32cls6speedmt
SILVER Star
Ordered. Will be delivered tomorrow. I will test and do a controlled test as well.
I had coolant flushed already scheduled for Wednesday.
The Car Care Nut talks UR V8 blown head gaskets (12 Viewers)
- Thread starter dudemancool1904
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I had coolant flushed already scheduled for Wednesday.
The cylinder is immediately surrounded by coolant (the water jacket). With the small HG leaks shown, the HG breach is between the cylinder and the water jacket.
As a result, coolant can enter the combustion chamber, but most likely during engine operation you are going to overheat, as 4000+ degrees combustion gasses are blown into the water jacket via the HG leak, essentially boiling the coolant being circulated.
Although there's many variables at play depending on the location and size of the HG leak. All this to say, no, I don't think an oil analysis is guaranteed to detect this failure, especially not as a preventative. The oil channels can remain intact and even upon a small HG failure it's possible that any small amount of leaking coolant into the cylinders that the evidence is burned off during combustion before it can collect and seep past piston rings.
This doesn't mean that oil analysis isn't a good idea though.
bloc
SILVER Star
As I understand it the volumes necessary for detection are so small that they can make it past the rings during combustion, pooling in a shut-down engine isn’t needed.
I’m not advocating just leaving the coolant in there and relying on UOA to give assurance, nor saying we should be doing them with each oil change. But as periodic check-ups IMO they are an even better idea than before, now that we are discovering this (still rare) head gasket issue related to coolant age.
That's definitely impressive if this is the case.
bloc
SILVER Star
I agree. But when UOA routinely looks for elements in the PPM range, and there is already enough data out there on what to expect from a given oil and engine, plus knowing what elements to look for from coolant.. it’s not totally surprising.
Then again I’m just a guy on the internet that spent a couple years nerding out on BITOG.
An excuse to upgrade to an XAT 5.7?
xatracing.com
Based on the video, does this pricing not seem all that bad, and not near as risky as buying a junkyard engine?
XAT 3UR FULLY BUILT Engine! Heads and Short block ASSEMBLED 800+ HP Long Block
Why isn't everyone running a 3UR?! After tearing one down and analyzing the engine top to bottom, we've really come to appreciate the level of engineering that has gone into these engines. It's no wonder they were made for over 15 years! We feel they're extremely underrated, and they also...
xatracing.com
Based on the video, does this pricing not seem all that bad, and not near as risky as buying a junkyard engine?
The moral of the story: All 3UR-FE engines are garbage. If your cam tower isn't leaking, your valley plate is, and you probably will just drop a valve or blow a head gasket.
Disregard the many examples still running with 500,000+ miles.
Just drive them all to my place, drop the keys in the mailbox and be thankful that I'm willing to relieve you of the burden without so much as charging you a dollar.
Disregard the many examples still running with 500,000+ miles.
Just drive them all to my place, drop the keys in the mailbox and be thankful that I'm willing to relieve you of the burden without so much as charging you a dollar.
You're about $30k into an 800+hp XAT when it's all built...maybe more. I can track down 5.7 l in my area, with similar mileage to mine, for about $3-4k...An excuse to upgrade to an XAT 5.7?
XAT 3UR FULLY BUILT Engine! Heads and Short block ASSEMBLED 800+ HP Long Block
Why isn't everyone running a 3UR?! After tearing one down and analyzing the engine top to bottom, we've really come to appreciate the level of engineering that has gone into these engines. It's no wonder they were made for over 15 years! We feel they're extremely underrated, and they also...
Based on the video, does this pricing not seem all that bad, and not near as risky as buying a junkyard engine?
But $11k for a XAT basic build seems reasonable.
I've often thought it would be fun to buy and build a second 3urfe for the Lexus...for the time being, regular maintenance will have to suffice.
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I take away from the video just something to be aware of. I have a 3UR in my tundra at 170k. I did the coolant change at 100k 5 years ago. I'll change mine at the next service. But at this point what can one do. Im really not too worried about this. Many 5.7s at high miles and age without issue.
bloc
SILVER Star
Well said.
Using the test kit, it appears the coolant pH is in the OK range. Looking through my old service records I cant find a flush and fill for the coolant. Which is odd because I've had every other fluid changed out over the years. 
This engine was fully rebuilt 9 years ago at 45k due to dealer negligence. Now at 140k, heavy mountain use, hot/cold climate, etc. Earlier in the year had the heat exchanger leak repaired and they put in 2 gallons of Toyota coolant. If I recall the 5.7 is approximately a 4 gallon cooling capacity?
As said above, just going to up the service intervals for the coolant and test the pH every 5k during LOF's.
This engine was fully rebuilt 9 years ago at 45k due to dealer negligence. Now at 140k, heavy mountain use, hot/cold climate, etc. Earlier in the year had the heat exchanger leak repaired and they put in 2 gallons of Toyota coolant. If I recall the 5.7 is approximately a 4 gallon cooling capacity?
As said above, just going to up the service intervals for the coolant and test the pH every 5k during LOF's.
bloc
SILVER Star
Thanks, that's good info.
I'd really like to see data from someone with 100k on their coolant... or even more, if possible.
I'd really like to see data from someone with 100k on their coolant... or even more, if possible.
32cls6speedmt
SILVER Star
How many billable hours to do a head gasket as preventative maintenance? The part is pretty inexpensive.
Motor labor guide, 23.3 hrs. Probably working with power tools, and I'm pretty sure things were still fairly new, when they got this total hrs. I would assume a repair shop hitting you at 30 hours.
I believe TCCN says in the video that for just the HG job he is charging around $5k.
Of course this is likely to go way up if the HG blows depending on if the head is warped, or worst case, the aluminum block is warped which is pretty much game over for the engine or for your wallet
This is my personal opinion car care nut is a overhyped clown and knows what he is talking about maybe 30% of the time. He just pulls stuff out of his a$$ and people regurgitate it as truth or gospel.
I am a big 3UZ person myself love them in the 430.
Something I think often goes overlooked when talking about this kind of information is that mechanics, by their definition, see only the worst examples or the worst maintained vehicles or the ones where something failed. They're dealing specifically with failures, not with the success stories. Sure, they may have examples of the good engines to point towards, but it's worth noting that they typically will form an opinion based on what they're fixing.
While I'm not saying TCCN doesn't raise valid points, because I definitely think he does, I do think it's important to contextualize.
As stated above, there are thousands of 3URs out there with 250k+ on the and nary a failure. I'm sure there are dozens of Tundras, Sequoias, and Land Cruisers with 300k, 400k or more out there just happily living life. So while this may be something to look out for, it is not a forgone conclusion nor something typical of the 5.7. Most of them will live long, happy lives. Some of the less maintained and unlucky ones will lose a head gasket. The same can be said for many different modes of failure.
I don't think it's worth losing sleep over. These trucks have proven, over and over again, that they are durable and reliable.
Moral of the story: maintain your vehicles, change your fluids, and use quality parts and supplies. For this specific situation we can probably recommend changing the coolant with more regularity. I'm going to change every 50k from now on. That's it.
While I'm not saying TCCN doesn't raise valid points, because I definitely think he does, I do think it's important to contextualize.
As stated above, there are thousands of 3URs out there with 250k+ on the and nary a failure. I'm sure there are dozens of Tundras, Sequoias, and Land Cruisers with 300k, 400k or more out there just happily living life. So while this may be something to look out for, it is not a forgone conclusion nor something typical of the 5.7. Most of them will live long, happy lives. Some of the less maintained and unlucky ones will lose a head gasket. The same can be said for many different modes of failure.
I don't think it's worth losing sleep over. These trucks have proven, over and over again, that they are durable and reliable.
Moral of the story: maintain your vehicles, change your fluids, and use quality parts and supplies. For this specific situation we can probably recommend changing the coolant with more regularity. I'm going to change every 50k from now on. That's it.
