Blown Head Gasket? (1 Viewer)

[Artie]

Current state. (but look how clean those heads are! We've been religious about maintenance! )

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Good time for forced induction… you’re in there this deep already.

Jokes aside, no faking your maintenance when internals are that clean. This shouldn’t be happening but it seems as if you caught it before it became terminal.

 

[doru]

For people that got it and are machining the head/block would be valuable to have before and after flatness measurements. These days head gaskets are metalic so they should not just fail if the surfaces are flat, the head bolts are strong enough and torqued correctly, the engine is properly cooled, and computer is properly managing detonation.

 

[xeuxaz]

Do we need an HG failure register? I feel like I have seen 2013 MY fail more than any others, but I could be off-base.

 

[ryanCA]

Do we need an HG failure register? I feel like I have seen 2013 MY fail more than any others, but I could be off-base.

we have this thread and we have long CCN thread

do we need a register for the non believers?

 

[xeuxaz]

we have this thread and we have long CCN thread

do we need a register for the non believers?

The CCN thread is a lot of discussion. I think a register with "Just the facts" would be good. Even a simple table or thread with clean unbiased information on the failures.

- Model Year
- Ownership Duration
- Failure Mode/Detection/Symptoms
- Last known coolant change date
- Valley Pan Failure
- Radiator Failure
- Any known overheating events
- Which Cylinder(s) failed
- etc.

 

[gasman4u]

Someone on the forum had it at 83K miles. It was a 15 LC. Can't find the thread.... Total dealer bill he paid was $12K - with other things.

Also many people I am sure have it, who are NOT on this forum.. and we never even know about it.



CCN knows what he is talking about @gasman4u , isn't that correct?

we have this thread and we have long CCN thread

do we need a register for the non believers?

Seriously though...maybe a HG issue database of some sort may be insightful in some sort of RCA? I don't know that we have the numbers to make it statistically meaningful, but it may prove helpful nonetheless.

 

[doru]

The value is not in making believers, getting back to Toyota, feeling better, etc.

The value is in finding the leading cause (regardless of blame) so we can fix or prevent. If there is something I can do, I prefer doing it rather than saying, it is only a % (insert your # here) chance of that happening. And you do realize that w/o access to Toyota own statistics it is impossible to figure out the real %.

So far, I have not heard of a clear cause of failure other than the obvious blowing radiator and cooking the engine.

 

[scc3]

I am all for creating this list and tracking these incidents. I recently purchased a 2011 LC w/ 164k miles. Based on Toyota service records its had the radiator replaced due to a leak (with the new version) a couple of years ago and it is currently in the shop getting the valley plate leak fixed. One of the worst ones I have seen compared to pics on the web. It was losing coolant like crazy. I am waiting for the shop to perform a leakdown test. Fingers crossed. I will create a post once I have all the info and pics in hand. So, I am very interested in this topic.

 

[WildYoats]

I don't feel it would hurt. We may be on to something, or we may not. It's been interesting in just a few days how many similar stories have surfaced.

Just an hour ago I was at a store here in Huntington Beach. Started talking to a guy also here on vacation that works at a Toyota dealer in Washington. I mentioned the issue of my 200 series breaking down on us, and his reply, no kidding, was, "don't tell me it was the headgasket!?". I looked at him in awe and asked him how the hell he knew that. He said a friend had a 200 series and the HG blew, cost him $12k. I told him about the thread here on MUD. Seriously, what are the chances of this. Kinda trips me out.

I would also be curious just how many Toyota 200 series head gaskets have been sold from their parts network. Might be impossible to obtain from Toyota, and there are a lot of variables to this number, but it also could be a starting point and indication of an issue.

Lastly, someone above mentioned a change in the gasket part #, was that a change in the design, did we ever hear?

 

[ryanCA]

I don't feel it would hurt. We may be on to something, or we may not. It's been interesting in just a few days how many similar stories have surfaced.

Just an hour ago I was at a store here in Huntington Beach. Started talking to a guy also here on vacation that works at a Toyota dealer in Washington. I mentioned the issue of my 200 series breaking down on us, and his reply, no kidding, was, "don't tell me it was the headgasket!?". I looked at him in awe and asked him how the hell he knew that. He said a friend had a 200 series and the HG blew, cost him $12k. I told him about the thread here on MUD. Seriously, what are the chances of this. Kinda trips me out.

yup lots out there not on the forum as i mentioned

I would also be curious just how many Toyota 200 series head gaskets have been sold from their parts network. Might be impossible to obtain from Toyota, and there are a lot of variables to this number, but it also could be a starting point and indication of an issue.

no way that info will be public....

 

[SCCThree]

Lastly, someone above mentioned a change in the gasket part #, was that a change in the design, did we ever hear?

I too would like to know more about this if any information is available.

 

[Artie]

Lastly, someone above mentioned a change in the gasket part #, was that a change in the design, did we ever hear?

I was the one who mentioned this, it was mentioned in the CCN video and I was referencing that along with the link to that video.

A few comments later a much wiser than I member pointed out that this isn’t accurate information.

Please disregard.

 

[rexington14]

The value is in finding the leading cause (regardless of blame) so we can fix or prevent. If there is something I can do, I prefer doing it rather than saying, it is only a % (insert your # here) chance of that happening. And you do realize that w/o access to Toyota own statistics it is impossible to figure out the real %.

Prevention measures have been discussed. Although not proven, they certainly won't hurt: 5yr / 50k coolant changes. And, obviously, don't run it with any of the (sadly, multiple) common coolant leaks.

Focus on failure detection as early as possible to hopefully lessen the chances of overheating and warping the aluminum heads and/or aluminum block. Oil change every 1yr/5k and send the oil for analysis. Run a live data scan tool and monitor the coolant temp. Check the overflow reservoir frequently for coolant loss. Don't run it with misfire / CEL.

If the block warps and you need a new engine, that's going to be game over for many due to the extremely high costs and downtime involved. A "simple" ~$8k head gasket job will seem like a bargain in comparison.

 

[WildYoats]

no way that info will be public....

Totally understandable. But that data is there and if this tends to turn into something gigantic, could be obtained through the proper legal channels.

Prevention measures have been discussed. Although not proven, they certainly won't hurt: 5yr / 50k coolant changes. And, obviously, don't run it with any of the (sadly, multiple) common coolant leaks.

Focus on failure detection as early as possible to hopefully lessen the chances of overheating and warping the aluminum heads and/or aluminum block. Oil change every 1yr/5k and send the oil for analysis. Run a live data scan tool and monitor the coolant temp. Check the overflow reservoir frequently for coolant loss. Don't run it with misfire / CEL.

If the block warps and you need a new engine, that's going to be game over for many due to the extremely high costs and downtime involved. A "simple" ~$8k head gasket job will seem like a bargain in comparison.

Appreciate, and agree with that other than many of us experienced no overheating. I think it would be wise to add a regular coolant system pressure test to identify leaks.

My vehicle was maintained solely by a Toyota dealer and they never mentioned any of the leaks I allegedly had (according to the dealer doing my HG work).

 

[ryanCA]

Oil change every 1yr/5k and send the oil for analysis.

Run a live data scan tool and monitor the coolant temp.

Check the overflow reservoir frequently for coolant loss.

Don't run it with misfire / CEL.

the average american is expected to do this?

For a land cruiser?

 

[rexington14]

the average american is expected to do this?

For a land cruiser?

Well, the man asked what can he do to help prevent. Not sure what else you can do besides the increased maintenance and increased monitoring to catch a head gasket failure as early as possible - since we don't know what actually causes it. Could always just sell the car if you don't like the risk, or don't buy one in the first place.

 

[ryanCA]

Well, the man asked what can he do to help prevent. Not sure what else you can do besides the increased maintenance and increased monitoring to catch a head gasket failure as early as possible - since we don't know what actually causes it. Could always just sell the car if you don't like the risk, or don't buy one in the first place.

If guys are doing 5K dealer service (as is evidenced by the last 3 people who posted), and have owned them since new or almost new, and are having HG blow from 88-112k, then I don't see how they can prevent it further

 

[shajbot]

Where did you have it done in San Diego? 13' LC200 108K, owned since 25K, same bad luck.

I sent you a DM the shop name...since I'm not sure if it's okay to share publicly. Anyone else curious DM me.

I've put about 5K miles on since the headgasket repair...so far no more coolant smell, level is steady. MPG/power slightly better than before.

 

[jblatl]

The coolant eats the coating, make sure you change the coolant in these trucks every 5 years regardless of the miles.

 

[WildYoats]

The coolant eats the coating, make sure you change the coolant in these trucks every 5 years regardless of the miles.

Between the 17 threads on this 200 series head gasket issue, I feel nobody can say with complete confidence it is a coolant issue, especially when people like me with a mere 115k miles and a dealer receipt of my last coolant flush at 78K four years ago and light use followed all maintenance protocols. Yes, you should still do your preventative maintenance to be safe.

I fell down a rabbit hole on this (my wife thinks I am obsessing) since this happened to us recently. There are several things I have seen common in my reading of all these threads (and videos):

1) appears to more prevalent in pre 2015 years
2) lots of talk of cracked radiators (mine too was discovered), yet no overheating issues ever in my, and others, case.
3) lots of mention of valley pan gaskets leaking

Personally a coolant flush is wise, but it would be safer to conduct the occasional coolant pressure leak test. That "may" be the key here, I don't know.