Head gasket fixed - likely to repeat??

I'd bet the EGR system needs to be cleaned. I think if you did that the car would be good for a long while. Maybe to mitigate potential oil burning in the future, flush the engine with BG EPR and change the oil, and run 44K through the fuel system to clean carbon build-up.

 

It is impossible to say. The factors would be:

1) How well was the block prepped? If someone used an abrasive disc to clean the block and the surface is now uneven, the head gasket will likely experience a premature failure.

2) Was the water pump replaced? If not, this can cause another head gasket failure since the water pumps are known to be flaky at high mileage.

3) Were the head bolts replaced? If not, was the length of the head bolts documented on the repair order (which confirms them to be viable for re-use)? Inadequate clamping force will cause a repeat failure or at the minimum, greatly reduce the lifespan of the new head gasket.

4) Was it confirmed that all pistons were at the same height (thus confirming no bent connecting rods)? If there is any connecting rod damage from the HG failure, the engine will eventually suffer a catastrophic failure and this may take a little while to show up.

Since you are purchasing the car private party, the dealership's warranty (for the work) is unlikely to be transferable.

 

1, 3, and 4) I would assume and hope the dealership technician did everything outlined by the factory repair procedure and did it correctly. If a head gasket job comes back and is the fault of the tech, it will be a huge amount of time he eats without pay, or huge amount of labor hour being back flagged if someone else's doing it. Following procedures correctly also has its upside: the technician can up-sell an engine bottom end repair if carefully measuring piston height and finding out a rod is bent, for example. And if the procedure calls for new head bolts I doubt the tech will keep them new bolts for himself, head bolts ain't no jokes LOL!

2) I wouldn't worry about the water pump since the car is at 110k miles and OP can do a preventative maintenance on it when the car gets older (assuming if he purchases this car). Besides, do we have any documented water pump failure at this mileage yet?

This depends on your luck! LOL J/K. If the head gasket job is done correctly and you are willing to do some more preventative maintenance like cleaning the ERG system front to back and stuff mikey T mentioned, the ICE should last for a while.

 

I recently did a head gasket job, so I can't yet comment on the longevity of it, but as stated above, it's all in the prep work. If everything was checked and prepared as it should have been, I wouldn't expect another problem any time soon. There are two different Toyota part numbers on head gaskets (don't remember off the top of my head) but the earlier part number may have played a role in the 3rd gen head gasket failure. They typically fail via the black coating wearing away at a coolant passage. I don't believe the newer part number is as susceptable to this. I'm obviously hoping for the best with mine but if I come to the point of needing to do the job again I will likely swap in a 4th gen engine.

 

You can probably find a touch up guy to refinish all 3 items for $1k or less.

It won’t be perfect but for a beater, it will suffice.

I wouldn’t let the cosmetics stop you. On paper, this should be a good beater for your daughter.

 

All of the hybrid batteries will eventually fail....guaranteed. It is just a matter of when.

Not all of the engines will experience head gasket issues.

With that said, dealing with the hybrid battery is much easier and more painless than the engine issue. For that reason, I would prefer the one with the repaired engine. But you will find different opinions on this.

 

congrats!

consider cleaning the egr circuit if it wasn't done. keep an eye on the oil level until your comfortable.

change the tranny fluid, pump up the tires, check the air and cabin filters, 12v health, fob batteries,

and make sure the mechanical keys work.

all the best!

 

A shop can do the job, but I’d have a clean egr cooler ready to go to hand them if you go that route.

They can be bought off of eBay or a salvage yard for less than $100.

A catch can is a great idea for an install.

 

dealer will probably be a thousand dollars. any mech can do it, but you'd have to talk to them until you found someone willing to learn the whole process.

 

Are you sure you don’t have an oil leak?

Oil consumption will not cause smoke to pour out.

FYI- there is no warranty extension on this issue.

 

Please try to make certain if that was SMOKE or STEAM coming out the front hood as they point to different sources:
If steam-like vapor that tends to evaporate , then you should check the coolant in the cooling system for overheating, radiator leaks, hose leak that drips or sprays onto the exhaust manifold, etc.
If smoke-like sooty, particulate matter, then the lubricating oil is clearly the most likely culprit. You may need to put the car on a hoist and remove the under-panel of plastic to carefully search for oily dirt underneath, any sign of carbonizing or oil burning on the exhaust manifold or other very hot parts, etc. Oil can drip down from places like the valve cover gasket and then be blown back along the engine-transmission assembly and drip down on things like the catalytic converter which are easily hot enough to char it and produce smoke. Good luck tracking this down!

 

I don't think so, 60K miles (or 60 months, whichever comes first) is one limit that comes to mind. Some TSB pdf's attached.

The 10 years is maybe the brake booster warranty extension?