head gasket and coolant is leaking int cylinder 8 and he should purchase a new (used) engine. This was after replacing the coils, plugs and testing the injectors.

The engine has 260k on it. And it sounds like the head gasket will be about 6k and a new engine around 10k, at least that is what has been estimated.

What do you all think? Replace the engine?

And if so, anyone have any good leads on where I could look?

The shops we have spoken to have not been able to find one with their distributors...

And if more information is needed let me know and I will get it

Thanks guys!

A couple of shops have said do not replace the head gasket.

I’m not having luck finding and engine for this. And opinions on replacing the head gasket?

 

[Heckraiser]

There is a recent thread of a member who looked long and hard to find a suitable replacement engine and IIRC, the cost was quite a bit higher than $10k and the process was long and arduous.

There is no reason the head gasket can't be replaced if the head isn't warped or there is no damage to the block. In any case, I'd like to see how they determined head gasket failure. Did they do a bore scope? Exhaust gas detector kit? Not saying they're wrong, I'd just like to see the evidence in your shoes. The only reason I'd consider a new engine in this case is the relatively advanced mileage of the truck. Me personally, I'd do the head gasket.

Better question for this group is "what's a trustworthy land cruiser/toyota specialist shop in the Austin area?" Not saying you haven't already connected with a good mechanic, but you could probably verify by checking with the local MUD crew.

 

[scottaskinosie]

There is a recent thread of a member who looked long and hard to find a suitable replacement engine and IIRC, the cost was quite a bit higher than $10k and the process was long and arduous.

There is no reason the head gasket can't be replaced if the head isn't warped or there is no damage to the block. In any case, I'd like to see how they determined head gasket failure. Did they do a bore scope? Exhaust gas detector kit? Not saying they're wrong, I'd just like to see the evidence in your shoes. The only reason I'd consider a new engine in this case is the relatively advanced mileage of the truck. Me personally, I'd do the head gasket.

Better question for this group is "what's a trustworthy land cruiser/toyota specialist shop in the Austin area?" Not saying you haven't already connected with a good mechanic, but you could probably verify by checking with the local MUD crew.

Thank you @Heckraiser, sorry for the delay. I wrote up a response the other day and forgot to hit send

The sent me a video of a bore scope they ran. i could not see fluid but they insist it is there. I do not think it is a very big leak, if any, as I do not see any white smoke and the issue with #8 misfire is very inconsistent. That and I am not burning through fluid very quickly (they also mentioned I have a few plastic hose fittings that are leaking as well) so it can't be that bad.

The only reason I kind of believe it is because he keeps getting a misfire on #8 off and on and he has replaced the coils, plugs and tested the wires to the coil and injector. The misfire comes and goes so I guess it makes sense that a little fluid could be dampening the spark and then eventually dry out allowing it to start firing again. But I don't know, when I drive it I can't find anything off about it...

The engine has 266k. There is a guy at a shop in the Ozarks that he found says he has an engine with 88k for $6,000 and he will do it for $3,000. But I am a little suspicious about this too good to be true deal.

My 100 series has over 300k and still runs like new. I have told him that I think he should just do the gasket but he wanted me to ask my council of elders here on the forum

 

[cfsds]

Have the injectors been pulled and flow tested/cleaned?

 

[scottaskinosie]

Have the injectors been pulled and flow tested/cleaned?

Thanks @cfsds!

According to the notes my FIL sent me, it looks like they did not physically test nor clean the injectors, they "checked the fuel trim and injector pulse data electronically verifying the injectors were firing evenly and the fuel mixture was not too lean or rich".

I am not familiar with this, I have always just taken them out