Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 08:19 pm, by: Suresh De Mel(Resh)
Hey guys. Very, very, very long time reader...first time poster
I know this seems a little bit selfish, and i wish there was another reason for this first post...but ive almost certainly done the old head gasket
Basically the story goes i was driving the car last week when it was almost 40deg down here, Im pretty sure this was the first time ive driven the car in really hot weather; had it for almost two years now. Anyway i was driving along the freeway (about 20mins driving at that point) and i could hear a slight bubbling noise coming the engine area (coolant i guessed). Slowed down and drove at about 80 for the next 5mins, the noise got worse and then on top of the bubbling i now was hearing a sizzling noise as well (At this point temp gauge was sitting right on half). Pulled over, opened the bonnet...coolant bubbling, engine frying, water squirting out from a pipe...thought to myself...CRAP.
Got it towed from there to a garage, they fixed the broken pipe and i took it for a drive, he mentioned that if it overheats then more than likely the heads gone. So i prayed that it was just the pump and the engine had survived, unfortunately it wasnt to be and it overheated to full after about 5mins.
So im pretty much screwed guys. I need your advice on the options i have. Have done plenty of searches on here and other sites but they are a bit limited and seem to not have an end conclusion as to what eventuated. I would love to do a straight 2jzgte swap however sourcing one for about 2 to 2.5 grand (which is what im budgeting - I can get labour cheap) is next to impossible. Which leads me to a 1jz swap. Ive read that this is probably the best option considering the parts needed for a rebuild.
Advice on what i can do considering my budget would be greatly appreciated.
Only good thing that can come out of this is the options i now have open for engine mods/conversions...maybe not the only thing, at least i got to say HI.
Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 09:49 pm, by: Suresh De Mel(Resh)
Thanks mate.
Yeah will be officially finding out tomorrow, but i forgot to mention the water its been churning through the last couple of days...all leading to bad news.
Peed off as it was running well leading up to it, no pre-indications at all.
Definitely going to changeover the basic parts while im at it, and if i go with the 1jz replacement i might add a few goodies while the engines out for an easier install.
Monday, February 26, 2007 - 06:27 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
I'd say its more likely to be another water leak, a failing water pump etc. How many 1JZ's has anyone ever actually heard of with a confirmed blown cylinder head gasket? I have to say I've read about a few "suspected" ones, not one of which has ever come back with a "yup, it was the gasket"
Don't panic yet Suresh, it may yet be something simple.
Monday, February 26, 2007 - 10:43 am, by: Suresh De Mel(Resh)
Hey fellas.
Matthew...yup, it was the gasket. Had it confirmed this morning
Water pump is fine and there was no other leakages. I just dont realise how it could have happened so quickly, there was no leakages before and the engine had never overheated. Ive driven in 30deg weather before, would the extra 5-10 deg in temp increase cause so much issues?
Could be fate, because i may, and its a big may, have access to a reasonably priced 2jz after all. I'll keep you guys posted as to what im going to do.
Monday, February 26, 2007 - 01:44 pm, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Bad luck Suresh! I guess I can answer "1" to my question then!
I'm sure you probably were, but make sure you use Toyota long life coolant in a 50/50 mix too - will help it to not overheat and if it does overheat its less likely to boil.
Tom Kneebone TryHard WA factory 5 spd TT : Auto TT
Monday, February 26, 2007 - 11:56 pm, by: Tom Kneebone(Tomk)
Matthew Sharpe wrote on Monday, February 26, 2007 - 01:44 pm:
Bad luck Suresh! I guess I can answer "1" to my question then!
Wife's was missing , did the plugs started missing again after a few minutes of driving, Hmmm ???
Just happened to check the coolant as she said it got hot ... bit oily WTF!! Pull the dipstick water in the oil also. Oil was clear but foam was on top.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 04:30 pm, by: Andrew Hargreaves(Andicap)
If you want a cheap alternative try chemiweld. Get it from repco or autopro and it is about $8. I used it once on a little nissan i had and it did the trick. kept it for 8 months after that and still had no problem.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 06:29 pm, by: Joel Moore(Ttsoai2ei2)
I think it sounds more like your thermo man or a leaking core or something. check the oil like the bloke above said. im not buying it but im not a mechanic either
Dan McColl Goo Roo Victoria Active V8 and a Factory Manual XF.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 08:20 pm, by: Sean Yost(Crazystitch)
could be your radiator having issues and not cooling properly. mine overheated when things got hot outside, same scenario except my sensors went off like a meat pack in the hot summer sun. get it cleaned and checked out too, could just be something simple. as matthew said the 1jz-gte blowing a head gasket is well, unheard of under "normal" driving even after overheating. good luck with sorting it out, hope you can get it back up and runnin
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 09:38 pm, by: Suresh De Mel(Resh)
Andrew Hargreaves wrote on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 04:30 pm:
Not sure if this was for me or Tom but there is no way i would go down that track. Might do the trick for a few days or weeks, but screw getting stuck in the middle of nowhere and having to get your car towed.
Also has anyone in Vic dealt with AVO in Cheltenham?
If anyones got a modified 1jzgte block or a standard 2jzgte block im all ears...maybe im being greedy??
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 09:54 pm, by: Bob Fulthorpe(Morphious)
Hi Suresh, I blew the my head gasket a couple of weeks ago, I agree with the guys change everything you can while engine is out. MY gasket blew because the thermostat jammed shut and I keep driving it (at a drift practice day)You can't teach an old dog new tricks!!!!!!!!!!! If you can get a engine under grand it is cheaper than doing the head gasket. I found a good one (no turbo etc for $500)
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and bugger! 
