Oil and water don't mix on a Toyota 4Runner

Hi Lee,

“Your team told me that my 4Runner's engine was entirely trashed and tried to convince me to turn the title over to you. I got a second opinion and they were able to repair the damage without needing a new engine, so I will not be taking my car in for service at your shop.”

Wait, Wait, Wait!

This email came to us 3 months ago.

First the facts we know.

The vehicle had 200 K miles and in serious need for some maintenance and lots of repairs.

This Toyota 4Runner came in for “White smoke is coming from the tailpipe on acceleration” This is what we found. TEST AND ADVISE. Found over heating condition codes are stored in computer memory.  P0115 engine coolant temp. P0171 system too lean, (bank 1 possible o2 sensor due to coolant contamination) water pump is leaking (customer has used a stop leak agent to try and minimize the leak) radiator cap is leaking too, there seem to be no records of a timing belt replace. Multiple and severe oil leaks found. Valve covers are leaking profusely onto the exhaust manifolds and oil and coolant have mixed in the engine crankcase.  Further testing should be done as we suspect a head gasket may have failed due to overheat. At this time and due to the age and mileage of the car and the engine, we strongly suggest a rebuilt engine since we don’t know the extent of the damage done by the mixing of the coolant and oil.

Answering to a hostile client can sometimes be a trigger to further aggravation. As such, we always meet and decide by committee what approach we should take. We decided on this one not to answer since this person a) wasn’t asking for anything specific and b) didn’t post anything negative online.

I remember at that time noticing that the vehicle in question was in such poor condition, it really wasn’t a good idea to keep investing money on it. If there was a time to let go, that was the time. She decided not to do anything on the car and ask us what could be done with it. To try to be a solution, we mentioned we could help her dispose of the vehicle. Bring us the pink slip and we’ll donate the vehicle in your name is what we said.

Judging by her statement (at the top of this page) she decided to have some work done but, not to the full extent of our suggestions.

I wish the story ended there as I don’t mind being wrong, and if I was, I would have apologized for our error.

I happened to go and visit one of my peers in the trade, while there I noticed the car in this discussion was in the shop with the hood open. I asked my friend what happened to this vehicle. “She had some work done at another shop and now the engine blew up when the oil and coolant mixed in the crankcase, you should see the rod sticking out from the block!”
#toyota,#4runner,#timingbelt,#headgasket