1999 Toyota Tacoma V6 4wd Owner 20 years with 315K needing advice

Hi All,
I'm Jamie, owner of a beloved 1999 v6 4wd Toyota Tacoma truck. I need to make a decision on repairs. The Check engine light revealed misfire on cylinder #3. Compression test found 150psi while adjusted cylinders are 180psi. Cylinder leak test showed excessive leakage of 40psi to exhaust valve. If I had less miles they would suggest valve replacement. Due to mileage they suggest engine replacement. I've gotten quotes for valve job for 1.5k to 2.5k. A local toyota focused garage said they'd build me an engine & install for 3.5k. My regular garage found a toyota engine with 100k on it and they'd install for 3.9k. All other engine installation quotes have been between 4-5.5k.

One mechanic warned me if I just do the valve job, they would nickel & dime me for all the stuff found once the engine is opened up. A brand new engine is out of the question for me if I go the route of engine replacement (so choices would be the used one, or built one out of used parts).

Given Toyota's longevity reputation, would you just do the valve job and hope for the best? I'm open for other suggestions as well. It would be an easier decision if I was not un-employed (affected by shelter in place order).

 

If you are mechanically inclined you should grab a jdm motor off of craigslist for 1200 bucks and install it.

 

Hard decision OP, particularly if you're off work. I recently had my 99 MT v6 4x4 totaled by the insurance company (had an automatic gate slide down the passenger's side and they decided the body work was more than the truck at 362K was worth). Prior to that, I dropped a new engine in at about 275. There were a lot of mechanical things that went wrong the last 5 years or so.

I'm now in a 2016. I still miss the 99 as I'd driven it for 20 years, but I'm adjusting. I looked for replacement 1st Gens, and everything I saw in SoCal was junk, so on to a used latest and greatest. I'm looking on getting this one to 400K; the 89 I had before the 99 I got to 250K.

 

Thanks for the input all. @GC7227 I have no idea why this happened. I bought property 10 years ago and engage my 4wd more than ever (source of multiple boot replacements - even now, those need to be replaced). That is the only real difference I can tell from the first 10 years of ownership. I was hoping to get to 400k at least.

 

A wrecking yard motor should be warranted for 30 days and they could probably install it for not too much dough, I would think

 

I bought a 135k mi motor from a rolled 02 and got to see and hear it run. For $500 they pulled it and put it in the bed of my truck.

They said they'd install it for $600 and have it done that day if I'd liked. If I wasn't broke at the time I would have taken them up on that, I think

 

Tough decision... how many miles a week are put on her and is she your only vehicle. You did not mention if time or money are mission critical "issues". The body of the truck looks fantastic so I assume that the interior is just as good. I am leaning towards a valve job with one consideration... how does the transmission work? I am assuming an automatic here. If you do do the valve job and something else happens, it is a Tacoma. It is worth a bit of money even broke.

 

Its a tough call. You might call around to some more shops, maybe even one that specializes in toyotas. I'm in the middle of a valve job on my truck, and the valve job for my one head (its a 4 cylinder) came out to $427 for one burnt exhaust valve. The kit of gaskets for the job was ~$230 for the OEM stuff, and then I've probably got $100-200 in other random stuff that goes into it. I'm DIYing it, and its keeping me sane through all this, so its worth it

The engine swap isn't a bad idea, but it seems like the quotes you got for those engine swaps seem pretty high to me.

 

Nice truck definitely worth fixing, agree with above tough call on engine replacement, fixing just the affected head is rolling the dice, my luck would be six months later an exhaust valve on the other head would go bad so if Your going to do one better off doing both. You show a lot of estimates in your post so assuming Your not going to do the work yourself so head replacement or rebuild will almost equal engine swap. As some above have mentioned above JDM is a good option and at their central locations they do installs as well should keep the price in the $2000 to $2500 range. Also didn't notice or missed your location, posting that will help, TW members in Your area know where the honey holes are for parts and reputable garages.
Another contributing factor is past maintenance, where You changing the engine coolant very 2 or 3 years? or was it more like 5 or 6 ? if its the latter replace the engine, could have corrosion issues on block at head gasket area.....have seen this on a V6 4runner, simple head replacement turned into trashed block (corrosion) from poor maintenance.
Good luck

 

I wouldn't recommend doing a valve job with that amount of mileage without 'refreshing' your lower end as well.

I'd have the 100K mile engine (typically, hardly broke in) installed if it checks out Ok with your mechanic. Salvage yards often give pretty good warranties on used engines.
Some even offer a 'life-time warranty' option at a reasonable extra charge.

 

If that is the only problem with the truck (frame okay, wasn't burning oil, no oil in the radiator/white exhaust smoke, etc), my vote is the valve job. If you get another 100,000 out of it, at $2500 (worst case you quoted), that cost you <$0.03/mile.

The only other option I like here is if there is a salvage yard local to you that will swap an engine in for you. I know the one nearest me will provide an engine and swap if for $16-1800. 30 day guarantee.

 

Replace with a low mileage engine, you'll be better off in the long run

 

Thanks for all your input. I was all ready to do the engine replacement. I took it to a 3rd technician and he diagnosed an issue with the injectors. I went with an injector/coil replacement. I just got it back today and am so happy! He thinks I should get my money back from the other auto-repair places for false diagnosis.

 

If not burning oil now, he more than likely will be after doing a valve job and leaving a 315,000 mile lower end un-touched.

 

youve gotten Ur $$$$$ out o this 1. ........

if Uve not had any previous big ticket repairs
its good that U be realistic about the future

how l o n g will it last past ANY near term repairs or what future bites on the butt U might face

driving it ' As Is ' is an option
the numbers arent that bad on the leak down

a valve job under $2k is reasonable
until the next repair

how many more miles left
how many more repairs
how many more months/years

$$$$$$ U will spend or might spend = a down payment

 

Jdm is Avery good option.
Have bought and installed in 4 vehicles, two gen 1 tacos a honda and Nissan. All are very good eng.

 

Glad you had a more easily solved problem. Now you have time to look for a low mile long block to put in your garage for when you need it

 

What exactly in the lower end needs to be touched

 

Did the 3rd technician do a repeat leak down? Injector/coil replacement won't fix the low compression attributed to a valve problem. So, either you still have low compression or the first shop just made it up. Repeating the leak down at a different shop might give you the answer...