Ughhhh...engine problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

skateordie · 09-17-2009, 05:48 PM

I'm having this problem with my engine. When I start it, it feels rough. I start driving it, and it sputters for a few seconds and clears off after passing 20km/hr.

I was driving down the highway and temperature suddenly went up. I turned it off. Managed to get my way in through the nearest shop to get some coolant. Started driving it, and smoke was coming out of the hood. I opened it up, and it seems to be coming out of the radiator. The worst part is, the coolant seems to be leaking so much behind/underneath the manifold.

Stopped by the nearest mechanic, and told me that the head gasket might be gone T_T

I'd like to get some other opinions about his problem and the cost of repairing it before I take it to the mechanic.

Any comments would be appreciated

eage8 · 09-17-2009, 06:47 PM

there are a lot of hoses back there, one from the thermostat to a pipe, one from that pip to the intake manifold near the carb (or maybe not on 4afes... I don't know.) and one from the pipe to the water pump. there is also a channel going from the block into the intake manifold where they meet.

I would check all of these places before you replace the head gasket.

***SCT*** · 09-17-2009, 07:54 PM

Yea, check the hoses first. Saves cost, time, and manpower if it's not the head gasket.

One time, one of the hose had a pinhole leak. So it was shooting a stream elsewhere, coincidentally onto another cooling hose. Good thing I started the car and had it warm up, or I would've replaced two hoses.

skateordie · 09-17-2009, 09:24 PM

I got the same answer from a bunch of people I asked ..

Because when the freakin mechanic checked it out, he immediately said that the head gasket is probably gone, might need a new head, or an engine swap..And I thought, "My car only has 102K, how could the head gasket be gone?" My friend told me that usually, the head gasket would only go if the engine's about to go..but then again, looking at my mileage, that wouldn't be the right assumption..

My rad probably has a huge crack too, coz it was releasing smoke badly..

Thanks for the reply everyone..

Will look into it first thing in the morning..

***REN69*** · 09-17-2009, 09:52 PM

Check the hose that goes from the motor to the heater block through the passenger side firewall, that one leaked on me before.

RED91SR5 · 09-18-2009, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skateordie

I got the same answer from a bunch of people I asked ..

Because when the freakin mechanic checked it out, he immediately said that the head gasket is probably gone, might need a new head, or an engine swap..And I thought, "My car only has 102K, how could the head gasket be gone?" My friend told me that usually, the head gasket would only go if the engine's about to go..but then again, looking at my mileage, that wouldn't be the right assumption..

My rad probably has a huge crack too, coz it was releasing smoke badly..

Thanks for the reply everyone..

Will look into it first thing in the morning..

Unless there is a blockage or something in the cooling system or head that is causing the motor to over heat, then it's possible you could have blown a head gasket. Probably not the case on these motors though.

fredricktflail · 09-18-2009, 02:01 AM

Yep its probley one of those hoses in the back, the mechanic just says that to try and charge you tons of money.

90 GP · 09-18-2009, 04:54 AM

Do a compression test to help confirm if head gasket is shot. Also check oil dipstick to see if coolant is mixing with oil. In addition check radiator for signs of oil. When head gasket fails cooling system gets over pressurized(by compression leakage into cooling system) and all the weak links fail such as radiator/heater core and hoses. The coolant leaking into cylinders also does a number on the engine because of lack of lubrication. The rough running when cold sounds like a symptom of the leakage into the cylinders.

j2b4osan · 09-18-2009, 06:12 AM

check and make sure its not the rad or hoses. if smoke was coming out the tail pipe I would say head gasket. but on these cars you can do the head in a few hours no big deal.

skateordie · 09-22-2009, 12:51 PM

Coolant mixed with oil..white smoke coming out of the tailpipe..Milky fluid around the oil cap..

Yup..Head Gasket is gone

I don't know if the head is damaged..I hope not..

Although,there was white smoke coming out of the rad..is that just one of the signs of a blown head gasket? Or the rad is faulty too?

After replacing the head gasket, should I expect my engine to run smoothly even after replacing the oil that got mixed with the coolant?

RED91SR5 · 09-22-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skateordie

Coolant mixed with oil..white smoke coming out of the tailpipe..Milky fluid around the oil cap..

Yup..Head Gasket is gone

I don't know if the head is damaged..I hope not..

Although,there was white smoke coming out of the rad..is that just one of the signs of a blown head gasket? Or the rad is faulty too?

After replacing the head gasket, should I expect my engine to run smoothly even after replacing the oil that got mixed with the coolant?

Well I always recommend getting the head planed (milled) or at least checked for warpage.

The rad is probably ok, you've just been pumping air and pressure into the coolant system so the rad cap is doing it's job and letting the extra pressure out, if it hasn't been to long there shouldn't be damage. If steam/coolant is coming from the rad core itself then the rad has blown from the pressure and needs to be fixed or replaced.

Do the head gasket, change the oil and filter. Run it for a week and change the oil and filter again.

Createdtoburn · 09-23-2009, 01:26 AM

Man that sucks. I rarely hear about these engines with blown head gaskets. They rarely get hot enough to even hurt the gasket haha. I guess it happens though. Just don't let some mechanic charge you a crap load of money to fix it. According to AllData it's a 8 hour job, but I don't think it would actually take that long, but a shop would easily charge like $800 for that unfortunately. For that much you could buy a whole nother Corolla the same year haha. Goodluck though.

freakinbox · 09-23-2009, 10:57 AM

I've heard of quite a few older ones with blown head gaskets. It may be a 4 banger but you can get them HOT, for instance changing the colours of the manifold because of the heat is possible with a 4af/e and 4age. The issue is the iron block and aluminum head, they expand and contract at different rates. But it's not hard to change them, nor is it expensive. The dealer is the cheapest I found for the gasket at about $50. Everyone else wanted $80 - $120.

I wouldn't suspect head gasket unless you were losing oil as well. Both times mine went I lost oil. Another easy way to check is with the plugs. Anti freeze will make them turn red and oil obviously black. Or fluids on the block comming from between the head and block.

skateordie · 09-23-2009, 10:38 PM

I got a friend whose a mechanic to do the job.

All the oil and coolant mix were taken out..disgusting really

I'll find out tomorrow if it is the head gasket, and if it needs a new head, or a rebuilt one

a whole bunch of things need replacement anyway..timing belt needs to be changed..rad is really rusty around the base,so that's gone..maybe the water pump too..

before I got this car, it wasn't used as much,so things slowly started to fall apart.. it only had 96K kms on it..it has a lot of years left on it, so i figured the parts are worth replacing..I could do some of the work..but since evrything is taken apart, might as well let him do the job.. i got a quote for $400 for the gasket..not including the head part..but i'll see how it goes..

who knows..after I replace these parts, i could probably drive this for another 10 years,LOL!