How to Check for a Bad Head Gasket on Toyota and Lexus Engines

[@nickkiriakos2186]

Seriously though, in terms of quality content and being a normal, decent human being, no one else on KZbin comes close. This channel is great, need to get him a mil subs.

[@patricksanders2498]

I enjoy his content but I think the Car Wizard, Chrisfix and Rainman Ray's are good, normal content creators also.

[@clairegazzillo6775]

@@patricksanders2498 dont forget about peter from toyota maintenance you tube channel also very good

[@davidgoliath982]

@@patricksanders2498 car wizard is a crook. charges out at what in reality is ~ $300 an hr. eric at south main auto and ivan at pine hollow diag. are way more fair.

[@davidgoliath982]

@@patricksanders2498 he is called the car wizard because he is great at making your $ disappear1 lol

[@patricksanders2498]

@@davidgoliath982 I've never dealt with him directly, just watch his channel is all. I never really see any pricing from him unless he's quoting to Hoovie.

[@michaeltaylor719]

I work as a mechanic. And I so enjoy listening to his videos. He is an excellent teacher

[@MPGunther1]

Being a mechanic in todays world certainly is a lot different then 30 to 40 years ago and you are truly a master at your craft

[@theodoredeleon6660]

This dude is so much better than scotty.

[@BlackopsSOG1]

scottys advice feels regurgitated and super annoying

[@scottykilmer3920]

😊😊

[@tomr9661]

Best automotive repair channel on KZbin. Straightforward, honest, easy to understand and no BS.

[@cobradwight1]

Im also a mechanic and Personally I would throw a used low mileage engine in it and call it a day . Yes other stuff can fail but I’ve seen Toyotas with 5,6,7 and 800k on the original engines and transmissions .from what I’ve seen that sequoia is mint and you can tell the owner took pride and care of their vehicle . I just bought a 2003 sequoia with 260k on it with blown head gaskets cheap for 1000 bucks . Gonna fix it myself and run it as long as she will go . Car care nut I do enjoy watching you and your honesty. Keep up the good work .

[@nathanricks5127]

After years of looking at many many mechanic videos, this is the absolute best video I have ever seen for explaining and reasoning on engine repair or replacement of a high mileage engine. Thank you for your professional courtesy!

[@rjcontruction1406]

had an f150 5.4l construction truck with 205,000 when the head gasket blew so badly that it would barely idle and blow white smoke like crazy. last stitch effort i used head gasket sealer( iron tight i think), it was headed to junkyard so what the heck. after 20 min white smoke disappeared and the leak was fixed. drove it hard for another 10k and then gave it to my father in-law. that truck is still on the road and just recently turned 300,000 miles. I know that's not what this channel is about but what the heck may be worth a shot.

[@automotivetv9861]

This trick would cut the income of this mechanic by a good 40%, this is why he did not mention it!!

[@mojo4376]

@@automotivetv9861 : You won’t find a more honest mechanic than this guy. FYI.

[@WOMPCRASH]

@@automotivetv9861I wouldn’t call it a trick it’s more of a bandaid that may or may not work and you have no clue of knowing

[@smaqdaddy]

I had a Subaru that blew one on one side, ran the sealer, drove it another 2 years. Blew the other side, added again and drove it another 2!

[@moose354]

Ahmed, only a true public servant would lay it all on the line with the customer and share the BIG picture with them. The bad news is always tough to deliver but you know how to spare the customer from turning their vehicle into a white elephant. Thanks for what you do for the Toyota community.

[@robertrusso1688]

Great to have a professional Toyota Mechanic like this giving advice. Hope and wish more are out there like him. Toyota's have been very good to me and I want to drive them 20 plus years, but yes sometimes just give it up and replace it. Anything after 250k is more then a domestic manufacturer can offer.

[@cbspock1701]

I wish I found this channel earlier. It would have come in handy before I had some work done on my 2008 RAV 4 v6

[@timothyconnecticut1910]

So spot on about the resurfacing of the heads or the block deck. These overhead cam engines need to have proper distance between cam and crank in order for timing to be correct. That was the beauty of old school push rod engines. You could resurface heads and not have this problem. But you could still run into increasing compression ratio. If I remember correctly, you could buy thicker head gaskets to prevent this. Great channel!

[@drwisdom1]

I really liked the discussion about what to do about the problem and why it is too risky to fix. Mr. Car Care Nut shows that vehicle repair decisions are as much about money and risk as they are technical.

[@Pennconst101]

18 year hvac service technician here. 1000% ALWAYS investigate!! Almost NEVER do major components spontaneously fail. Great technical skills here in these videos! Kudos!

[@elijahhacks6399]

A genuine, blessed, and knowledgeable mechanic. There is no comparison!

[@uwaisahamedimad556]

Man, you are unfolding mysteries..look I've been looking for an explanation on how to diagnose a bad head gasket and this explanation is extraordinary. thanks a lot..

[@kitchit123]

I've been working on my cars for many years now and I've never come across a better explanation on blown head gaskets. Thanks Car Care Nut! You should do a separate video on the Prius head gaskets.

[@kennedyzdad2]

My wife, daughter and I left July 1st on a 2,500 mile road trip that would end up in San Francisco. Made it to San Francisco on the 9th then left on the 11th. My 2012 Tundra, with 174, 000 miles ran hot about 40 miles north of San Francisco. The dealership diagnosed it at first as radiator then a few hours later it was a blown head gasket. A few days later they needed me to come in to show me something which resulted in them highly recommending an engine replacement. I bit the bullet and had them do it for a quote of $8,650 but ended up being an outrageous $10,900 (service writer couldn't stick to the quote) because I was stuck between a rock and a hard place with only half of my vacation completed and needing to get back home. We had to stay in San Francisco from July 9th - 23rd and weren't able to leave until it was fixed on the 23rd because the master Tech only worked Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Once they replaced the engine, we left and began our drive of 36 hours in 4 days to get back home on July 26th. My wife had to follow me in a rental car just in case something went wrong. If they would've had 2022 Tundra's on the lot, I would've left mine and drove back home with a new one. I'm still pissed about the whole ordeal and truly feel that I was taken advantage of (price) since I was desperate to get back home. Shipping cost were outrageous and I did think about flying home then coming back out to get it and drive back home but I would've had to by myself. It did drive fine on the way back 2,500 miles but I don't think I could ever trust it again to take on vacation. Although I basically blew my money and will only get it back by trading, I'm currently looking for a new truck but not sure if I want to keep my old one or trade it.

[@brucewayne2773]

Replaced both heads on my 02 V6 4Runner with 235k miles . Block test was good, no coolant in engine oil. No missfires, no coolant leaks anywhere. It overheated after 5 minutes of just running, clearly had bubbling in the entire radiator, low coolant gotta go somewhere , right? . It had coolant inside of cylinder #3, top of piston looked really clean compared to the other 5 , that was it.

[@JD_49]

Where did you have the heads replaced from? Purchase and DIY? I may have same issue, still need to investigate more. I only have very occasional random misfire code only on first start of the day and runs fine other than slight vibration on startup. Oil looks good, keeping an eye on coolant but no visual issues as of now. I'm at 230k miles myself. It's quite the DIY project

[@brucewayne2773]

@@JD_49 Replacing both heads was not an easy job but doable if you have all the tools. I got the heads from Ebay, located in Texas. Has a good reputation.

[@Zephyrdaze1819]

AMD will be inspecting the head gasket on my LS430 soon. This video answered all of my knucklehead questions on how he diagnoses the issue. What a wealth of info here. Thank you!

[@doddgarger6806]

Older uz series don't do it near as often as the ur and gr engines they were absolutely bulletproof

[@peterjones6131]

Great Video. I have a tip for people who cant afford to replace their headgasket or do an engine replacement right away. And don't want to take a chance on putting some product in to the system that could clog up your radiator etc. . Take two or 3 raw eggs scramble them and add a tablespoon or two of ground turmeric powder. Drain the water in you're system and replace with the factory recommended coolent mix. Take out the thermostat and chuck the mixture into your water system.Engine and water must be cold when you do this. Run the engine until it is hot and go for a long drive. Then bleed the system in the normal way and reassemble the thermostat . Depending on how bad the leak was it works most of the time like a charm. I have helped customers with this method many times. Some are riding around for over two years on this fix.Fixes leaking radiators and even cracked heads etc. Ultimately one will have to attend to it in the proper costly way , But hey you have nothing to loose. I never invented this but was told to do this on my old Mercedes by another old school mechanic when I had a problem.. Drove for 5 years like that. Fixed a V40 Volvo 2liter turbo the same way. Still going strong.

[@darylhill9400]

Ginger root!

[@jbaidoo2000]

I just like listening to this channel. I have been educated so much in the short time that I have been a subscriber. Keep up the good work and you will reap the benefits. I wish all mechanics were thorough and advisers like you. There is one good mechanic local to me that I found to be honest and therefore will have me as a customer for life. I had coolant leaking everywhere in my driveway and drove to the dealership to have it checked out. They quoted me $750+ excluding tax for water pump, and some other things I don’t even remember. Long story short, I didn’t pay that and rather went to this trusty mechanic for the first time because I had heard he was affordable. He raised my car on the lift and after about thirty minutes, he told me the dealership misdiagnosed my issue and that I didn’t need a water pump. He said all I needed to spend was $140 which was for the hose, labor, and coolant fill. It has been two years since and I haven’t had another issue with the leak. He is the only one I go to with all of my family’s cars these days and I have referred friends to him. Like I said, he will have me as a customer for life. Please continue to be honest and thorough.

[@jotu173]

Another excellent video from AMD! Especially loved the "spend 90% of your time diagnosing" part. In other words, "measure twice & cut once"... Kudos to you AMD!

[@chuckymurlo5654]

The cylinder cross-hatch pattern is clearly visible and looks very good with the scope with all those miles. I love your videos. I feel like you're my neighbor and you just happen to be a Toyota master tech and will help me fix anything on my car for free! My family has two ES350s a RX350 and soon a LS460. You make DIY fun and challenging

[@eleanormassaro5195]

Great choices in your cars! I have really enjoyed driving my RX 350 for the past almost 12 years! In fact, I’ve never owned a car that long!😁

[@Elaba_]

Can you give the time stamp where the pattern is visible?

[@kordapyo612]

@@Elaba_ 12:36, 16:04

[@craigbaggett3370]

When I was racing at Highland Rim …They were really serious about the rules… they would CC the block,heads etc. I milled the block and head and installed a shim to make up the difference of .040 … worked perfectly!😊

[@COMMANDERFOX31]

For 300K miles (482K KMs), I'd say this truck served its purpose quite well. Still, I hope these issues are fixed, and hopefully it goes for another ~100K miles and continues its legend. Great video man!

[@mikeschlup5279]

That is a million mile engine with good maintenance.

[@RD-xh9ss]

It served it purpose and it was in good condition too. Maybe possible motor swap?

[@onenikkione]

@@RD-xh9ss He lives and works in the "Rust Belt" with that many miles I doubt it was just driven in the summer so prolly rotted out with rust underneath

[@JakinThebox12]

​@@mikeschlup5279it won't last that long. It's a Toyota junk.

[@docf.n.t.2310]

You are the most straight forward KZbin mechanic I have ever seen ! I was watching because of an overheating problem on my 2014 Buick Encore (1.4 ltr) engine. You have opened my eyes about these "throw away " engines, and brought me to the realization that they are in basic "throw away " cars ! The prognoses is not good for my Buick, and I've already had several quotes for $4K to replace the engine. This car is an "All Wheel Drive" that has a history of single tire replacements due to road hazards. This leaves the drive train in a very questionable condition, due to unequal sized tires ! I may have to just "drive it till it dies" then junk it. Its not a good investment !

[@return.of.the.nac18]

You are a huge blessing to the automotive industry. May God bless you and Mrs. Car Care Nut!

[@dougiee6589]

Few things I loved about this video- the block tester the borehole, the hard conversation needed between mechanic and vehicle owner about repairing the elusive problem which already been rising since it started and break fixes tried here there everywhere LOL

[@davep2945]

Thank you for being so direct and honest about a brand you make your living with. Toyota makes a great car but ALL cars have issues. Toyota's do not magically run forever. And they do not run as long as they often do by accident. Like every other brand they require proper maintenance and sometimes you have to replace a part or two. Or three! Where people get themselves in trouble is assuming because a certain brand has a good reputation that they don't need to do their due diligence inspecting a used car or they can be slack with maintenance on a new or used model from that brand. Sure, folks who trade their cars in every 60,000 to 120,000 miles will tell you they never had a problem. But for those of us who like to get all we can from our cars we know that 100,000 miles is usually attainable without much if any trouble. It's the 150,000 to 200,000 mile range where things start popping up on properly maintained cars. And we have to stop pretending when talking about good high mileage used cars that just because the engine or transmission didn't blow that we haven't had to do anything or spend any money to keep our cars running. Also, as you so accurately and honestly pointed out, sometimes we reach a point where the repair cost combined with the age of additional associated components (the rest of the car) outweighs the benefit of the repair. Sometimes you just gotta' get a new ride. At least one new to you!

[@homesold]

You are the only one on KZbin that mentioned the fact that milling a head does change valve timing, and can hence negatively affect compression!!! I recently brought up a solution I found on some engine building forum to a local machinist, of “angle-milling” a warped head to compensate for this… and he didn’t seem enthused to go along with it. All I can say is based on one personal experience of rebuilding a 12-Valve Honda OHC head (not for overheating issue) many years ago, my compression numbers went from nearly the same ~180psi across all cylinders down to ~125psi following “milling and valve job” at machine shop…and for a well-maintained engine. *Never heard from anyone that any manufacturers advised against removing material from engine head/block that’s a common discussion amongst engine builders and “performance enthusiasts”. It seems to be a very difficult and expensive task to put an engine back to what it was from factory!

[@calmoceans6668]

I’m in the market for a used Toyota. I am blessed to have found this channel. A true class act. Thorough, respectful, and the flow of these videos is phenomenal. Much much better than Cliffs Notes…….Thank you Sir.

[@americanrealitytoday]

Bad time to look for a decent car, market is full of garbage.

[@georgetirebiter6437]

As a toolmaker you can save this and hand scrape the block and head to within 50 millionths if you go completely old school and use a surface plate and Prussian blue. It’s what they had to do before gaskets. If you’re successful, the engine block will float on a cushion of air on the surface plate as will the head. This is not likeclamping them in a Bridgeport and sending a flycutter across taking too much off and not getting true flatness. But take note: this is an art and it is a dying one. You either diy and learn something or find a toolmaker that will take your challenge.

[@johnstuchlik5828]

Took a aluminum head to a field machinist who resurface by hand.came back less than.001 warp and minimal removal of deck.where to find one now would be difficult

[@jimthumerzs6981]

That I'm sure there will be a lot of viewers of this video (myself included) being disappointed that engine "only" got to 300K, is a testament to the quality of Toyota engines. Another great diagnostic video from the Car Care Nut!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Agreed.

[@coloradoboo1071]

So true!! My first new sports car was a 1989 Z-24 (V-6) and even though I took care of her, she threw a rod at just 102,000 miles. My last GM car!!

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@coloradoboo1071 I gave up on GM when they told Toyota to stop building 'Pontiac' Vibes for them. 😉

[@2148aa]

@@coloradoboo1071 That was about average. Short blocking was more doable in those days.

[@donc6781]

@@coloradoboo1071 A Z24 wasn’t a sports car 😂

[@lavapix]

Bars Leaks. The last resort. 40 dollars more before letting it go. Great info on the testing. My 99 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 most likely has a cracked head. Fortunately for me most of the rest of the Jeep is solid so if Bars doesn't work a new engine is still cheaper than finding another old Cherokee in as good of condition. I really don't want any other type of vehicle. Might drive it on 5 cylinders until it doesn't.

[@rangerrick8220]

Just an interesting FYI... in Canada we have some cars which run off of gas AND propane. Mostly fleet vehicles but I did alot of commuting so I had one. The propane is converted from a liquid to a burnable gas using a heat exchanger unit that uses the rad fluid heat to turn it into a gas. Sometimes that unit fails and leaks propane into the rad fluid... which will cause bubbling out of the rad overflow tank, have high hydrocarbon readings come out of the rad neck, and mimick a head gasket leak. The combustible gas detector unit there will show a head gasket leak but in reality, its propane. Had two mechanics misdiagnose this error on my car and state to me that I needed a new engine... but alittle digging and not so! Caught it myself. I am sure in the US you won't see a propane powered car too often but in Canada and (moreso) Europe, its more common. Just an FYI for others that might watch your channel who live here in Canada or Europe. And may the Lord bless and keep you as well!

[@timothyconnecticut1910]

This block test must be a somewhat new type of test . I was a tech from early 80s to 2000 and have never heard of this test. I used to put an emissions sniffer in the opening of the radiator to detect exhaust gases in the coolant. Just had to take care not to get any coolant into the end of the sniffer. Love your channel and Toyota's too! You are clearly a very knowledgeable technician. Thank you for all the detailed info you provide.

[@westernapache1700]

I had the exact same block test kit and blue juice back in the 90's. It's been around.

[@DoctorDoctor2x]

I hope all mechanics are like you. God bless you.

[@gerardlaperriere2121]

I appreciate his way to demonstrate all different ways to do work on a car, he is very easy to follow!!!!

[@Switchh8]

What an amazing video! So simple yet so captivating, I wish this video was longer it felt so short with all the knowledge that was given. Especially love the ending where you preach EVERYONE to do their homework and due diligence. Appreciate the channel and your time! Honestly you should have your own show!

[@bohisaac9419]

Best teacher so far in mechanical engineering. I salute you

[@JoshuaJDarcy]

That was a very detailed and comprehensive video on very important subject matter. I have watched you from the beginning and I've seen how perfectly fluent in the rhythm of the videos and how much improvement you have made. You're a brilliant man and thank you for doing what you do.

[@gebbymaulansyah7781]

Saya berasal dari Indonesia, saya bangga dengan beliau. Mekanik profesional yang bijaksana dan luar biasa 🙏🏼☕🇲🇨

[@mitomr.twiceasnice4358]

I know head gasket issues were common back. In the day but now it seems to take over 300k miles. I guess the improvements have been good at TEQ.

[@user-tb7rn1il3q]

True, but this is an old design. Newer engines seem to keep getting better, some old timers may disagree. A new car now probably will get junked before the head gasket goes.

[@justhecuke]

@@user-tb7rn1il3q Because everything else breaks much sooner ;)

[@user-tb7rn1il3q]

@@justhecuke Everything else breaks later, but still before the engine. Alternators, mufflers, shocks used to go out every 50k miles. Now they last 300k miles.

[@justhecuke]

@@user-tb7rn1il3q I was being tongue-in-cheek, but if we want to take this seriously then we can say that the various electronics have a much shorter life than the mechanical bits. And since a lot of electrical parts are required for the well-running of an engine, they can bring down the machine much faster than expected. When everything is working correctly, then the machine will wear out much slower than something constructed decades ago due to manufacturing improvements. But we've taken that an designed such complex machines with so many single-points-of-failure that it's hard to make a modern car last very long without lots of replacement maintenance.

[@brandobee2264]

298k on my 98 GS300 and I think it’s going bad

[@natividadangulo]

👍 Used this video to confirm my Prius had blown the head gasket. Thanks!

[@user-ez7oe6gl9b]

One of the best mechanics on KZbin!

[@donjames5761]

i have a 93 saturn sc2 mechanic told me i had a blown head gasket i asked him how he tested he just said he had his ways. so after watching your video i went out an bought one of these block testers an i tested it my self. an nope no head gasket leak but i did have an exhaust leak on the manifold gasket dragging my power down. your video probably saved me thousands my saturn has 375k i bought it brand new back in 94

[@canyoncelosia718]

Love your content, thank you so much for making these! Would love to see content on Late 1980's and early 1990's toyota pickup's and 4 runners, Specifically 3vze and 22re engines. I know lots of us are trying to keep those trucks alive and could use your expertise!

[@Troy_Built]

I was glad my sister's mechanic had this same discussion with her and her husband. The price of a new transmission would be very close to the value of the vehicle and he recommended scrapping it. It was an Explorer and close to 190K and 15 years old. He even said if this was a Honda or Toyota it would be different.

[@LifeAfter53]

Great advice on giving up the car and move on! It makes more sense in the long run. I am a car lover and rather fixing it but you are so correct!

[@louis-philippegariepy9824]

So I saw your t-shirt and rushed to order one. Didn’t even look at the cost. Just so happy to support you and your channel. I have a ‘99 Tacoma, ‘22 Lexus IS350 F Sport and a ‘94 LandCruiser. How much do I appreciate your content? TONS!! Keep up the good work. Seriously, you’re the man!!

[@timferguson1526]

This was a great video. I know the basics of mechanics and physics. I never looked at it this way however, the economics of whether it makes sense to fix something, considering all the factors. Also, the more advanced cars get, the more I appreciate the old technologies, like a fuel system that consists of a $20 mechanical pump and rubber lines that lasts 25 years and can be rebuilt cheaply and quickly beside the road without even jacking up the car! Progress? Yes, until it breaks! Thanks for the great insights and God Bless You too!

[@2hambonemcgee]

I really wish I lived closer to this mechanic! I just bought a beautifully maintained 2000 es300 and I want to keep it pristine!

[@chuckhursch5374]

A blown head gasket at 249,000 is how we lost our very reliable 2013 Prius last July. It started juddering and rattling on acceleration while doing a Lyft ride in SF. I had it towed back to Elk Grove Toyota (in the Sac area) where we had had it maintained for the five years that we have lived here. They scoped the engine and found coolant in cylinder #2, and the exhaust smelled of coolant. One thing I don’t understand is why it took so long for the check engine light to come on - it didn’t come on till it was at the dealer’s. When I checked things with OBDII/TorquePro in SF, nothing appeared abnormal (engine temp was normal for instance). So it’s mysterious to me as to what caused it (age/miles, electric water pump intermittent failure, etc?). The dealer wanted $4500 to replace the head gasket. I didn’t want to invest anything like that in a gas engine. I sold the car for $3000 - sad to see the car go 😢. But we now have a 2018 Prius Prime with about 29K miles, and I do consider it a better car (for many of the reasons you have cited in your other videos). The only negative is the less storage and seating, but I am living with that. I hope it is as reliable as our 2013…

[@EfficientRVer]

I think you did the right thing. I have a 2005 Prius with 230K that's still fine, I got it 8 years ago with 151K. I also bought a 2017 Prius Prime new 4-1/2 years ago. With 101K on it now, it's had no problems other than the high beam dimmer button getting stuck on automatic. Seems to be a totally bulletproof car. I love it, and prefer putting oversized tires on it for additional ground clearance. I do advise spending a couple of hours removing the wipers and plastic under them, to mouse proof the air inlet and another opening,, on the passenger side leading to the cabin air filter. And another couple hours bending up the side trim panels under the liftback to mouse proof the cabin/battery air outlets behind them. I used stainless fish-grilling mesh, hand shaped into odd 5-sided boxes attached with duct tape, but will redo the attachment with JB Weld or epoxy dough. I plan to add "mouse cams" to see if they're still making the attempt. They never made it past my cabin air filter. They made it briefly into the liftback area of a daughter's 2021 Prime, but have not made it back in since our mouse proofing. I should make dies to stamp out the right shapes and sell mouseproofing kits, or generate a 3D printer design for dies/forms, but I'm not making any promises.

[@vw5056]

$4500 for a head gasket job? That's robbery. Did you consider looking for an independent shop?

[@maskerade81]

Thanks for this. I bought a 2005 Toyota Sequoia from a small town dealership and from the outside even with the pre-inspection buy, the rig looked good, but it wasn't until a month and a half later did I discover there was this potential issue now. I traded my 2012 FJ with less miles than the Sequoia and had no mechanical problems, I just wanted to off load the monthly payments to help my family out. Now, it seems like I am going to be out of a second car, and out of $9,500.00 from buying the Sequoia. Thanks for explaining how a blown head gasket works and the risks of trying to fix it or replace the engine.

[@smokynagata88]

That’s insane mileage! Thanks for the diagnostic and repair video!

[@ajmedeiros77]

Not for a properly maintained Toyota

[@Isthatyoudermot]

Same thing with my Pilot. Leaked into cylinder while engine was off. Then rough start and misfire occasionally. Headgasket was toust. Easy DIY job though.

[@raycollington4310]

Loved this video, very educational. Wouldn't need much more of a leak to risk hydraulic lock if the vehicle was left unused for a while.

[@alexanderrichards7465]

17:24 I’ve had a 1995 Toyota Camry LE with the 4 cylinder for about a little over a year now. When I got the car it had both a bad valve cover gasket and head gasket and something else leaking over by the timing belt. Haven’t tried to fix it or anything since it’s my daily work commuter. It still runs perfectly fine despite having to fill up on oil about a quart of oil every month and a coolant flush every 3-4 months. Ive even gone a few months without topping oil and it ran fine. Also in high school I had a 01 Echo. I loved it but hated it at the same time. I ran it dry on oil for close to a month in hopes of blowing the engine so my parents would co-sign for a car for me. It never blew no matter how hard i tried. Toyotas are tanks.

[@Anonymous-hy8oz]

Another great video, you see his experience evident through out the video, not everything can be learned from a repair manual.

[@CoolArrrow]

I have a 91’ Mazda B2600 5 speed manual, my dad and I put a new clutch at 268,439 miles In may of 2011 (I wrote it down in the manual that’s how I remember) and we installed a used low mileage engine at 398,005 miles in 2020. It takes care of us so we take really good care of it.

[@hatsunemikufan4]

After having this vehicle diagnosed by a tech like yourself I would take your advice and cut my loss. I would however try one last ditch effort and that would be to try blue devil head gasket sealant (follow directions to a tee). If I can get more time driving it while I shop around I can't see the harm in it.

[@victorgonzalez-ow2ro]

I am about to try this on a crv with 308000 miles

[@jessewynne8193]

I’ve had a temp gadge creep up while idling and go back down to normal when driving. And get worse over time. After replacing the thermostat it stopped. I’ve also had another car that when it had coolant it would boil in the reservoir And the heat would be blasting hot. Eventually the thermostat would stay at Hot and pour steam out the tailpipe And milky oil. This video was awesome learning information Much appreciated from multi Toyota owner family.

[@wilmarbarrick3194]

12:30 nice shot. 📷 Rarely get a good look like that without disassembly.

[@I-sed-no]

The quality of this channel is hard to beat. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@aaronmorgan2476]

I have heat..... no overheating..... engine running strong.... towing every other day. 330k miles 06 sequoia

[@NWanglerzCHOICE]

This dude gives out sooo much beneficial information for us DIY guys!!

[@colchronic]

A lot of times head gaskets can be purchased with different thickness amounts so that way you don't throw off the timing or your compression ratio

[@dscinaz]

I understand how the compression ratio can be changed by fooling with the heads or block, but I don't see how the timing is affected.

[@colchronic]

@@dscinaz the shorter the head the more slack in the chain

[@DeCSSData]

@@colchronic That should be covered by the tensioner or suouldn't it?

[@colchronic]

@@DeCSSData not if the head is physically shorter than spec. The amount of chainlings between the crank and the camshaft is shortened Humble mechanic has a video explaining it with a special chain on his r32 turbo engine

[@DeCSSData]

@@colchronic That seems not plausible to me at all. A chain is just like a rod with a lot of linkages or a curved rod... If the chain is under correct tension - which it would be even with 2mm machined out of head and block - it is just all about the correct initial setup. After that a moved link on the crankshaft will cause the same forseen amount of movement on the camshaft. A difference will only be possible if the chain has too much slack so that an impulse from the crankside will be diffused and or delayed on its way up to the camside. With a correct manual tension or with an auto-tensioner this can not happen. Of course you will get timing-problems because of the clear loss of displacement.

[@mariotovar6197]

Cut your losses and move on, so true! Aluminum blocks bad move.

[@megahurts2]

Now that is a handy kit! Something I found pretty cool, and maybe you don't work on trucks where you have to crawl in there often, but my dad has this latter thing on wheels that's basically a creeper in the air. As it overhangs the engine (as you can adjust the height) you can just lay on top of it and working away is pretty easy for situations like that Sequoia. It does take up room however so....that would be the downside.

[@megahurts2]

Dang, that was very helpful. I very much appreciate the train of thought you shared as that educates other DIY mechanics or actual professionals either way. Also a great example of work smarter, not harder, as those tools proved to be quite handy.

[@joeyelda5775]

I have always enjoyed your videos I have been a refer/appliance repair man for over 40 years. (Sub Zero, Wolf, Speed Queen, and Whirlpool) I really appreciated your thought that there is a time to let go. Same with appliances; don't do major repairs after 10 years. Usually it is not cost effective and customers usually with appreciate your insight. By the way my service trucks for over 40 years have been Toyota from Wills Toyota in Twin Falls, Idaho; a great dealer and exceptional service.

[@JuanMorales-xl9xy]

Very helpful video and thanks to this gentleman for his time and honesty

[@abbate2137]

Bro if everyone explained things as well and as thorough as you do I would be a genius. Great content sir!

[@joelmora2826]

I bought a Tacoma with a bad engine at 344k . I took the gamble and replaced the engine and some suspension stuff. I also replaced every fluid ... I spent 3.5k on it in total . In todays market seems ok lol. I'm 2k miles in wish me luck 😂😂😂

[@oceanzhu1002]

You'll be fine haha! At least another 100k miles!

[@sergejpanov5543]

Man, you need to write a book! A true professional!

[@anthonymaster6160]

Thank you very much for another very informative video. You are the BEST mechanic with highest work ethics. I really appreciate your honest advices. I have a 2004 Lexus LS 430. I always keep up to date all scheduled maintenances. It currently has about 225,000 miles. The car still looks like new (both interior and exterior in excellent condition,) Mechanically, the engine runs super smooth and extremely quiet. Had changed timing twice, and also changed with new starter, alternator, spark plugs, all belts and hoses, and other moving components like pulleys and few others. Recently I replaced it with new radiator, new AC condenser, along with new valve cover gaskets, spark plug gaskets and new washers for (valve cover) bolts. I also just put in a new transmission. All scheduled maintenance and work were done by my local Lexus dealership. Only OEM parts were used. After watching this video, I would like to ask you, given the current mileage on my car, when should I have the head gasket be replaced as a preventive maintenance item? I love this car, the way it drives and its superb comfort. I use this car for many long distance road trips. By the way, I also recently replaced the engine mounts too (as the old one cracked). I change oil every 5K miles, and all other fluids (brake, power steering, coolants, transmission) timely when they are due, along with engine & cabin filters. Your advices are always greatly appreciated. Thank you again.

[@repairvehicle]

Head gasket don't get replaced as preventive maintenance. Replace water pump and thermostat as preventive maintenance to prevent engine from overheating and causing head gasket to fail

[@anthonymaster6160]

@@repairvehicle Thank you very much for the great information. I really appreciated. I forgot to mention in my original question above. Yes, I also changed the water pump and thermostat at each of the two times I had timing belt changed. Thank you again. Now knowing this, it gives me a peace of mind.

[@christophervanzetta]

Very well maintained yet needed a new transmission 🤔

[@repairvehicle]

@@christophervanzetta new transmission because it was not maintained.

[@TheCarCareNut]

Hi! I wouldn’t replace the head gasket as a preventative measure honestly. You’ve done a great job preserving this car I don’t think you’ll have any issues with the head gasket any time soon

[@quaddad]

Thanks for the advice. I have an E150 with a blown head gasket at 200,000 miles. Love the vehicle as it hauls more than any pickup truck and everything is secure and out of the weather, but it's time to cut the losses.

[@abbasa7860]

What about head gasket sealer? Isn't that worth a shot at this point? I think if a good quality product is used and the vehicle isn't driven aggressively I think this could work. Some people swear by some of the sealers out there, its worth a shot.

[@2enthusiast4]

It worked on my 2012 ct200h @ 125k miles. Cleaned the entire egr cooler, valve, and intake ports which actually increased drivability and mpgs but did not stop the misfire. Found out Cyl#2 would be wet after checking under the borescope. I used half the bottle of Bar’s leaks head gasket fix into the expansion tank. Worked the first time with 15-20 mins of following the directions. Just did a Partial Coolant flush at 168k miles and still zero misfires in morning. I’ve heard the stuff could gunk up the water pump but so far so good. This car sees 4-6 hrs of freeway driving regularly to LA-LV-SLC and has been a champ.

[@fleetwin1]

Very interesting and informative indeed. You are so right about spending time investigating before just ripping things apart. I think the symptom or running like crap when cold makes sense, because it has had all night to leak coolant into the problem cylinder like you say. Once the excess coolant burns off, the engine runs OK. Great advice, you must spend time with the customer, and explain that a new/rebuilt/used engine will not be the last of big repairs. You can't blame the customer for being upset about having to replace another major assembly not too long after replacing the engine. There are some who will hit you with the dreaded defense: "it ran great until after your worked on it, you must have done something to damage the transmission". Finally, like you said, we will never know the actual history of just might have happened to this car that damaged the head gaskets/block, customers will never tell you that stuff.

[@metrork1]

My question is do they make head gaskets in varying thickness to take up that which is milled off the head for flatness? If so then there would not be a timing issue?

[@robertojesushernandez1303]

Never heard of it

[@CountryFarmBoyUSA]

AMD, you are ROCKING with your content, er I mean Mrs Car Care Nut is. 8-) Your topics are always spot on. As a 1ZZ and 2ZZ engine owner with 274,000 and 264,000 1ZZ and 200,000 on my 2ZZ all Pontiac 2003 - 2004 Vibes/Matrix, these cars last forever. Many of us do our own repairs and there have to be millions of these engines out there still running. Maybe a few videos on these engines as we like to repair them and I think that's why your channel took off, lots of relevant info. I'm still learning these engines but want to understand the VVT control, how to replace a timing chain tensioner, and common known issues to look for. I know many people buy a Toyota for their reliability and keep them for many years and that's what makes this channel so valuable! You are spoiling us with the amount of videos you have made during the last week. Hello Mrs Car Care Nut! 8-)

[@jamram9924]

The 4.7 liter Toyota engine has reached 1,000,000 miles to where Toyota has purchased back these Tundras back from their owners. This Sequoia appears to be in great shape. Perhaps a remanufactured engine or if available a crate engine from Toyota (not Jasper) would give this owner that additional time with this vehicle.

[@drwisdom1]

Mr. Car Care Nut didn't mention it, but it was understood by all of us. You really don't want to risk repairing this Sequoia because even if nothing else ever breaks, it will still cost over $25k to drive 100,000 miles at today's gas prices, which aren't going to be declining. If the owner did go from 300k to 1 million miles that would cost over $175k in gas. Like our 94 Land Cruiser, Sequioas and Tundras are great vehicles to buy used because they are so dependable and capable. But they are supplemental vehicles that you use when you need them or for recreation. You just can't drive them around anymore using them like they were fuel efficient vehicles racking up a lot of miles.

[@repairvehicle]

@drwisdom1 , or it will cost $500k buying something else every 100k miles due fuel efficiency

[@ChrisB-cx6td]

😂 already needs an engine

[@user-tb7rn1il3q]

@@drwisdom1 If you have a good income the gas prices are no problem.

[@yt-user03561]

Every time I've seen an older gen Toyota Truck and SUV for sale they all have well over 200,000 miles. Especially 4Runners. And even with that they are still up there in price. Just crazy the longlasting quality and value that are in these particular models.

[@RD-xh9ss]

Man I learned a lot this video. Appreciate your detail with the scope and explanation. I don't even have a Sequoia 😄

[@harleymayo5827]

Man I best video I’ve watched in a head gasket diag. Very informative and hands on and very professional. Thank you very much. I have a 2010 camry 2.5 that has low compression on cylinder’s 2&3 with misfiring only 140,000 miles on this video helped me gain confidence in doing the head gasket and not having the engine totally rebuilt

[@bobsides59]

Another fantastic video AMD. Thank you for the education and the reminder to do as much investigation as possible before ripping into it Lie you I have "discovered things" that did not appear when we first looked into it. Good point about the transmission going out after the engine. Is it likely? Who knows yet at 300,000 they have gotten their money's worth out of that product.

[@TheCarCareNut]

If this was a one owner car that we know what the maintenance history on the trans then it’s a different story but it’s not

[@donswier]

AMD's candid insight counts so much👍 If you run your household fleet as if it were a business, you face tough decisions about cutting your losses & moving on. 5 years ago I heard a tech say "it never makes sense to replace a broken car". If that bromide was true, then show me how cheap it is to drive a Model A 20,000 miles a year, decade after decade. ....Maybe if we were al techs, had access to a fleet of cars, and were never expected to be prompt, we could survive on old cars with obsolete parts and high maintenance. Most of us, even my skilled mechanic friend, value their time and reliability over pouring more energy into a pile.

[@juhdah2146]

Agreed! At 300K miles, the vehicle served its purpose. Use the cost of fixing this vehicle for a new down payment.

[@ceetwyce335]

I needed this video bout a year ago when I was having the same issues with my 2004 Camry (2az-fe). I did, however, managed to use a block sealer to solve the issue, and its been running fine ever since. I know mechanics like you scoff at using such and you didn't mention it in the video, but it did worked for me.

[@automotivetv9861]

you're right, those mechanics are never too honest.

[@steves7973]

When diagnosing a fault, never assume anything. It's a bit like being a detective, Columbo would have made a great mechanic ! Great video, first time I've seen a leaking head gasket from inside the cylinder.

[@abdul-kabiralegbe5660]

Indeed, diagnosing is detective work.

[@qcsupport2594]

As a gen3 Prius owner I totally appreciate this video! (Also the one on this channel called "Toyota EGR Diagnosis Tips and Repair Tips" is a must watch for gen3 Prius owners - it shows how to prove whether your rattle is caused by EGR.) Crazy question: if my startup rattle is rare, could I use the coolant pressurizer to prove that it's leaking *without* using the borescope? Just pump it up, give it time to leak, then start the car and if it rattles it's leaking? Or would that only work for whatever pistons are sitting below the HG seam? I'm trying to see if maybe there's a shortcut that saves me from pulling the cowl and sparkplugs.

[@sbalicanta]

Wow! Thank you so much for the detailed information and helpful advice. Hoping to see more of these issues.

[@boatman222345]

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Great tips on how to diagnose a bad head gasket and great advice on when to know to fold your cards and move on!

[@JaySingh-ys9ej]

Thank you for your very insightful videos! You mentioned the 10-11 Prius, but does the Camry Hybrid fall in that category since afaik it uses the same drivetrain? 2010 Camry Hybrid Ive had rough engine starts here and there in the winter for years where it does exactly as you say. Sounds very very rough but goes away and runs fine. Noticed it around 80k miles and noted it to our toyota dealership who said its due to weather. At a little over 100,000 miles over now and it very rarely does do that now but at idle engine makes a popping sound. Is that a bad head gasket (or going bad) or a bad engine manifold? It runs great and just recently put some suspension work in but I rather be proactive if this is a cause for concern.

[@TheCarCareNut]

Hi! On the Camry engines no they don’t have known chronic head gasket issues. Is it burning oil though?

[@keepinitreal545]

Most definitely the real deal dude to show a blown head gasket up close and how that lil amount of coolant can harm the vehicle and you be upfront and give the good side and the bad new subscriber

[@williamfenwick3867]

A clean used sequoia with 150k miles in my city will still sell for 15 to 20 grand. If I could get a used engine installed for 5 or 6 thousand I would do it.

[@doddgarger6806]

Cheaper around here 3 to 4k with warranty

[@kvcl123]

a mechanic with knowledge, skills and conscience.

[@jimharris9877]

Excellent video! To the point, accurate, and informative - keep them coming!

[@fordresurrectionest9556]

I have a 2003 Dodge Durango 4.7l with 225k miles. I had a blown head gasket. I used some Bar's Block sealer. So fad so good.👍

[@wilmarbarrick3194]

292K in 9 years?!?! DANG...that owner must live in that thing. Circumference of the Earth is only ~24K at the equator.

[@MrSamolet76]

Yeah why not 30k a year. Im driving about 28k a year on my Tundra

[@Monroe1516]

I Thanks so much for youre excellent viedos AMD. By the way I am a X old school- mechanic from the 60s, & Im the owner of a 2006 4runner, I bought off the show room floor & now has with 160.000miles. Been changing fluids on all things every 30,000 miles and oil change every 3,000 miles by since 2006. Have not missed a change by marking the upright oil filter. I usually soak the oil filter with just a small amount oil and let it soak in to the fiber filters before installing and starting up the engine. Best vechicle I have ever owned. Continure your good advice and blessing to you and yours..