Cylinder Head & Gasket DIY Procedure - Toyota 5VZ-FE - Part 1 

I bought a 2001 Toyota Tacoma four years ago, with the 5VZFE engine, thinking it had a blown head gasket. The guy I bought it from realized it was way over his head and he quit after removing the drivers side cylinder head. I left it stored for nearly four years before I began work on it. I then realized myself it was way over my head too, so I scoured the internet looking for help and voila! I found your channel! I have to say it is the most detailed and well-put together video series on the net. They way you removed bolts and showed where they all came from and where they went back to, coupled with telling where all of the vacuum hoses, wiring clips and belts were supposed to be was way more than invaluable. I probably wouldn't be able to finish the job without this six series video presentation. My son came down three weeks ago and we began the reassembly of the engine. We didn't quite finish it then, but he came down again this past weekend (January 4, 5, 2020) and we finished it. It starts right up now with no water or fluid leaks, no vacuum leaks that I can tell and it purrs like a kitten. It does have a bit of a miss, but I'm sure that's old fuel, old plug wires and maybe a fuel filter. I'll sort all of that out. I just wanted to take the time to say "thank you", for putting together such a valuable and in-depth teaching video presentation. It made my life much easier and not one single step was wrong. Well done sir and thanks again! Steve D Texas

Just wanted to say a belated thank you, my husband and I did this repair on our 2001 tacoma in 2018- we couldn't have done it without you! Our truck is still going strong at almost 313,000 miles😀

Hey brother, your attention to detail is amazing. There many cool tricks around motor to bring you better resolve. Instead of removing that crazy and bothersome AC compressor; you can take a cool shortcut and use a wobbly extension and get underneath it. This something I learn from watching Faye from Pistons & Pixiedust... She is an amazing mechanic and believe it or not has a degree from Harvard University! She found her calling when her VW Rabbit needed to be repaired. She's one of a kind and probably the best teacher for automotive mechanics! Thank you for this detailed video coverage on this motor! 👍

THANK YOU I LOVE YOU MAN. YOU ARE GODS GIFT. I’ve been following this series for 3 weeks, I’m 17 years old with my first truck, never touched an engine before and I followed your instructions and you taught me so much about engines. After pressure test, BOTH of my heads were cracked and I replaced my heads on my 99 Tacoma. This was such a headache and a learning experience, now I feel like someone can point at a part into a 1st gen Tacoma and I can tell them exactly what it is. Mechanics were trying to charge me 3,800 just for the head gasket and I only spent about 900 for parts, tools, and fluids. Seriously man, taking your time to do this and help people is so great and I can’t thank you enough. My engine runs better than before AND I finally fixed this misfire. You rock man!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to comment and express my sincere gratitude and thanks for you putting this video series together. My wife and I just finished her head gasket fix on her 99 4Runner and we couldn’t have done it without this. This series not only gave us the step by step process but the confidence to even attempt it ourselves. Out of all the videos on swapping head gaskets out there this is by far the best. An fyi for anyone out there looking to do this: there are slight differences between the engines and model years. Ours is a 99 and we noticed several places where our particular engine didn’t match up with the one in the video. It threw us off at first but quickly realized his was a 95 and ours is 4 years newer.

I know this video has been up for a while but I just found it. This is a LIFE SAVER!!! I’m doing head gaskets on an old t100 and I couldn’t find anything. I love the step by step instructions. Thank you so much!

This honest man accepted that this is first time doing this that tells us anyone can do it his own repairs without been an expert mechanic...

I just watched the entire series and I must say this was one of the most enjoyable DYI shady tree repair video online. No nonsense BS talkative crap or over drawn info was presented. Also just enough attention to detail in the R&R to make any seasoned ASE certified master tech respect your shady tree skills. Great job Brother.

Thank you so much for sharing this video series in all of the detail, and so well edited. When i started this project 4 weeks ago on my 98 4Runner, I was expecting to just replace the head gaskets. Turns out I had a very similar crack in my right cylinder head. Long story - short, i just got it back up and running this week, and it's doing great so far. I'm very grateful to you for sharing your skils, talents and time with me. Brent

Thanks a lot for taking the time to film all this. I haven't had to do this job yet, but the video really helps me understand where a bunch of different things are around the 5vz

I LOVE buying cars and motorcycles from guys like you. It's getting harder to find people who care for their own equipment anymore though.

Self proclaimed ‘amateur’ lol..so humble.incredible video mate. You’re a great speaker and teacher as well. Thank you for the video!

My dad and I bonded over this video and the tear down of my 4runner. You helped us a lot.

Thank you so much for these videos! This is exactly what I was looking for! Very thorough and easy to understand. I have a 96 T100 which is my first truck and admittedly my first love! I am always finding excuses to work on it but since I just got bit by the automotive hobby bug I am not that confident in doing many things. These videos are building my confidence and knowledge about my truck. Thank you again and hope to see more!

YOU, Sir are a SAINT! Thank you ever so kindly for taking the time & care to make this content & share it with people. Sending you BLESSINGS!

I will also add that you are a very clean mechanic I just did the water pump on my suburban and even with a catch can under the truck I still flooded my garage with coolant

THE BEST I HAVE SEEN FOR TOOTA PICK UP'S I JUST WATCHED THE 6 VIDEOS ONE AFTER ANOTHER AND IT JUST ISPIRED ME TO DO IT MY SELF ON MY 96 T100, I ONLY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT AND INTAKE GASKETS BUT NOW I AM SURE I CAN DO THE HEAD GASKETS AS WELL THANKS TO THIS GREAT KINDLY MAN.........THERE SHOULD BE MORE MEMBERS LIKE YOU HERE WORSETHANCHIGGERS JUST THANKS... The comment of celia leon its me Sorry about that thanks worsethanchiggers

Thank you for taking the extra time to film this! This is definitely the most informative video on pulling this engine apart!

I’m posting under my wife’s account since I don’t have one. Jerry btw. I wanted to say that I can’t thank you enough for this video series! I work for the post office as a carrier and use a ‘98 Toyota T100 xtra cab (same engine). A few weeks back I noticed some issues and talked with a buddy who thought it was a blown head gasket (which was correct, cylinder 3). I’ve never tore an engine down that far but thanks to your videos I felt confident I could do this myself. 4 long days and I had her tore down, cleaned up, and rebuilt with all new seals. Gave her her first test run on my route today and I honestly think she’s running better than before. Our vehicles are our livelihood and this saved mine. Thank you so very much for doing this!

Thank you. You taught me so much. After a few weeks of waiting for assorted parts/tools to arrive and several days of getting my hands dirty I got my 96 Tacoma back together and running thanks to your excellent video series. I also learned a lot, but apparently not enough (yet). I have taken the truck for a few test drives (25 miles total) and it runs better than before BUT the tailpipe is spewing more white, sickly sweet smoke than it was before... like putting out a coolant smoke screen! Embarrassing. I do not seem to be losing coolant, but haven't logged many miles. I have a few ideas to share and am hoping you may impart a little more of your wisdom. Checking the forums I see folks saying it may take some miles for residual coolant to steam out of the cat/muffler but the steam seems EXCESSIVE and I am concerned that I didn't fix the problem and still have a leak. After shutting down the motor, I can see coolant dripping off the end of my tailpipe. I just pulled the spark plugs, disabled the fuel pump, and turned it over expecting to see coolant spurt out of at least one of the cylinders, but things remained dry. I just checked compression on all six cylinders, got readings of 145-155psi on #s 1-5 and 135psi on #6. I don't have a leakdown tester, but I am ordering one so I can follow the procedure you laid out so clearly in this video. When I inspected the previous head gasket I noticed an obvious deformation that looked like it would allow coolant into my #6 cylinder, which was definitely my problem, so I figured that would solve the problem but maybe I missed or messed up something. Perhaps heads/block are warped or cracked and I missed that the first go round. I did not have a machinists straight edge, so I just looked for cracks, cleaned everything up really well, used a normal framing square with my thickness gauges, and hoped for the best. Also, I am concerned that I may have not done a good enough job cleaning out the head bolt holes to assure there was no crud in there messing up my torque readings... perhaps I got to 25ftlbs early and didn't compress things sufficiently on my two subsequent 90* rotations? I used new bolts and followed the tightening sequence. I also replaced the thermostat, water pump, and timing belt... and changed the oil. Old oil looked milky. New oil looks good, but I have only driven 25 miles. During my test drives my dash temp gauge seems to be working properly and is showing vehicle not overheating, but after a 5 mile steamy drive my lower radiator hose is still cool to the touch while the upper hose is quite hot. I ordered new upper and lower hoses and a new radiator because the hoses feel a little mushy, and I suspect the radiator may be gummed up and blocking flow. I am tempted to pull the thermostat to double check that I did not install it backwards but looking at old thermostat that I replaced, it does not seem possible to install it backwards in the housing. Do you have any suggestions on how to proceed? Knowing what I know now I'm not opposed to disassembling it all and trying again, but before I do that I figured I should consult the expert and run a leakdown test.

Great video. Also one of the very few I see even reference a service manual. So big kudos to you.

Very informative! Well narrated. That balloon trick for finding the compression stroke is priceless.

I have a '96 t100 and had her since 1999, this helped me so much. Thanks!

Thank you for making this! I'm doing this right now on my 1999 Tacoma V6. The engine assemblies are probably 95% the same.

I’m about halfway into this first part, this is the only and best head gasket video for a first gen taco on RU-vid lmao thank you for making this series

This is an excellent video series on how to meticulously prepare, organize and account for parts. Know what to do beforehand, where every part is, not to lose any, be patient, calm and diligent above all, as applicable to any vehicle repair or maintenance procedure. A blown head gasket, however, is usually indicative of additional internal engine damage that head gasket or cylinder head replacement will not solve. A blown head gasket is a huge dilemma that many auto shops will gladly allegedly repair at crushing labour cost to almost no performance improvement. Most models will require between 8-12 shop mechanic meat chart hours to replace a cylinder head. In DIY = 4-6 hours. But it won't address any other latent problems also affected by the issue (overheating and/or compression from shoddy manufacture) that led to the leaky or fully blown gasket. Around this time of year in Canada one can see which car is blowing engine antifreeze out the tailpipe from a leaking head gasket. And it's all aluminum cylinder heads on steel blocks in which the owners, or whichever one in the ownership history, neglected to change the coolant per manufacturer recommended interval or from a lemon build. In a real blown head gasket event, the check engine would illuminate, huge plume of white smoke out the tailpipe and engine would probably shutdown from the computerized emission control. The over-heat to warp an aluminum head or crack a cylinder, if bad enough that can't be milled, is almost always a sign of other unseen damaged parts. It so critical to replace the coolant at spec mileage like engine oil, while hoping the assembly line employees performed their job properly. If buying a used car "as is," it's ideal to have it towed to a garage for full inspection. If they diagnose any head gasket issue, walk away and look for another used vehicle.

Thanks great video. I learned so much about the 5vz-fe, mine currently has a slow coolant leak, your instruction helps big time.

Fantastic series. The instructions were clear, the angles were good, the editing was wonderful and the thoroughness was incredible. I now feel confident in working on my pickup. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this so well. One of the best I've ever seen with this amount of detail. Thank you again.

11 minutes into this video... I'm a fan. Great descriptions, explanations, and awesome work.

I watched al videos from #1 through #6 the best I have ever seen. Thank you for the information.

Thank you so much for what you have done. I did both of my head's but this video I mean these videos were a great help it is RU-vidrs like you who really make it worthwhile on this platform.

you're a class act! with that cool 1960s movie voice :) thank you for taking the time to share this gift with us all

You are the best, I love the way showed and explained everything. I just can believe I did all that by my self thanks to you man.

I buyed the book,won't help me nothing at all,this videos are better than the book.

Thank u for the great video. You make it look so easy. I'm sure it was alot of work. I'm sure you do a better job than 99% of the mechanics. My mechanics couldn't even turn the correct bolts on a cover gasket replacement. Just so upset with shitty jobs.

just spent my christmas vac doing my head gasket, which turns out cylinder #1 and 3 valves were cracked, i had a set ready for install cause i knew it was bad, thanks to these videos i was able to follow to the "T".......added a new starter while heads were off thanks, would have not known what to do with out these....haven't finished yet, will let you know how it turns out.....so far .....right on track.....third day so far.....i think i can do the whole engine after this....lol thanks a million

A very well done and detailed video procedure, by a very capable and technical professional mechanic. One of the best examples of really good video techniques, well done...

After watching this, and the thorough walk thru I feel better About possibly having to change a head gasket

Great video series on this job. I appreciate your level of detail and thoroughness. I also like to very comprehensive with the videos I make with my buddy Sean. Our channel is called "Timmy the Toolman". We have lots of videos related to 3rd Gen 4runners and 1st Gen Tacomas. I would provide a link to our channel but I think it would be flagged as spam if I did. Watching you wrench, I don't know If I could teach you much if anything at all but check us out. We currently have over 50 videos and we plan on making more and more. I haven't subscribed to many RU-vid channels but you definitely earned my subscription.

Worstthanchiggers, you are a brilliant man!

Great camera work and editing Clear, concise, and articulate Awesome!

I puchased a 2004 2wd Pre-Runner with 7 original miles on it in 2004. The first 70,000 or 80,000 miles were uneventful. At some point I noticed I was getting a ton of smoke at start up. Changing the oil had no effect on this. Before too long I burnt a valve. I was quoted $3400 for a valve job. With some effort I did it myself for about $700, which included: (All OEM parts from dealer) New Timing belt, tensioner, water pump, head gaskets, all other misc gaskets and belts. The heads were sent out for a valve job, that was $300 of the $700. I should mention that there were only 89,000 miles, and I had foolishly not maintained the vehicle properly. I had not changed the oil in perhaps 10,000 miles. I lved one block from my shop, less than 500 ft, and the 1000's of very very very short trips meant that the engine got up to proper operating temperature perhaps 1 time for every 10 times it was started. These factors combined to create the ideal conditions for sludge, as the moisture entering the system at each start had no chance to "burn off" on short drives. Both of the valve covers were packed with sludge. It was a gooey grimey hateful task, all due to my own stupidity. I also dropped the pan (2wd prerunner) and removed and cleaned the oil pickup, which was about 1/3 obstructed with sludge. There is a trick tool to compress the tensioner to get around removing AC compressor, but I didn't have one either. The AC bracket not so terrible anyways. That was 3 years and 20,000 miles ago, haven't had a single leak or squeak since then.

Great videos. Your detail is some of the best I've ever seen. My son has a "99 4Runner with a suspect head gasket which I can now test for.......Subscribed!

Thank you for making this video.

Hands down, *the* best instructional video I've come across on RU-vid. Your guidance and tips on the 5VZ-FE combined with your video and editing skills made for a truly pleasurable VC gasket and cam shaft seal job on a recently acquired T100. I listed the time stamps from all 6 parts to jump to on my phone as I dove into this one. Just very, very well done, mate! Big fan with a cold beverage of your choice waiting for you if you're ever in the Annapolis area.

Part 1 Professional work

I really enjoy learning from you!

Awesome step by step instructions, very thorough and detaliled!

Great video! Thank you!

I love it. Thank you for your videos

I wish I could find similar video for a 2nd gen 4runner. Thank for taking the time. I really shows in the video quality and step by step explanation. Thank you sir!

Steam out of the tailpipe in cold temperatures is 100% normal.

Amazing tutorial good job. Thanks all your help God bless you.

Thanks for the video! You did a great job on your truck and teaching us!!

these videos are incredible. hats off to you good sir

My Tacoma steams a little bit for about 3 minutes when it warms up. I can’t tell if it’s moisture in the air or if I have a blown head gasket. I get no coolant in the oil and no loss of coolant but it smells sweet at startup

They make a tool to push the belt tensioner back in, it expands and pushes it down in, then you put the pin back in

Balloon test 👍🏻

Well done video !! Good sound, lighting, etc. Thank you !

Awesome video! Big help so thank you

I have done several of these and it is just easier, in my opinion, just pull the whole engine. Excellent tutorial however!

Hey dude, really appreciate these videos. Was wondering - 8 years later - do you still have the Tacoma and if so, how is the engine running? Thanks man!

Спасибо! Очень подробно и понятно, даже с учетом того что я мало понимаю по английский!

Great video sir! Very informative! Thank you for taking your time to create this type of project we have the exact same truck except mine is 1996(red). I will definitely use your video as a guide! Thank you very much WORSETHANCHIGGERS you the MAN!

I'll tell you what. I've just got a motor for my 97 Toyota Dakota. It was just like yours. I'm in things will get just like yours. Same color it's a single cab. Full drum found speed. The same d*** colored, but I got a motive. For $200, cheap as hell and it looks like they have rebuilt the whole entire thing. I aint really looked at the. The heads aren't or anything like that. I looked at the injectors and The current shaft and time in everything like that but it smokes a little bit and it has a hot auto I can't get the owl go down for the laugh of me. I don't know what's wrong with it. I think it could just need new plugs. And copax and wires, I'm not for sure, but I know whenn I first got it and I pulled the sport plugs out of it. It had a little bit of gunk On the smart plug, it looks like dry up. Oh so I cranked it over a couple of times you know, to get the mother all nice and looped up again that way I can see, if I hear anything before I crank it, they said it just smoked a little bit when I first fired it up said for 30 minutes, it never smoked a lick. The next day smokes like a train head gas gotzer brand new. It seems like like every gasket on this motor is brand new. It seems like I was thinking maybe they had something and didn't know it. I don't know, it's kind of creepy when you open it up and. Dionystic, it looks like everything's been redone, but I let it sit for a good. While and I think honestly, they just forgot about it but other night it runs gwhat song, is it smoking? And is yours a metallic blue and purple? I can't really see it clearly about half blind. It seems like, but it looks like the same as that color is mine, sorry for the long message. And I hope somebody can give me some pointers about something with it. And it's a beautiful truck, bro seriously, I aint never gotten stuck with mom. I'll tell you what and I'm always there, helping people out of the ditch and everything like that I aint never had a problem and I've pulled some big trucks too.

That 5VZ-FE motor is Same toyota land cruiser prado 120 5VZ-FE motor?

Done with part 1

Do you have a video in detail of adjusting the valve. Also can you adjust it while assembling it or it as to be done after you install it on your pickup.

Never used in the land cruisers- but the rest of the vehicles yes 👍🏻

I’ve got a coolant leak in cylinder 4 on my 2000 4Runner. I’m praying it’s just my head gasket and not a cracked head.

Congratulations, excellent vídeo and work

Спасибо за видео!Предстоит самому все это проделать.

I cant seem to line up the timing marks on the crankshaft pulley with the timing marks on the top belt pulleys together. How much did you have to crank your pulleys before they lined up? Mine is about 90 degrees off and it doesn't seem to be moving.

Cool video

+worsethanchiggers this video is probably the best video tutorial on the subject. thanks very much and i truly appreciate your time answering this question. Im not sure if you mentioned the pricing on the replacement parts. how much money did you pay all and all for the repair/replacement of cracked cylinder head, head gasket and parts?

Well my fan won’t come off when I try to loosen the bolts everything spins. I did everything as you. Any other suggestions?

I learned something the balloon trick i will keep that in the trick bank

I actually have the same issue. Started off w new wires. Plugs. Coils. Then injectors. And comes to find out got a small leak into my #4 cylinder. Thats y im here. After all was done how is your truck running.

My timing belt slipped when trying to break pulley bolts loose. Can anyone tell me how to insure I’m properly aligned once I remove cylinder head covers? Please?! Thanks!!! Awesome tutorial so far!!!

How difficult is this to do on a 2rz engine? are there any risks?

A++

Thank you! Thank you! but this is too complicated for me...on 2012 Camry. ;(

Oh man this is awesome

How many miles did you have on this truck when the gasket/head was replaced?

very good video..

April 17, 2022 is the official date I blew my 5vz 3.4 4runner head gasket @ 296,692 miles

Awesome help Thank you!

Wowww.... Very professional!, I would like to know where can I buy that workshop manual? Im looking for it and only found Heynes one....

Of all the Timing Belt replacement video I’ve see for this motor, you are the only one that removed that bolt by the passenger side to truly drain all the coolant. Great work! I have to replace the T/B on my 2000 4Runner as well. I wonder if that engine coolant drain bolt is still on the same place on my car.. btw, do you know what torque the bolt needs after?

Oyes tengo un problema con mi motor porque se calienta el aceite y baja la presión

THERE IS A TRICK TO NOT HAVING TO REMOVE THE AC COMPRESSOR. USING A LITTLE ELECTRIC TAPE ON A SWIVEL SOCKET JOINT AND EXTENSIONS. I DID IT, IT WORKED. THERE IS A RU-vid. LOOK UP REPLACING TIMMING BELT, YOULL FIND IT.

How did you find out it was on the side that you replaced, and didnt have to take both heads off. cheers

Excellent excellent video, thank you so much! Where did you get your gasket set?

Does your truck only smoke on initial start up or does it have smoke all the time? I am in the same boat and mine only have smoke on initial start up but will stop after 5 minutes and not smoke the whole day

where did you get you service manual from

Thanks for the great video! Can you provide some info on the supplier of your head gasket kit and cylinder head? My sons 99 4runner has the same exact symptoms with about the milage, 245,000. Thanks

How come you're not running the twin tip spark plugs as recommended?

+worsethanchiggers At what rate was the engine consuming coolant prior to the head gasket replacement? The level in my expansion tank drops about a quarter to half an inch after being filled to the full mark over a 4-5 month period. Fairly certain that my head gasket is still good though.

What about air bags?

How did u develop the patience for this?! Wish i had tht kind of endurance lol!