Ours for only 4 weeks, and the head has gone!

[jfs_moose Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jfs_moose]

We have only just purchased our 2004 120 series diesel Prado from a private seller and had been very happy with it for the first few weeks, until last night. Coming back from a friends place I noticed the temp gauge rocketing up to max, and the engine light coming on. Pulling over to the side of the road I found coolant splashes on the side near the overflow bottle and after it had cooled down it took 10L of water to fill up. Turning it over the water bubbled straight back up and out, and would not start. The RAA have called it as a cracked head and we got it towed back home.

I'm spewing as it is the most we have ever forked out for a car before, and we had really been looking forward to taking it out to get dirty with some friends in the long weekend coming up, but now I'm up for thousands for repairs! Just one of those things unfortunately!

I'm going to do the ring around to some diesel mechanics tomorrow but was wondering ball park what I might be up for to get it repaired/replaced? Also any suggestions for down south mechanics around Lonsdale, SA?

[Guest Close Guest]

The big question is why did it go?
Is there any radiator or cooling system leaks?
Did it have a problem before that may be the reason it was sold?

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

Try Llordan Diesel at Lonsdale. They specialise in heavy diesel but can also do light.

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

Hey admin, can this be moved to the Diesel forum?

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

Hi jfs_moose

i have sent you a PM

i have a mate that has had a cracked head on his KZ and he added a Product called Liquid Intelligence to get him by while saving for a new head
2yrs later it's still on there going strong, so much so he has spent the funds saved on other things and just kept the rest of the bottle to top it up as required

it is sort of a band aid fix but they say it will last for ages !!
$80 for the teatment

[jfs_moose Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jfs_moose]

Thanks all, I have got it in to Llordan, cheers @120D4D, the guys down there have been fantastic so far! The head is too warped to give one of the chemical solutions a go unfortunately, but thanks very much for the suggestion @Razorback81, it would certainly be much cheaper than the current repair.

Hopefully once this is done we have a rock solid motor and we can keep it going for many more k's with ease!

Fingers crossed!

While the motor is apart, are there any other things I should get done at the same time?

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

make sure they get the aftermarket head complete with the new cam shaft

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

There is a bit of an issue with 1kz engine heads.
Keep cooling system 100%
Use a new AMC brand head.