Pay for head gasket or replace engine

2005 Tacoma with blown head gasket. 150K miles. First sign was overheating so I checked coolant, which was low, and "fixed " by adding coolant. Same overheat issue 3 months later. Same "fix' applied. Mechanics diagnosed head gasket after magic water test. Compression test was good with all 6 holding pressure at 180-190.
Now noticing coolant filling and almost spilling out of coolant reservoir, plus coagulated coolant under radiator cap.

Quotes for head gasket fix ranging from $1900-3000.
Engine replacement has been suggested given cost of head gasket fix.
Any advice or experience with solving this issue.

No white smoke out of tailpipe, no condesation out of tail pipe, not overheating, no coolant smell.

 

Pretty sure you can pick up a low mile used engine for the same

 

Tough break. Something I think about with my 2005 all the time.
If the engine and truck are in good shape, new head gaskets could get you 50K miles or more. Used engine is an unknown commodity, but if your engine is no better, it may be the way to go. There are other factors as well.

 

Thought there was a recall for 2005-06 headgasket?

 

True to some extent. Although a used lower mile motor will have a warranty.

 

If there is I'd like to see it. I'm getting more worried about my '05.

 

This the 1Gr-Fe right?

 

Head gasket. Not worth taking a gamble on a junkyard or rebuilt motor. Don’t trust them

 

Replace the head gaskets. Have them Check the heads, replace the valve stem seals, if the valves look good just have them lap them in and make sure the don’t leak down. Then drive it another 200k. Compression is good so you know there is no piston ring issues.

 

engine cost plus labor to install probably more expensive no?

 

i just encountered the same problem. thought about buying a new car,.... i REBUILT my engine with all new gaskets, seals, piston rings etc.. i rebuilt vs. re=manufactured because i wanted to choose particular components be be in the engine. After checking things out,,,, you could use a Head Gasket sealer.. ( the more exspensive ones).. It works,, buys you time,, ,saves you some money,,, gets you back on the road... just not a long term fix.. you have to apply it precisly,, adding a little bit over a period of time. you also must cleanse the cooling system of coolant... use water for a bit...then go fourth.

 

How long you keeping the truck?

Barr's head gasket sealer will buy you a year if introduced properly. But, your condemming the engine. I've seen a 2005 get sealed with Barr's and last a year, then seepage started again, 3 more cans of Barr's used, it lasted 6 more months, then completely failed.

You can pay someone to replace the head gasket and cross your fingers that they understand the issues with the pre November 2005 1GR-FE.

You can change the head gasket yourself... Should be able to do it for under $1,000 and about 20 hrs work.

You spend $3500++++ and can trust a shop to pick a random unknown engine and pop it in.

You can take your time and find a good engine and possibly be able to upgrade. I came across a guy who pulled the drivetrain out of a J-VIN 2009 FJ with 80,000 miles on it to put in a V8 and make a buggy. Bought it all, only paid $2,000 for the engine. Popped it in my truck, good to go!

So that's pretty much your options, the big questions I guess would be.... How long are you keeping the truck? ... Do you have a shop to do the work yourself? ...

 

Fix the headgasket if you like the truck.

 

What are they?

 

The head gasket were the main issue. Toyota revised them late 2005 I believe.

The problem is, if the engine was allowed to over heat and allowed the head(s) to warp. You then get into more expense.
Not to mention that the 1Gr doesn't tolerate milling of the head very well. It can cause timing issues. You could have a custom head gasket made to correct for the milled head.
This is where you need a competent engine builder and machinist.

 

I had the head gasket problem in my 2005 around 137,000 miles. I had a local shop fix the problem and do a few other things when they were in there. I now have 210,000 miles and still going.

 

If your engine is in good shape ide just go with a new head gasket. Once that's done its pretty much bullet proof.

 

It's interesting to me how commonly head gaskets need revision. Seems like it should be far less problematic than it is on so many engines. I mean, sure, if you over heat it that's one thing, but it does make me wonder how in a century of evolution of the internal combustion engine, this problem persists...

 

If your engine is in otherwise good shape, I'd do the head gasket. An unknown engine could be okay but you never know.At least you know how you treated your engine.

 

Actually think about like this. At the Texas plant they roll off approximately 1500 truck a day at max capacity. The heads are torqued down by a machine. If the machine calibration goes off and they don’t catch it for a month, you have 45k thousand trucks with head gaskets that aren’t sealed correctly but it could take 60k miles for that to show itself then it becomes a recall or warranty tsb.