7afe blown headgasket & cooked valves

[Corolla Sound]

I finally got my 97 DX towed to my mechanic to be diagnosed. At first, he thought it was only a blown head gasket throwing off the compression in 3 cylinders (I was right, it was only running on 1 #u*king cylinder). but then he discovered that I cooked my valves (all of them). So I am looking at a complete reconditioning of the engine (estimated at $2,000). All new valves, head gasket and compression tested and hopefully that's it.

The valves probably would have been fine if I left the car where the engine light initially came on. I did pull over at this time to check it, smelled burning oil but no smoke bursting from the hood. I drove her home, dropping off my friend along the way and there were times where i doubted we would make it up some of the hills (only 1 cylinder). I got to my firends house and we checked the oil, it was low but not completey dry, so i topped it up and drove it home. I got in my drive way and my other friend behind me pointed at my hood when we got out. I thought there was an electrical fire or something there was so much smoke. I guess that was the valves cooking?

Aw well, everything else on this car is mint frame, chasis, tranny, body (some surface rust), great interior.

The part i dont get is why the head gasket blew? I drive er like a baby. Though, its a low mileage vehicle thats been sitting for years, finally started driving it daily about 2 months ago when i got it.

[speedy25]

Did you cook it from coolant loss??

Many times the heads warp when overheated, and can occasionally be straightened, but not all the time.

Your most economic repair is another engine.

-SP

[Corolla Sound]

No, the coolant level was normal and there was no coolant found in the oil.

I originally wanted to swap in a 4age 20V blacktop or silvertop but could only find 5 speeds (i wouldnt mind but not use to manual yet) for a minimum of 1200$ through JDM and the installations quotes I am getting are at a minimum of $2500.

I could gamble on an engine from the wreckers for $500 but would be really lucky to find anything under 200,000 km on it and my engine only has 120,000 km on it.

So, it seemed that having the engine sent away to be reconditioned seemed the most economical choice for a max of $2000.

[speedy25]

"Cooked" valves??? What does that really mean? Toyotas dont burn valves like some engines do.

-SP

[Corolla Sound]

LOL I dont know! ...No, Im not sure if they were cooked or burnt or whatever. My mechanic (have delt with forever) at first thought it was just the head gasket blown throwing off the compression in 3 of the cylinders but he later discovered something wrong with the valves that he could not repair himself. He told me the engine needed all new valves and a head gasket and he wants to send it away to have it reconditioned (what ever that means?).

I am going to get in touch with him today to find out some more detail, just wish it wasnt so F-ing hot out, thank god my Bicycle has air conditioner.

If he hasnt sent it away yet, I think I may cancel this project and look around for a low mileage engine (hopefully a 4age 20V automatic)!

[Corolla Sound]

I have returned from my 6 km bike ride (12 km there n back) to my mechanics. He confirmed that the valves did get burnt, cooked, overheated and need to be replaced. He has already sent away the cylinder head to be reconditioned and is waiting for its return. He also showed me the head gasket which definitively looked beat up. I am going to get my dad to drive me down this afternoon so I can take some pics. The amazing part was that beside the head gasket were all the head cylinder bolts and they looked all black and I could of swore he painted them, but he said thats the way they came out. This engine is still in mint condition and he said he didnt have any trouble with any bolts. At $2100 dollars for a new head gasket and new rebuilt cylinder head and valves, this better be worth it lol.

Oh yea, I asked him about the cooked valves, he said it rarely happens but it does happen occasionally. How they get burnt or overheated is a mystery; especially when there is no indication of engine overheating!

Another issue is trying to figure out what engine is actually in the car. I am confident it is a 7afe 1.8L though the sticker underneith the hood says 1.6L. I will post a pic of the engine and sticker...

Nevermind, cant believe I cant just copy n paste pics in here

ive got pics up in my garage if you can access that? look at my engine sticker closely!

[PatrickGSR94]

Copy and paste pics from your computer to the internet? lol that doesn't work anywhere.

Your engine hood could easily be off of another car. My Integra GSR has a hood from an LS non-VTEC Integra, and shows the other engine's valve lash specs and vacuum line routing. Oh well. There should be an engine code or something stamped on the engine block I think. Also the VIN probably has some clue as to what engine is in it (assuming the engine hasn't been swapped or replaced).

[Corolla Sound]

Thanks, yea, my mechanic was able to find a number on the block, but didnt know where to look to match it up lol. I am pretty sure it is the 7afe 1.8L that is suppose to be in.

The issue with the sticker on the hood is (well like you pointed out, could be off another car) but the sticker says something like....Engine Family: VTY1.8VJGFFK SFI, EGR, O2S, TWC, HO2S....
and beside this is Evap Family: VTY1047YDMAO 1.6L

even if this did come off of another car, which It dosnt look like it did, how would you know what engine was in that car? lol

and I just realized this is all on a sticker titled Vehicle Emission Control Information and I recognize under the engine family the O2S and HO2S (Sulfur dioxide and Sulfur Hydroxide i believe (bad stuff)). But which should I believe, the Engine Family, or the Evap Family, and just what is the Evap family??????? Im gonna google it...

[Kiwi-Corolla]

This is the most reliable way of checking which engine is in your car:

new owner, check engine light woes p0125

[Corolla Sound]

Perfect, Thanks. I knew there had to be a identifcation number on the engine somewhere. I will tell my mechanic.

[speedy25]

The only way exhaust valves can get "burned" is from the lack of lash. Rarely do intakes have the same problem and I have yet to hear of anyone having lash problem with ANY toyota engine. I have had this sort of problem in a few motorcycle engines that needed attention to lash more often that the manual stated.

I'm suspicious of your situation. I do hope your mechanic is a good one.

-SP

[Corolla Sound]

Yes, I agree this is definitively suspicious. Luckily, Yes, my mechanic is a good honest mechanic (older) who always looks for shortcuts to save you money, unless you tell him otherwise you want it done properly or to a specific way.

I will ask my mechanic if the lashing seemed to be off? I really wish I could of gotten some pics of the valves before he shipped the head cylinder off!!! lol

[sequoiasoon]

How much is shipping from NY to you for a used head if you need it later? Mine is getting ready to brought in for scrap prices. Motor ran perfect (but has been sitting for a couple years now).

[Corolla Sound]

not sure, if i have to replace the head again though im gonna be very upset lol. i dont need this part anytime soon

[locorasta]

Originally Posted by sequoiasoon

How much is shipping from NY to you for a used head if you need it later? Mine is getting ready to brought in for scrap prices. Motor ran perfect (but has been sitting for a couple years now).

What type of seats are those?