What's with all the head gasket replacements?

[midfat]

You also forgot lead foot drivers that have installed massive extra amounts of rotational mass to all 4 corners. Tires larger than stock and heavier wheels. Not to mention the countless 150-200 lb front and rear tube bumpers, sliders etc.......Throw mileage & neglect on top of that and something has to give.

This. For the most part, we love these trucks because they are "affordable" and capable. We're enthusiasts. We love to install stuff and push our trucks hard. At 200k+ miles, we're asking a lot. I'd hypothesize that the majority of head gasket failures come on trucks that have been built.

 

[4G63 POWER]

Oh I forgot the refrigerators and shelving units lol.

 

[rc51kid]

I only replaceb mind as pm becouse it had worn valve stem seals and I also wanted to remove the egr which is easier when the head is off. Knowing that the HG is a better desight helped seal the deal.

 

[cahill]

I disagree with all this wishful thinking. The original ones fail at an alarming rate, especially 20 years on. They will fail. Not if, or even when, but they will fail. Since it can destroy the entire motor when it fails, it logically makes sense to do it before you need to. It's a big one time expense, but the updated gasket is basically 100%, and you should do it. Toyota recognized this problem and addressed it with an updated head gasket, years after they made the last 1FZ-FE. I would guess it makes sense to keep it nice and cool with periodic radiator replacements, but it will still fail.

If you think it won't, you are burying your head in the sand like an ostrich.

If your 80 never leaves the city, with available towing, sure, gamble on when it might fail, because it could be 10 more years. But if you venture out a bit, you should replace it as a matter of course.

This makes the most sense to me. All parts of a vehicle have a limited life span - some longer than others and some more critical than others. It seems like the HG is one of those components that can cause serious engine damage when it fails. 200,000 miles is a pretty impressive life span for a paper part, and at 200,000 miles if yours hasn't failed yet it makes sense to consider replacing it.

That being said, when replacing a HG on a 200,000 mile engine, is there anything else that needs to be done to the engine while the gasket is off? Is most of the warpage and cylinder damage from engines whose HG has failed or is it just usual for a 200,000 mile engine?

 

[Formulaonehd]

No one ever creates a post with the title "my head gasket is doing great" You generally only hear the negatives.

This is a very good point

 

[musthave]

No one ever creates a post with the title "my head gasket is doing great" You generally only hear the negatives.

Uh...
My head gasket is doing great

 

[LINUS]

Seeing as how back when the 1FZ was introduced the amount of HG popping was enough to merit a HG re-design, and IIRC seems Dan mentioned class action suit (not sure that came to fruition) - it's pretty clear a HG swap is more a "when", not an "if".

I'm 3/3 on 1FZ's wearing the update HG.

I'm with Drew on this, so for all those who do go outside cel coverage & tow service on an original HG, best of luck - I prefer to gamble on tables in Vegas, but to each their own.

 

[LouisianaRubicon]

Uh...
My head gasket is doing great

Lol. I see what you did there...

 

[MoustacheMike]

I thought I had a head gasket issue back in 2013 due to white exhaust smoke and rough engine performance, but it turned out to be something else which was much cheaper and simpler to fix.

After hitting 323,638 miles, the original head gasket in my LX450 still hadn't failed...
the rest of the engine is another story all together
(blown crank, 2 bearings, 1 rod, 1 piston, and 1 piston sleeve)

 

[tominboise]

T
That being said, when replacing a HG on a 200,000 mile engine, is there anything else that needs to be done to the engine while the gasket is off? Is most of the warpage and cylinder damage from engines whose HG has failed or is it just usual for a 200,000 mile engine?

I just did my head gasket. Rig has 163k on it and mine wasn't leaking, but I was going with forced induction so I wanted everything fresh. I had my head surfaced and rebuilt. They had to replace two valve and of course, ground all the valves, new seals, etc. Beyond that, since it's all apart it's easiest to replace all the belts and hoses. All the vacuum lines too. PHH and heater control valve should be serviced. Fuel filter and an injection service. Maybe service power steering while you can get at it. I replaced my alternator brushes but didn't really need to.

All the front end leak points on the engine should be addressed if you haven't done it already.

Since the top end overhaul, my oil pressure has recovered quite a bit at idle.

 

[cahill]

Thanks, I see this coming in the future but just don't have the time or money yet. Hoping the HG will hold until then.

 

[jamesg]

Can a few folks chime in on the average cost to replace the HG by a professional? I was also wondering what the "book" says on charged hours. My LX450 has 140,000 on the clock, so far, so good. My opinion; just the fact that Toyota updated the gasket says everything. For me this will be a PM with an updated head gasket I just don't know when to pull the trigger.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I had Robbie Antonson @powderpig do mine and he's in Boulder. Complete head rebuild, all new hoses/belts, waterpump,, some bushing press work and alternator brushes. I want to say it was about $3k, but he'd have to quote you. Well worth it. In the 4 years since, I haven't thought about my head gasket. Nice piece of mind.

Slee is also in the neighborhood.

At the time, I had more money than time, so it made sense to have someone else do it that I trusted. If I'd had plenty of time, I would have done it myself.

 

[mct75]

I'm scared for when my HG fails because I've never seen a guide for the 3FE....

 

[tominboise]

at 140k I wouldn't worry about it. At 200k I'd consider it. Life's a little short to obsess too much about this type of thing. Remember that there are a lot of rigs running around with 250k or more and are fine. Their owners just aren't mud members.

 

[LINUS]

Black 80 I did myself. Popped @ ~125K

40th was done @ Slee prior to my buying. It popped at 330K. My Slee receipt from Jan '14 was a total of $3270, it's got 30K on it now.

LX450 was done prior to me buying, all paperwork went with new owner.

Yeah, they can go at any time, I know the 40th was a hwy miles vehicle the 1st owner had it 'till ~275K, the 2nd owner was the guy who footed the bill. I'm the 3rd owner. The freeway driven ones seem like the mean run time to failure is far greater.

 

[Mighty690]

This makes the most sense to me. All parts of a vehicle have a limited life span - some longer than others and some more critical than others. It seems like the HG is one of those components that can cause serious engine damage when it fails. 200,000 miles is a pretty impressive life span for a paper part, and at 200,000 miles if yours hasn't failed yet it makes sense to consider replacing it.

That being said, when replacing a HG on a 200,000 mile engine, is there anything else that needs to be done to the engine while the gasket is off? Is most of the warpage and cylinder damage from engines whose HG has failed or is it just usual for a 200,000 mile engine?

See my thread for your answers. HG and While you're in there.