Head Gasket Blew

[Robertyoke]

That has happened to several of my Toyota's - NEVER! I really love my Jeep, but quality was not an option on the build sheet.

Weird my 88 long bed hilux w/3.0 (3vze) pop' d its lid at around 50k
My old mans 91 'runner same engine went pop at 90k
In fairness to 'yota they did fix them no charge

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[PBosch]

Weird my 88 long bed hilux w/3.0 (3vze) pop' d its lid at around 50k
My old mans 91 'runner same engine went pop at 90k
In fairness to 'yota they did fix them no charge

Interesting. I had a 91 4Runner V6 and it blew a head gasket around 90K. I called Toyota and said what the H.E. double hockey sticks kind of Toyota quality is??? They said we agree, where is it at, we will tow it and fix it for free out of warranty.

 

[Odyssey USA]

No. The 3.6L production got shifted to a plant in Mexico a couple of years ago. I'm still getting 2024s with loose valve cover bolts causing the O2 sensors to get contaminated with oil. It's absolutely insane that it still happens.

Let's see, on the JL we had in large quantities:


Loose lower bolt joint nuts
Loose valve cover bolts
Loose water outlet bolts
Probably loose cylinder head bolts (I haven't confirmed this, I'm just assuming due to all the failures always failing around the same mileage while others never fail)


I think you get the picture, and that's not even going into the silly stuff like the bad frame welds on the early models or parts quality issues like the sun visor falling off. There's a LOT of missing quality control that's not taking place, and this is just on one model. You should see the rest of our fleet, it's gotten really bad these last few years.


For what it's worth the 3.6L Charger/Challenger/300 was one of the most consistent vehicles we produced. They were easy to work on, too. It's a shame they killed it off for what is going to be an absolute nightmare of an EV. They already had to delay release by 90 days because the only working process to start the vehicle required disconnecting and reconnecting the battery each time.

Since I’m doing an oil cooler and spark plugs, I’ll be doing pulleys and the tensioner too. Having done my own water pump outlet TSB AND turbo drainback line due to loose bolts on my previous 2.0 eTorque Sahara, I’ll be checking everything I can get to while I’m in there on this 3.6 eTorque Rubicon.

 

[Chaosmtb]

my neighbors Launch edition JT just needed it, and the silly dealer charged him 900$ to replace a coil and spark plug, i did a combustion leak detector test and found it switched colors immediately. (they listened the second time the misfire came and got jeep to cover it all)

I did mine for fun since I had the kit out and it also changed... not as fast or as Yellow but.... WTH? well fast forward a couple months and out of warranty since march my 46k 3.6 liter is consuming coolant, and cold morning starts have the tailpipe stench and white smoooke... greaaat, put that on top of the corrosion everywhere lol love this thing but i shouldn't have gotten so attached and build it up so nice... if i get another one its going to be oem xr so theres no sweat equity in the build and i can just dump it for the next model every 3 years lol... my 97 tj rolling its eyes at me now 287 original head gaskets! They don't make em like that anymore!

 

[flyer92]

lol... my 97 tj rolling its eyes at me now 287 original head gaskets! They don't make em like that anymore!

Agree 100%. I kick myself for selling my old CJs and '99 TJ, but I just don't have the space for everything. If I had to keep just one, it would probably be my '80 CJ-5. No computers, no electronics, just the bombproof I6 engine and basic durable components that were easy to work on with basic tools. In comparison, I always feel like I have to baby my plasticky JL or else she might spring a leak, blow a gasket, fry the damn "infotainment " system, or develop a severe rash of paint bubbles. You just never know with the JL...and most modern vehicles for that matter.

 

[bbrent]

... I'm just reading all of this thinking to myself anything mechanical can fail at any time and if I were to go by the internet...

Every. Single. Vehicle. Sucks.

It's all a gamble.

But it's also not. We don't know how much OP took care of his Jeep, or if he drove it hard and put it away dirty.

 

[Chaosmtb]

No. The 3.6L production got shifted to a plant in Mexico a couple of years ago. I'm still getting 2024s with loose valve cover bolts causing the O2 sensors to get contaminated with oil. It's absolutely insane that it still happens.

Let's see, on the JL we had in large quantities:


Loose lower bolt joint nuts
Loose valve cover bolts
Loose water outlet bolts
Probably loose cylinder head bolts (I haven't confirmed this, I'm just assuming due to all the failures always failing around the same mileage while others never fail)

what value would you recommend I retorque my head bolts to? just starting to see early signs, may be too little too late but ill cross my fingers

 

[BetterThanMine]

It's all a gamble.

But it's also not. We don't know how much OP took care of his Jeep, or if he drove it hard and put it away dirty.

This. And I'm not saying OP has neglected it, but I take everything online with a grain of salt. People either over hype and ignore flaws, or love to talk alot of shit without assuming responsibility or knowing better.

 

[AcesandEights]

Interesting. I had a 91 4Runner V6 and it blew a head gasket around 90K. I called Toyota and said what the H.E. double hockey sticks kind of Toyota quality is??? They said we agree, where is it at, we will tow it and fix it for free out of warranty.

I'm so bad at acronyms and stuff. I get the double hockey sticks part, you probably drive a JLU for the added room, or put the longer stuff up top, but H.E.?

 

[PBosch]

I'm so bad at acronyms and stuff. I get the double hockey sticks part, you probably drive a JLU for the added room, or put the longer stuff up top, but H.E.?

H.E. double hockey sticks = HELL

 

[AcesandEights]

I hear you, I don't like hockey either. I can't imagine sitting through a game, pure hell.

 

[alphawolff]

what value would you recommend I retorque my head bolts to? just starting to see early signs, may be too little too late but ill cross my fingers

You'd have to pull the cams off to get to them, Not really worth doing as a preventative measure, as once the cams are out you're like 20 minutes away from pulling the head anyway.

 

[ijp4fun]

Head gaskets on 3.6Ls are incredibly common. They also blow on the 2.0L if they're overheated even once.


I think the 3.6L issue is the head bolts aren't properly torqued at the factory. We get a seriously high amount failing around 50-70k these days. Considering the same factory leaves the valve covers loose I'd say it's a good bet.

Any chance the head bolts are stretching with time and not necessarily loose from the factory?

 

[alphawolff]

Any chance the head bolts are stretching with time and not necessarily loose from the factory?

If that was the case we wouldn't have so many failing at 60k while some go to 100k+ without issues. I doubt it's a material defect

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