Toyota Hiace 4WD advice needed

[mattblack]

A chap a few doors from me has a diesel Toyota Hiace FWD 'Super Custom' van/people carrier on a 'H' plate. Due to a dodgy rad cap, he cooked the motor on his way to Cornwall, and AFAIK blown the head gasket (oil is leaking from the head/block joint near the front of the engine) He's getting ready to pull the engine out, and I've lent him my crane. Anyone know anything about these, as he's undecided wether to just do the gasket, or try to source a S/H lump... he recons the one that's in has done about 200,000...Ta.

[Minimad5]

Tell him to whip the head off and see if its warped (i have done this by using a straight board and shining a torch throu the bottom- See no light SHOULD be okay- See light ... YA FOOKED)If there is oil pouring out then sounds like its pretty caked

[wuvvum]

Those things do seem to blow head gaskets at the drop of a hat. And secondhand engines seem to be few and far between for that reason. I was offered a diesel Estima a while back for peanuts, but the engine was cooked and could I find another one at a sensible price? Could I bollox like. Reckon doing the gasket is the way to go for your mate - just hope the head hasn't warped too much.

[Guest Kyle]

It's quite common for these to leak oil from the head joint, but if he's cooked the engine he would be mighty lucky to get away with not buggering the head.Best to get it pressure tested before ripping it apart, bit's are far from cheap and good s/h heads are gold dust.