overheated engine; replace or rebuilt?

[dean1kz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dean1kz]

hi guys,

pardon me to bring up this topic...i know there's a lot of discussion about this before. i just want to have better knowledge & understand more from you guys experiences.

i just know from my mechanic that my PRADO 1kzte had sign of being overhauled/rebuilt before. FYI, i bought it 2nd hand from TOYOTA dealer.

He commented/guess: there are a few possibilities,
#1- maybe the engine got overheated...
#2- maybe only top-overhaul was done or some work on valve-shim (shim replacement, adjustment...)...
#3- maybe general overhaul has been done due to high mileage (295000km)

after being told about that i don't have free of mind, always thinking about the engine....i'm so worry if the engine "sick" at anytime....

if let say if the engine had experience #1, will the overheated-rebuilt engine still reliable to be used? how long it can stand? AFAIK, any overheated engine had seized all its internal parts...is that true?

i just bought the prado for almost a month and just done 5000km until today. so far, no strange behaviour, the engine running good, turbo whistling & power boost appropriately. except minor leak at "j-shape' oil pipe from turbo unit to engine block...

your comment, advice is most appreciated..

thanks in advance...

p/s: i'll try to record video of the engine during start-up and idle, just to get detail with engine sound for you guys to hear & examine....

[jcas24 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close jcas24]

The 'j shape' pipe on the under side of the turbo has two pipes, the smaller is the oil feed and the larger pipe is the oil return to the sump. I have heard that these can get blocked, so make sure you change oil regularly (every 5oookm). You may try and tighthen these bolts and see if the leak goes away, or replace the pipework piece and metal gaskets the seal it properly. I cant remember the cost of these parts sorry.

If I had a car with 300,000km on it, I would be feeling better that the engine has being overhauled. whether it was a cracked head or leaking head gasket, as long as it was done by a good mechanic, it should be good for many more trouble free kms.

Stop worrying and just keep the servicing up, keep an eye on the temp gauge, and enjoy it!

[waltec Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close waltec]

I'm with jcas, an engine rebuild is only as good as the work put into it. If the engine was rebuild well you can expect to get as many ks out of it as a new engine. Unfortunately it is hard to tell how well an engine has been rebuilt. But on the same note it is also hard to tell how an engine was treated b4 you bought it.

I work with a guy who doesn't believe in servicing his car, he used to service a previous car to the book, but decided it was too expensive and would be cheaper to just repair it. Good in theroy but his car does seem more unreliable than average. I prefer the little cost regularily for servicing, and knowing that my car is more reliable for it, than the ocassional large expence and inconvenience of a breakdown.

You have 2 choices, keep it well serviced and hope that it will give you years of service, or spend the big dollars, get it rebuilt. End of the day either option may not protect you from a failure, end of the day its a peice of machinery, and as such they can fail.

I don't think you should worry too much, look after it and enjoy it!!!

Matt