I have an oil leak on the right side near the front. The leak is only on the outside. The engine is running strong, but the leak is slowly getting bigger. The topend was redone about 18months ago, but the shop that did the work won't fix it. I only had a year warranty.

Anyway with supplemental and property taxes due, I can't afford $1200 right now to have it fixed. Do you think I could just have the side that is leaking fixed? It bothers the heck out of me.

I was losing 1qt about every 2months; now it's about 1qt every 3-4 wks.

...a different shop verified the leak is from the HG and on the outside only.

>>>*We see this fairly often and not too long after head gasket replacement.

These blocks really should be decked when remachined, this is what we find normally to be the cause of a 2nd early failure.

Probably your only solution is to do the repair, unfortunately it may come down to more than just the head gasket replacement if the block does need decked....*EB

You wont be saving much money at all if you only replace the right side HG, since 90% of the work is already done to remove the right side head. Also since the shop failed to do the job right the first time it may only be a matter of time before the left HG starts to leak.

The 12 month warranty should only apply to the parts used, not the poor workmanship, they should have measured the deck and the heads to make sure they were starting with good surfaces. Not doing the proper prep work is not a legal excuse. An HG shouldn't fail within a 18 mos time ,unless you have a cooling issue, which if you did you should have coolant in the oil, not a losing oil like you are. The shop did something wrong and you should hold them liable.

I would take it back and request that they remedy the situation, if they refuse, take it to the dealer or another qualified Toyota mechanic and have the work done, then sue the previous shop for their poor workmanship. Didn't they reuse the same head bolts on you when the work was done?

I've done a few head gasket jobs on the 3.0's, and you're only talking about an extra hour worth of work to remove the 2nd head. It wouldn't be worth it to go that far in and not replace the other one. It's always possible the second one will start leaking soon as well. You wouldn't want to have to back in there yet again.

Also make sure to replace the knock sensor wire (about $17 from dealer) if that hasn't been done. The wire gets very brittle and will through a knock sensor code. Again, you have to do all this work just to get to the knock sensor wire anyway, so that might as well be replaced while you're in there.

EB,

I'm afraid to ask, but how much more am I looking at if the deck needs machining? Pulling the block out? I know they check the deck and it was within spec. I was assuming the failure was due to the fact they re-used the head bolts.

This is more likely the case than a bad deck. If they cannot show they used new HB's, i.e, it is listed on the work order, you have the right to force them to redo/reimburse you for the job. I would take it to a dealer(with a good rep), or a certified Toyota mech., have the work done by them and then sue the previous shop for the amount you paid last time, and of course court costs, rental and rental car. It is a well known fact that Toyota used T-T-Y headbolts, and that T-T-Y headbolts are not ever supposed to be re-used.