Test drove an 02 Cruiser with 300k miles; according to owner's mechanic, it needs a new head gasket

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T

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10 Year
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The Cruiser's Service Engine Soon light is on, and when the owner took it to his mechanic to diagnose the problem, the mechanic told him it had a blown head gasket with an internal leak. I checked the oil on the dipstick, and it didn't appear milky colored, nor did it smell peculiar. The car didn't smoke upon startup, and the antifreeze level was normal (owner had not added any).

After researching head gasket issues (or lack thereof) with the 2UZ-FE engine on here, I am seriously questioning the diagnosis of the seller's mechanic. I asked the seller if he knew the specific code that was causing the Service Engine Soon light, and he had no clue. Does anyone have an idea if (1) a Cruiser can generate a code indicating a blown head gasket and (2) what level of confidence one should have of such diagnosis?

One other question. This will be my first foray into the world of Land Cruisers, and in fact, I had never sat in a Cruiser before my test drive. As such, I don't have much of a baseline for what is normal and what is cause for concern. When the owner started the Land Cruiser for the first time (engine was cold), I noticed what sounded like a decent amount of valvetrain clatter for about five seconds. Is that normal?

EDIT: In response to questions concerning which light was on, it was definitely the check engine light, not the light indicating it was time for an oil change.
 
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Valvetrain clatter and piston slap is normal on cold start, should quiet down as in a few seconds. What is common is exhaust manifold leak.

These engine rarely go bad. Overheating from low coolant seem to be the killer of these 2UZ-FE. 2UZ-fe engine for ~$800 to $1,200 around, as not much call for them. Stuck valves from sitting long periods, seem to be mistaken as head gasket.
 
I'm pretty sure "service engine soon" is just the maintenance reminder. It may simply be due for an oil change.
 
I'd doubt the head gasket... if oil is clean and no loss of coolant.... these are prone to broken rings at high miles, when these die from lack of coolant... they usually DIE dead... not die "run bad" with that being said... if the seller believes it needs a head gasket... it's a $3000 truck max... if everything else is perfect and no rust... if you can do the work yourself you can swap in a new engine far cheaper than digging into an engine with over 300k and you do NOT want to dig into a 300k engine..... a 100k engine swapped in if you do the work and do all the TB and WP belts hoses ect... you'll be into the engine swap for 2k (no labor)
 
I also doubt a head gasket, with the info provided so far. The maintenance needed light just indicates it's time for an oil change. The light is reset by holding the trip meter button down (while in the odometer setting) while turning the key to the on position (no start). It will reset in a few seconds. If it was a check engine light, there is no code specifically for a bad head gasket. You've done all the quick checks for a bad gasket already. Before you continue the purchase, find out which light and what code (if it was the check engine and not the maintenance reminder). I agree with @ponytl that it should be real cheap if the owner thinks it's a bad gasket.
 
Sandroad said:
If it was a check engine light . . .
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It was definitely the check engine light.

I wish I had brought a code reader with me when checking it out. I wold be in a much better position to assess the problem and the likely resulting cost going forward. I realize there is no code for blown head gasket, but I am not familiar enough with Toyotas to even begin to speculate what the code may be to lead the owner's mechanic to believe it needs a head gasket replaced.
 
ponytl said:
if the seller believes it needs a head gasket... it's a $3000 truck max... if everything else is perfect and no rust
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As I was contemplating this particular Cruiser, I was thinking I may be able to get a great deal if it didn't actually need a head gasket, but I think the better move may be to simply pass on this one.

The owner also said the transmission was rebuilt last year. There are a lot of good mechanics out there doing good work, but as a matter of probability, I suspect a transmission rebuilt by a mechanic who is is neither a transmission specialist nor a Toyota specialist has a significantly shorter expected life span than an untouched properly functioning transmission or a factory remanufactured transmission.

There are simply too many potential issues with this particular Cruiser. It's a shame because the interior is immaculate and, other than some fading paint and one gouge in the rear bumper cover, the exterior looks good too.
 
Probably a good move. With a rebuilt trans of unknown quality and a CEL with a potentially serious problem, go find a better one!
 
ponytl said:
I'd doubt the head gasket... if oil is clean and no loss of coolant.... these are prone to broken rings at high miles, when these die from lack of coolant... they usually DIE dead... not die "run bad" with that being said... if the seller believes it needs a head gasket... it's a $3000 truck max... if everything else is perfect and no rust... if you can do the work yourself you can swap in a new engine far cheaper than digging into an engine with over 300k and you do NOT want to dig into a 300k engine..... a 100k engine swapped in if you do the work and do all the TB and WP belts hoses ect... you'll be into the engine swap for 2k (no labor)
Click to expand...


What experience do you have with dying 2UZ's. There's few if any reports of failures on this board from them.
 
ponytl said:
**these are prone to broken rings at high miles, when these die from lack of coolant...**
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Which rings?
A theory on why, like oil (not changing), heat, excessive cold starts etc.?
 
aging fleet said:
I'm pretty sure "service engine soon" is just the maintenance reminder. It may simply be due for an oil change.
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My 01 never gives a CEL as a maintenance service item.
 
2001LC said:
Which rings?
A theory on why, like oil (not changing), heat, excessive cold starts etc.?
Click to expand...

I don't know I've just seen and heard of ring failure... more a collapsed ring or rings stuck in the landings vs parts of them breaking off... but this was in high mile 250k+ engines... I have documented the 305k engine out of my 98 on this forum, and it's total lack of wear that i could measure/check on any surface... nor did I see heat or oiling issues
 
I'm wonder if compression or oil rings. In a history of 2UZ I've seen, it showed the VVTi added a upper crank case oil spray tube into the bottom of cylinders. Some metal & coating changes as well IIRC.

Just curious, these you've "seen and heard" were they pre or post VVTi?
 
No NAV in my LC or LX so I could not say. I just go by maintenance schedule.

My LC light has never gone on (12yrs). LX CEL is on now, I wish it was telling me to change oil....LOL
 
UPDATE: I asked the seller to get the specific codes his mechanic observed, and he is going to do that. While we were talking, the seller did provide a little additional information concerning his mechanic's diagnosis of the problem.

According to the seller's mechanic, cylinders 2, 4 and 8 were misfiring. Further, it did not pass an emission test, which the mechanic attributed to burning anti-freeze.

It is sounding more and more to me like a mythical blown head gasket on a 2UZ-FE engine
 
Also, just so I can get an idea of the potential downside to this transaction, how much can someone reasonably anticipate to make from parting out a 100 series? I could see it being fairly trivial to clear a thousand or two just on the major items, such as seats, body panels, transmission, & etc.

I called a local salvage yard, and they offered $150!?! I could get more than that for the tires alone, which have 85%+ tread left.
 
IMO run fast away from the vehicle and find another LC 100,300k miles on anything is a money pit. If he is selling it for 1k or less it's good for a part out IMO.
 
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