high mileage motor maintanance/precaution

[83 chif]

if i'm buying a high mileage toyota 4 cylinder with no apparent problems, what are some good precautions to take to make sure the motor doesn't go out on me any time soon? besides spark plugs and fuel filter and normal tune up stuff, what could be replaced to insure reliabillity? Could I pull the head off and just replace the head gasket to make sure it doesn't blow on me? without getting into a complete rebuild, and without pulling the motor, what would be sufficient?

 

[JohnnyC]

1st....do a general tune-up

are there any oil leaks?

compession check?

oil out the exhaust?

 

[toyminator]

I'd replace the timing chain with a new kit. I'd also buy the metal guides from LC engineering instead of using the factory plastic ones. Some people like to adjust the valves but I never have and my 89 has 255,xxx miles. You may want to put a water pump on it to because its easy while its out of the truck.

I wouldn't touch the head gaskets unless its been overheated or something but if you decide to replace it you should probably get the head resurfaced.

I'd go through and replace all the gaskets too.

If you want to spend the time you could get a $15.00 rebuild kit for the starter.

 

[Hottrod81]

I wouldn't buy one unless you have no other alternative. I was going to do the same thing with an engine I got from somebody. I pulled the pan and the head. Everything looked great. There was no sludge or gunk anywhere. I hate pulling engines so for a bit of insurance I took it to a local machine shop for them to look over. Come to find out, the 1 and 4 cylinders were wiped out in it. They were to the point that the block was junk. They told me that the engine had been heated to over 250 degrees.

 

[JohnnyC]

how many miles?

 

[83 chif]

mileage

it has 223,xxx but that trans has just over 100,000 and it has no leaks, no timing belt clatter, a new clutch yadda yadda yadda....
it doesn't seem like there will be any problems, but i just want to know what to do to prevent problems. is there anything with the 22re specifically? thanks folks!

 

[Hottrod81]

Nope, just change the oil, plugs, cap, rotor, and air filter. There is really nothing else you can do. Maybe change the water pump.

 

[tntoyota]

M.O

it has 223,xxx but that trans has just over 100,000 and it has no leaks, no timing belt clatter, a new clutch yadda yadda yadda....
it doesn't seem like there will be any problems, but i just want to know what to do to prevent problems. is there anything with the 22re specifically? thanks folks!

FYI, Toyota's don't tell you whats wrong until its too late!



If HG is fine I'd re install the valve seals (I think you can do it with out removing the head) as this seems to be a cause of oil consumption in higher mileage motors, and adjust the valves. I have taken 20r (steel) guides and had them cut to fit behind the TC cover you'll have to chain saw file one of the holes on the top D side to be able to bolt it. but the choice is yours on paying x5 the price and having to wait to get it. Get the best chain money can buy and seals.



this should get you by until HG fails or it blows smoke then rebuild


(Engine builders kit came with one steel guide for the tension side and one plastic for the slack side, good kit but I took a 20r slack side guide and had a machine shop cut almost half of the guide face down, I think it was on a band saw then I took a chain saw file and made a small cut out so that the bolt would hold it, the difference it is away is the difference in block hight)


I have been in your position many times, and while I have never rebuilt a motor I have repowered them, I get my heads redone at $100 (cheap insurance) new HG (head set), TC kit and seals. I remove most of my motors so I can work on them easier so I ad a clutch kit and rear main at the time.

total cost is between $3-$500

 

[83 chif]

insurance

maybe pulling the head and having the valves adjusted and the head resurfaced won't be a bad idea. I'll replace the seals and gaskets and won't have to worry about it. the timing chain sounds like it's more of a pain though, i've never done one before. if i do take care of that stuff, what is left to worry about, just the bottom end? i would hear some noise from down there before any bearing seized up on me, right? and there is no reason one should with good oil in it, right? thanks again for the input!

 

[Hottrod81]

FYI, Toyota's don't tell you whats wrong until its too late!

That is what mine did. It didn't tell me anything was wrong until it was too late and it spun a main bearing.

 

[Hottrod81]

maybe pulling the head and having the valves adjusted and the head resurfaced won't be a bad idea. I'll replace the seals and gaskets and won't have to worry about it. the timing chain sounds like it's more of a pain though, i've never done one before. if i do take care of that stuff, what is left to worry about, just the bottom end? i would hear some noise from down there before any bearing seized up on me, right? and there is no reason one should with good oil in it, right? thanks again for the input!

If you go to that much trouble, IMO, it would be foolish just not to go ahead and rebuild the motor. If you don't want to spend too much money, just stick the motor in and take your chances. It might or might not work out for you. By doing all of that other stuff and not rebuilding the bottom in, you are just polishing a Turd.

 

[hobiesbestfriend]

Do a proper compression check and drive it for a while before anything and get some numbers to start working with, hear/feel how it drives, runs, idles, pulls, uphill, downhill,smoke etc.... If the numbers are good, then maybe just throw some new bearings on, wait, what year is this? Solid front axles are a bit easier to do bearings while engine on the vehicle, so take that into consideration. Aside from that, do the timing kit from ENGNBLDR.com with the steel backed chain guide. You can get the whole kit with a brand new timing cover for very little and if you don't need the extra cover, you've now got a spare, just look for the telltale grooves worn in the side of the old cover by the timing chain. Even if the guide is there, as it may have been replaced before, but the cover may not have been. Better safe than sorry for the money in my opinion. It can also come with water pump and oil pump/front main seal and gaskets. Aside from that, it really is hard to know which way any particular Toyota's gonna decide to screw you when/if the time comes. I've played games before only fixing what breaks as it comes up. Now I just pull and rebuild 22re's and pop em back in. Helps to do it all yourself, $$$$$$ if you can't, but comes to under a grand added to price of truck and I get myself a brand new engine with cam, bigger valves and a whole lot of piece of mind. My 2 pesos