The reality of the Landcruiser Head Gasket Issue

[The Raven]

I have been around the block enough to know that in every genera from motorcycles to boats there is a hot potato that people get all chicken little about. I searched, but found little in regards to anyone who does not have any HG issues. I'm also not prepared to spend $2000 on a non-existent issue if I do not have to. I created this poll to see if I can get a real world stat of the actual HG failure phenomenon.

The poll is set up as multiple choice for those with multiple vehicles past and present and to answer the bottom two questions.

I treid to add the cost...but I ran out of options...if you had it changed total cost to do so and was it an indy shop, yourself or the dealership

I'll go first. 210K origional HG no issues.

 

[richardlillard1]

So you came to the place where head gasket paranoia runs rampant to do a sample survey? How much do you want to bet it's going to bias towards the head gasket having problems?

I'm thinking this is the wrong block to go around, bubba.

 

[dogfishlake]

I've got 3 80's. #1 White one 210,000 original hg no issues. #2 Ol 96'er blown gasket from blown radiator hose/overheat (bought it this way) and replaced. #3 modded supercharged 97 256,000 did hg as pm, looked good.

 

[Qball]

Just carry a bottle of bars HG fix with you and drive. These are 20 year old cars, HG is least of your worries.

 

[jfz80]

There seem to be a couple different version of this question/poll that pop up ever few years. It was a realized faulty design and there is a new gasket design so there are bound to be some issues even suspected by Mr T

Doesnt account unknown po maintenance and or those changed for PM or power adding. And as they say here i suppose you never hear about the survivors with no issues

Anyhow. 200k on orig gasket no problems
Replaced for SC install in 04
Another Boosted 100k miles without problem

 

[mkmarz]

I did mine at 210k, mainly because everything else was starting to leak.

I'm glad I did, I was able to clean up all sorts of electrolysis corrosion.

 

[canman]

The reality is all of the above, but only Foxy Loxy knows where to find the truth.

 

[mechanist]

Over 300k and no issues. 1993 FZJ80

 

[Hornd]

“Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that.” -Homer

Buy your Cruiser cash, save the $250/ month on the car payment you don't have. In 8 month you can sleep easily knowing if it ever happens the money is in the glovebox.

My question is why does everyone seem to fail on #6? Which cylinder does the EGR dump in?

 

[baldilocks]

“Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that.” -Homer

Buy your Cruiser cash, save the $250/ month on the car payment you don't have. In 8 month you can sleep easily knowing if it ever happens the money is in the glovebox.

My question is why does everyone seem to fail on #6? Which cylinder does the EGR dump in?

^^^ I like this pholosophy. I also like the idea of just doing it if you are worried about. You will learn a lot about your engine along the way.
The egr gases are tapped of #6 cylinder exhaust manifold port then travel through the head behind the cylinder to dump heat into the water jacket and then up the tube where they cook your wire harness and on up to the egr valve. I would guess this is why we see a high percentage of failures at number 6.
I did not respond to the poll because mine blew about 14k miles after the PO had the engine rebuilt using a FelPro gasket set and I did not feel there was a category I could be in that would give the 1FZ a fair shake.
You may also find it odd that the HG blew the day after I found the egr valve deactivated. I put it back in working order and about 5 miles down the interstate the whole vehicle began to shudder. I had steam and oil out the tail pipe and a very clean #6 spark plug.

 

[Heckraiser]

312k miles, no idea if the HG was replaced by the first, third or eighth owner, or none of the above. Don't care.

 

[AlaskanLX450]

I bought mine with a blown head gasket, it was around 140k when i bought it and it probably blew around the 100k mark. The previous owner had it full of stop leak, and nasty disgusting green coolant that smelled like fish. I fixed it myself for around $1000, but took care of a bunch of other stuff over a couple months leading up to it. Radiator, then water pump, then hoses, put it all together, take it apart. Put it together, take it apart.........
I just did thermostat again (two years since head gasket) and toyota red coolant looked murky and dark. Nothing leaks in my truck at all right now, except the transfer case.....
I think the electrolysis from not changing coolant is more detrimental to these things than anything. Dissimilar metals and acidic coolant wears things out quick... My$0.02

 

[half k cruiser]

Here's a good idea, ask the people who are on the original HG if they are the original owner. Some of them will be, many will not. Many will have no clue what maintenance was done on there vehicle prior to there owning it. You may as well ask them if they are on the original headlights. The fact is, yes, there is a known issue, mostly with the 93-94 model years. So my question is, what's the point of this poll ? Are we collecting data for a book somewhere ?

 

[80t0ylc]

.......... So my question is, what's the point of this poll ? Are we collecting data for a book somewhere ?

Read the OP's post carefully....

Anyway, I don't know the answer to the OP's question, but I do have an opinion. BTW, my '94 has orig HG and around 270k miles.

Given the obvious - aluminum head and cast iron block with the original "center bias" coolant temp gauge - there's a huge chance for naive owners to run their 80s close to the overheating mark often, if not actually overheating because of an inaccurate gauge. I did the RT temp gauge mod and it was a shock to see what was really going on. After market gauges, if properly installed, will also supply a better temp status. Those with OBII can monitor much more accurate, but the '93 & '94 owners (OBI) have to be more proactive to get good temp status. If bought used and don't know the maintenance history or don't have any confidence because of symptoms or appearance, it would pay to 1st, do a leak down test and/or the radiator overflow bottle bubble test to get a better idea of what's going on with the cooling system & HG condition.

 

[Iceaxe]

I'm SC'd, meth'ed, and abused at about 256k. No issues with the HG that I'm aware of yet. However, having trouble with overheating still and am going to an IC soon... Hopefully before I blow the HG.

 

[Hornd]

Here's a good idea, ask the people who are on the original HG if they are the original owner. Some of them will be, many will not. Many will have no clue what maintenance was done on there vehicle prior to there owning it. You may as well ask them if they are on the original headlights. The fact is, yes, there is a known issue, mostly with the 93-94 model years. So my question is, what's the point of this poll ? Are we collecting data for a book somewhere ?

Most that spend $50K+ don't want to be driving a $5K truck now. They are in 2-Hundos.
The average Annual Income of a New Land Cruiser Owner is $300K+, or guys like @NLXTACY!

 

[ChaseTruck]

How many folks will not answer for fear of jinxing it?

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Had one start leaking around 200k and two others over 200k still going strong.

 

[The Raven]

Interesting and very helpful responses so far, thank you SO MUCH. My intent and I haven't really been hyping it is that I'm leaving in 8 weeks or so (sooner if the snow flies) to travel and live full time out of my LC80. I am currently selling everything I own including my house. We are spending $$$ to baseline and reasonably upgrade the vehicle including the prinsu roof rack, arb front bumper, second battery, solar, RTT, tall skinny tires, and interior sleeping platform. A HG has been on my mind, but I see no indicators including a very nice #6 spark plug that looked just like its other 5 brothers. I'm tempted to rent a EG radiator test kit and oil analysis to ensure no contact with exhaust gasses in my radiator fluid. Then every 10K do it again.

For the time being and the purpose of this poll...I just want to separate the hype from the reality and so far it seems like it's working.

 

[fj80pb]

This isn't scientific polling indeed. Yet, I'm curious what the end result will be if, over the next few months, a vast majority of forum members choose to cast a vote.
Some of those unlucky guys with a blown HG, as they have experience 100% of failure rate, will surely recommend to replace it as PM.
FWIW, I own a 97' with 163K. Original HG. Rig with good-to-excellent maintenance record. Never had an overheating issue. I wouldn't hesitate jumping to a long trip
Cheers!