failed cylinder head gasket at 73000 miles; are there known gasket problems?

[pequiod]

Bought my 2000 LC used at 70000 mi. Sighed when at 73000 miles, antifreeze began leaking from the cylinder head gasket on the left side of the motor. no idea what set it off, but probably had something to do with the first owner. So It was replaced and things seem ok now. They also found a bad exhaust manifold gasket too. I changed the plugs, which i'll try to post a picture of, but all of them had a rust brown coloration to them.

Do LC's have common gasket failure problems?

I wouldn't know, but The toyota dealer that did the work talked like gasket failure was a fairly big thing to happen to the motor, but they didn't offer any suggestion for further preventative work, tests, etc. replaced parts etc.

If indeed what happened was "big", what maintence/test should be done to make sure everything is ok and up to speed. e.g. water pump replacement?

Pequiod.

 

[Augie]

Since you are from Turkey we really have to idea what engine comes with you 2000 LC? Could be 4.7 V8 that are common in US, 4.5 L I6 or 4.2L Diesel/turbo diesel.

Please specify what engine do you have.

 

[pequiod]

Yes, I'm in Turkey, but the vehicle was shipped from the states when i moved here. Standard US spec LC.

 

[Pitbull]

This is not a common problem with the 4.7 V8. I've never heard of one failing on this engine. The 4.7 V8 is one of the most trouble free engines on the market. I would say that the previous owners may have not properly maintained (per the owners manual) the engine. Was the antifreeze ever changed? Now that it is fixed I suggest you keep the antifreeze changed per the owners manual and only use the Toyota antifreeze. I would hope that the dealer checked the water pump and thermastat when they replaced the head gasket. If the dealer did the job right and you maintain it per the owners manual you should not have any additional problems. Good luck.

 

[mobi-arc]

At 90,000 miles, my waterpump was leaking. Perhaps the waterpump on your truck gave up the ghost early which subsequently cause the engine overtemp?

 

[sleeoffroad]

Actually we have heard of some failing. Friend is a service writer at the Lexus dealer.

 

[Pitbull]

Actually we have heard of some failing. Friend is a service writer at the Lexus dealer.

I've heard of people winning the Lottery but the odds are agains't it. If this was normal ( a known problem ) we would have several members posting about head gasket failures. I know on the FZJ80's some members had problems with their 96-97 LC's and it was posted on the 80's forum, but it still wasn't common as long as the recommended maintance was performed. I never had a problem with my 95 FZJ80 with over 140K miles. It also has not been mentioned as a problem on the Tundra site by high mileage trucks. I'm not saying it can't happen but anything can happen.

 

[MoJ]

Uh-oh, sounds like 100's are crap. Probably going to start tanking in value. If you'd like to sell me yours at a great price before the value completely slams just let me know.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Pitbull, I just mentioned that we have heard of some. Not by any means the same frequency as the 80 series, but it does happen. Most of them were lower miles and you can normally see the leak externally.

I agree, it is not common, but it does happen, but then as you say, I have heard of people winning the lotto to

All in all, I have way more faith in a 4.7v8 than the 1fzfe when the approach 100k miles.

 

[Pitbull]

Pitbull, I just mentioned that we have heard of some. Not by any means the same frequency as the 80 series, but it does happen. Most of them were lower miles and you can normally see the leak externally.

I agree, it is not common, but it does happen, but then as you say, I have heard of people winning the lotto to

All in all, I have way more faith in a 4.7v8 than the 1fzfe when the approach 100k miles.

Christo, it would be fun to have the stats on failures per 100K units on all of the different problems with all of the manufactures. My observation is based on different forums and member posts that I've seen. It's funny with my wifes Nissan 350Z (they seem to have a problem with wearing out front tires because of alignment problems) if you visit the big 350Z site that thread hits you right off with about 100 pages of members complaining and searching for a solution. If I go on the Dodge Cummins Turbo diesel site you can see the problems with the lift pumps on the 2nd generation trucks based on the number of threads and posts. I've never seen anything that would indicate that the 100 series has a head gasket problem based on member posts on several forums that have vehicles that share the Toyota 4.7 V8. Based on all of the different forums I visit the Toyotas have the fewest problems and the 4.7 V8 is one of the most dependable engines.

 

[sleeoffroad]

I agree, I think forums really skew the reputation of vehicles. Yes it indicates what is common problems, but for example on the 80 series, I wonder how many are running out there without problems and their owners never visit or post on a forum. Then also, how many did have head gasket issues and were just replaced at the dealer and the forums don't know about it.

I think these places are a good outlet for us who are passionate about the vehicles, but sometimes we take it to far and overmaintain and analyze our vehicles.

 

[Pitbull]

I agree, I think forums really skew the reputation of vehicles. Yes it indicates what is common problems, but for example on the 80 series, I wonder how many are running out there without problems and their owners never visit or post on a forum. Then also, how many did have head gasket issues and were just replaced at the dealer and the forums don't know about it.

I think these places are a good outlet for us who are passionate about the vehicles, but sometimes we take it to far and overmaintain and analyze our vehicles.

Agreed

 

[ELLTEE]

overmaintain and analyze our vehicles.

Who?!
Us?!



LT

 

[Jim_Chow]

I'd guess the PO didn't perform proper maintenance, or mixed green w/ red coolant, clogging the radiator and causing it to run too hot. Or, he could have driven it like a bat-out-of-hell, 90% city driving and flooring the pedal at every opportunity and slamming on the brakes at every stop light. How are the brakes/brake master? Is the fluid dark as tea or clear?

This is the problem w/ buying a used vehicle. The miles really don't tell the story. In a sense, I'm more suspicious about a rig w/ low miles. Either it was never driven (believeable if the owners are retirees and stay at home most of the time), or it was driven on a zillion short 1/2 mile trips to the neighborhood grocery store/shopping mall (more likely). OTOH, if the rig has high miles and is new (say, an '01 with 120K mi), that suggests it was driven on the highways to a weekend cabin (good) or as a delivery vehicle (less likely).

 

[fj55-100]

Dealer rat for 19 yrs now ,,, not at all common on the lexus side , have more motors appart due to ( jiffy lube ) installing the wrong oil filter,
4.7 was good enough for me ; the one in my 55 is definateley the way to go