Mom's 93 Camry V6 Blown Head Gaskets TWICE!

[miklo1968]

My mom owns a 93 Toyota Camry with the 3.0 V6. The car has around 106,000 miles on the clock and the head gaskets have failed twice. The first time occurred back in 2004 at around 64,000 miles. The second failure occurred last Monday with 106,000. Is this common for older Toyota V6's?

The first repair was done by a local Toyota dealership, took 17 days and cost $3,300.00 (US). The 2nd repair was done by her well trusted long-time mechanic for $1,100.00 and took 4 days.

I thought these vehicles were supposed to be well built vehicles that were as reliable as the sunrise and could be drived for over 400.000 miles with proper care and maintenance? She doesn't neglect the car or abuse it in any way and with such low mileage for an 18 year old car she thought the car was just getting "broke in".

[fenixus]

was the car ever overheated before blowing the HG either time?

[miklo1968]

1st time no overheat or any indication anything was wrong. Took the car to Toyota dealer for free oil change and they discovered the head gasket problem. 2nd time Mom drove the car around town on Sunday afternoon no indication of any problems came out to car several hours later to find huge puddle under the car. The Camry just had the 120k service done 2 weeks ago due to a failed water pump. The mechanic replaced the water pump, some bearings, timing belt, spark plugs and other necessary parts for this service interval. Mechanic is very respectable and honest my entire family and almost all of my firends and co-workers have their cars serviced by him too. According to my mom, the car has never overheated the entire time she's owned the vehicle. The Temp guage has never gone to "H".

[sam333]

The 3vze engine is notorious for blown head gaskets( other than this, its a good engine). While the time before and between your blown head gaskets is a little short, its not usual at all. The iron block and aluminum heads expand and contract at different rates causing shearing damage to the head gaskets. I have seen 300000+ mile 3vze's with no head gasket problems, but 100000 + or - seems more common. If you rebuild it, try to have both the heads AND the block resurfaced and then use a MLS( multi layer steel) head gasket( if you can find one). Find a machine shop that can resurface the head and block smooth enough to use this type of gasket.If you dont pull the block ,at least have the heads resurfaced and the block checked for flatness and use only Toyota head gaskets.

[mazdaverx7]

the Toyota gaskets are second to none. i have a 92 Camry with a 3VZ-FE and it has 131k on the engine and has never needed head gaskets. any iron block aluminum head engine is prone to the different expansion rates and will therefore require a little more attention when servicing.

[JohnGD]

MLS is the way to go. The later 1MZs (1994) with composite gaskets weren't that great either. Coolant seepage (white powder on surface) was often seen. Toyota did go to MLS for later 1MZs.

The failed pump (at 120K miles) can contribute to cylinder head warpage and head gasket failure. That's why I'd change the belts, pump, pulleys and oil seals every 5yr/60K miles.

Also look up a local AERA Engine Rebuilders Assco member shop. Some are duds, but look for a racing shop with good reviews.

http://www.aera.org/member-services/member-locator/

[rusty9]

there are no MLS head gaskets for the 3vz =(

[JohnGD]

That's probably why they keep blowing head gaskets.

[Silent Runner]

Ida Know John, mine is closing in on 180K mls., and it has never had a head gasket problem. My last aluminum head, iron block Mazda, went well past that as a highly boosted factory turbo engine. It may be more about basic maintance, than any real design problems.These cars were so reliable, (from new and through warrantee periods), that I think most folks just forgot that certain things (like a coolant fluid change), was a good idea every few years.

[71Corolla]

The 3VZ headgasket problems are shall we say, overblown. If you don't severely overheat the engine they are fine, most often the radiator develops a leak, run lows on coolant and the engine overheats, damaging the gasket. Too bad Toyota started using plastic/aluminum rads instead of all metal radiators. You can buy an all metal replacement unit for these cars but it costs 3 times the price.

[Luckynumber5]

Its a tricky problem, Ive done a few headgaskets in my 6 years as a mechanic and one of them was my Camry at 150000 miles. It has 197000 now with no head gasket problems. Some engines are just troublesome, 42000 miles is an odd mileage for a head gasket to fail. Something doesnt seem right but there is no telling

[BMR]

321k on mine without a HG problem. So it can last. Something's wrong for it to go out twice within 106k.