Toyota 4Runner 1GR-FE 4.0 V6 Blown Engine Teardown. Just A Slight Tick...
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- Опубліковано 20 січ 2025
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I've been tearing down engines on camera for 2 and a half years! Search my channel to see what I've torn down.
FINALLY! I have been asked for this engine so often I almost couldn't stand it. Its actually a very tough core to find because there is little core value, and most salvage yards don't let things with "no value" sit around, they get tossed in the scrap bin or before that, they never ask for the core back.
Toyota's 1GRFE is a 4.0L V6 that debuted in the 2003 4Runner and has been a staple in their truck and suv lineup ever since. These engines can be found in Tacomas, 4runner, base model tundra, and of course the 4runner. They are also available in other vehicles in ROW markets. While they only put out 236hp for early versions like this, and their fuel consumption isn't great, they make up for it in reliability as that is generally the design focus for engines of these vehicles(Part of why they're so expensive).
This particular 1GRFE is from a 2007 4runner I bought from the salvage auction. This 4runner was unwrecked, non-running, listed with a flood branded title(Water/Flood damage), lots of off-road parts at 186K Miles. I had no idea if the engine was good, but it was so cheap, it didn't matter. Bad for me, the engine wasn't good. Good for you, the engine was bad. So hey, at least there's a video out of it!
Why am I doing this? My name is Eric and I own and run a full service auto salvage business in the Saint Louis Missouri area. Part of our model includes dismantling "Bad" engines to salvage good parts from them. We do not rebuild engines, merely sell parts to those that do!
I really hope you enjoyed this teardown, as always I love all of the comments, feedback and even the criticism. You can catch these teardowns every Saturday night! I've torn down well over 120 engines on this channel so if there's an engine you want to see torn down I may have already done it!
-Eric
I put 450,000 miles on one when I had a 05 Tacoma. One of the best engines ever made.
What happened to it after 450,000?
@@dep6169 I traded it in for a new Tundra.
How often did you change your oil? Transmission fluid? Differential fluid? Coolant? To make it to 450k…
@@Work0smarter I only used Mobil-1 full synthetic and changed the oil every 5,000 miles. Used Mobil-1 gear lube in front, rear differentials, transfer case and manual transmission every 50,000 miles. Coolant was Toyota brand every 100,000 miles.
@@Chet73 thank you!
More water pump skits please!! Thank you for making this weeks tear down even when not feeling well.
Petcock. It's just fun to say.
At some point I want to see him jump shot one.
Defo on this!
May be introduce someone who wants to buy used timing guides.
one day he might just take them out back and shoot them,
Hey, congrats on actually finding a blown Toyota 1GR-FE. A rare sight indeed
as a 2010 Tacoma 4.0V6 owner I was happy to hear it was user error
@@joshanderson924same here!
Super rare find indeed! I bought an 06 Tacoma at an absolute steal of a price because it had a blown engine. Huge ass hole in the block. I ended up buying another Tacoma at copart for a little over $4k since engines were going for $3k or more with a ton of miles on em.
@@mejia.fk8I tried doing the same thing but they are going for a lot nowadays on copart.
My 2006 4runner 4.0 has 262K on it . Still looks, sounds, and runs like new
The water pump gags keep getting better and better. Thanks for the entertainment!
This one caught me so far off guard 🤣
They will never get old. Almost fell outta my chair laughing at this one.
Loved hearing the engine run before you tore it down!
Toyota makes some of the best engines. Hydrolocked, broke a rod, made new valve reliefs, and still ran.
Some of the best. They do also make a few bad ones. The 2.4 isn’t one of the best. It blows head bolts and drinks oil. Otherwise bulletproof.
The broken rod getting stuck in the counterweight saved that engine from a lot more damage.
I was surprised, we heard it running (loudly) but is it a surprise that forces were not high enough to free it and cause the expected catastrophic damage ? (I am not a mechanic.. so have no real idea)
Spoilers!
@@seabrookmx are not required as you watch the video first, then read comments.
In before some Toyota fanboy pops in and claims that's a design feature to save the block in the event of a con rod failure.
@@stinkyfungusactually yes☝️🤓
I drive a 07 Tacoma with 262k miles, engine is loud but runs like clockwork. I want to get to half a million miles. One of the best engines ever made
Ahhh my Saturday evening fun.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 The water pump bit never gets old, love how you’re starting to make it more of a showpiece. The loader was the best one yet.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
*NOOOO! I COULDA USED YOU!! STARVING KIDS IN AFRICA!*
@@CrApWiFi0 Robert Downey Jr. now has competition for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
i was actually impressed how instantly it just snapped. thought itd bend and mangle first
When will we meet used chain guide guy?
"Thanks Toyota" is one of my favorite responses while working.
Other engines: OMG EXPLODE EVERYTHING!
Toyota engines: Tis but a flesh wound.
If the rod hadn't bent and jammed against the crank, that would have been major destruction! Sheer good luck that it stuck in the 'folded up' position, snuggled against the crank, instead of wildly flailing around.
@@jfan4revait’s actually a Toyota failure design
These engines are wonderful. My girlfriend has a 2006 4Runner with over 260k miles and it runs like a top. Oil changes regularly every 3500 miles keep this thing going.
It ran better than my 2004 Durango 4.7 with only 140k miles, and that ran strong. I guess you can’t stop a Toyota.
Former owner here from 40K to 110K miles in an '08 Tacoma. By the time I sold it it had the original timing chains, oil pump, water pump, alternator, serpentine belt, spark plugs, cam phasers, radiator, etc. etc. You can't say that about so many of the new junk engines nowadays. also didn't burn or leak a drop of anything. Just needed conventional 5W-30 oil changes every 5K miles. Always ran like a clock. Assuming regular oil changes are performed and except for special circumstances it's impossible to kill these things including the 2GR. Phenomenal engines.
I have a 2010 Taco with 236k and its still running great! 🤞
And i was getting worry that mine 2013 had 96k on it 🤭@@zzbudzz
@@edwinestrada5194 Yeah .Your good. It Sucks that 99% of that mileage is from commuting to work and back.
@@zzbudzz Me too - Made in NUMI Fremont CA now owned by TESLA thanks to Toytota - Pansonic Elon wouldn't be were he is at now.
This is an historic video. The one and only person who has ever needed to tear down a 1GR-FE and it is on video!
One of the best production engine ever made❤
Every time I think he’s actually gonna keep the water pump, I always fall for it
Especially a Toyota water pump 😊
I just did some service for a gentleman who drives an 09 Tacoma with one of these engines as a pilot truck for oversize loads. 560k on the clock and running strong.
Highway miles are easy miles for an engine. Even with extended oil change intervals of 15, 20 or 25k miles or more. 💪🏻😈👌🏼
@@I_know_what_im_talking_about Exactly. The little 1.6 litre Honda Civic I use to travel 600 odd miles a week between two country towns has over 400,000 on it. Cruising at 65Mph isn't hard on an engine. Surprised that someone who 'services' engines isn't aware of this.
The life expectancy is about 650k at that point the crank bearings wear through and spin.
@@smackheadWhat indicated to anyone he wasn’t aware? All he said was it was running strong. Not like 560k miles is some trivial figure regardless of how it’s used 🤔
"I could have used you!! Starving kids in Africa!!" I straight up lost my sh** there!! Was laughing so hard I was crying for a solid four minutes! Funniest bit I've seen in ages! Brilliant work, Eric.
I absolutely LOVE my 1GR-FE in my 2021 4Runner TRD ORP w/XP Predator Pkg.!!
When you said “tick” I’m like yeah, the 1GR-FE does that man! I know you know this….then you showed the clip of the “tick” and I said yeah, that’s not the normal “tick” of the 1GR-FE lol by any means. Sad to see that the previous owner all but killed his 4Runner, but kinda glad so we can FINALLY see one torn down on your channel!! Lol appreciate your sharing it with us!!
God bless~
I have the same 2021, and my wife has a 2020. Both ORP premiums. Love them!
I have a 5th gen as well. Seeing the nightmare of timing, chains and guides under that cover, now I understand why this engine is so noisy, lol.
@@trailrunnah8886 yes, but that’s also what makes it so bulletproof!!! It’s not an interference engine. It doesn’t have a timing BELT, but a chain, and its port-injected. Among many other reasons as well.
You should also consider taking off the engine cover if you haven’t already. While it does quiet it SOME, it really just creates a heat soak where it’s keeping the heat around the engine. I took mine off when I got my 4Runner and it’s stayed off. Just something to think about. Again, if you haven’t done so already.
Toyota seems to make the most well - engineered timing systems, whether it be chain or belt. My Camry 5sfe went almost 190k on all its original timing components, my Toyota guy didn't look the least surprised.
Try going 500k miles
@@RohanSanjith it was a timing belt.
@piggy310 that's impressive for a belt even the newer ones (post 1995 ish) when they started using that new material.
That’s crazy Toyota makes them so good. We had a sienna in our shop with 326k and previous timing belt service was 111k miles 😂
Your great tear down videos are part of my Saturday night chillax ritual 👍
Eric, I had the same rod broken in my old 1992 3.0litre V6 Forunner engine, (two belt driven cams), after a "hydrolock" event. It got driven into a river, same cylinder too, lhs rear, (#6). I pulled the lhs head and sump off, put in a used rod and piston out of a scrap engine, new head gasket, it ran perfectly again after getting it back together. It was still running fine when I sold it a year later. Those V6 Tojos are great engines.
Just saw an article in carbuzz for the 2.7 Ecoboost engine you did. You're internet famous now!
The water pump saga made my night.
It's really interesting how a rod/piston failure in one engine will blow inspection ports and leve absolute chaos, while in this one the damage was so constrained.
The rod broke so perfectly that there was not enough left to smack a hole in the side of the block, and the rod cap remained intact.
That’s an impressive failure! Bet the guy driving this through water actually made it to the other side, with a nasty knock nevertheless, but I bet this engine still got him home. Toyota makes some truly unkillable stuff. Even if it’s killed, it still drives.
@@99domini99 Not being mechanically inclined but into physics, I am constantly impressed by the various forces acting in these failures and how even the slightest variable, as you mention, is the difference between a single rod/piston failure and the entire thing blowing up.
@@99domini99 The topgear guys tried just about everything to kill off their Toyota... They put it on top of a high rise building, that next was blown up. The car made it to the ground floor and with a new battery it, it just powered up...
@@99domini99 Makes you wonder if con rods should be engineered to break off near the big end to prevent damage.
That water pipe was a life...a soul...a heart and a mind
Nice to finally see the innards of an engine I own a version of, without it being my engine. I've got a 2011 Tacoma, only 126K on it. I'm meticulous with fluid changes, more frequent than the factory schedule, because I want it to live a long time. I do tow with the truck quite a bit, but always less than the factory rating. I monitor trans temps as well as engine temp. I'm hoping this truck will outlast me, and I'm 69. I'm a huge Toyota fan, and there's a '06 Sienna still in our family with over 400K on it (we bought it new), so I know a well maintained engine can go a long time.
And the oscar for best actor goes to... "used water pump buyer."
I love that you put as much (if not more) effort into the video, camera angles and editing, as you do to the teardown. Subbed and 👍.
You have an awesome sense of humor, love the water pump skit
1GRs are insanely reliable.i love this engine
Toyota engines, even if they die, they still run.
One of the engines of all time.
Great video IDC! I own a 2007 FJ Cruiser with that same engine. It has plenty of power, and believe me, I have had occasion to need and use it. In the FJ, there is a built-in snorkel that probably would have saved that engine. I have driven the FJ through streams and standing water many times, but always cautious not to over-wash the snorkel. Thanks for the great videos.
When my 22RE blows up, I’ll send it to you. Probably gonna be waiting for a while but it’ll be there
I've always wanted a 4runner, but seeing how well designed that engine is on a teardown makes me want one even more now.
Hi Eric, as far as I know this engine is currently only available in the 4runner. Rumer has it the next gen. 4runner might be powered by either a turbo 4 cyl. or possibly a turbo v6.
A you tuber listed as The Car Care Nut was previously or still is a Toyota technician and lists the 4runner as 1 of the most reliable Toyota's for sale today because they are in his words, (they are ancient)!
As the saying goes, If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It!
The 1GR-FE 4 liter engine is not a power house ! Nor does it get great mileage! But it is a Proven reliable long life engine mated to a Proven long life reliable transmission! With Proper Maintenance! 400,000 miles and up to 1 million miles documented!
I an 67 years old. , live in New Hampshire where in the winter salt is applied to clear the roads. This will rot out any vehicle! If I can undercoat my 4runner to negate the rust issue, This could be the Last vehicle I need to purchase! It is that dependable! I feel a transmission with more gears might increase my MPG, but at what additional expense or reduction in reliability, or expense in repair!
As the saying (KISS) goes, Keep It Simple Stupid!
It is amazing how TIGHT a compression chamber is, and suddenly you reduce its volume maybe even 5% and it just SNAP a connection rod! In this cash WATER is your enemy. Have a Tacoma with the 4.0 and just love it overall. These teardowns are EXCELLENT in showing the design strengths and shortcomings of an engine. Keep em coming
From my experience working as a Toyota tech, there is usually a higher demand for them because you cant just get a new one from Toyota you usually just get one from and engine yard. The grey sealant is factory. Black seal is the Toyota sealant that is used if a part has been removed. The 1gr is a great engine its just a bit slow and fuel inefficient by modern standards. RIP waterpump
I have one in my 4Runner and I hate to see a engine die so young. It was just a baby.
Love the teardowns, but take care of yourself first. Thanks for fighting through to give us another interesting one. We all look forward to the next one!
The last good Toyota V6. The only thing I would complain about is the headgasket problems that plagued them up until the late 2000's.
Is the price more because of a lack of supply rather than high demand? Tho i will say so many think "its a Toyota, it doesnt need oil/transmission fluid/cooling/gas" and that may cause more to explode, similar with Honda. People treat those vehicles more on the extremes i think - really well or terribly lol. Just a thought, thanks for your awesome vids man and I hope you feel better!!
The fact the engine still ran is a testament to its insane durability.
Your channel rocks! Subbed.
Thank you.
Thanks Eric, that was definatly a different break so to speak, I'll bet you didn't expect that either... Again it's not my usual Saturday night with out your tear down video... Thank you again Eric...
The fact that it still ran before the breakdown is outright impressive.
love the used water pump jokes. The sad thing is, a used OEM pump is probably still better than 90% of the aftermarket new pumps.
186,000 miles = 1 light second.
Coincidentally, it took me one second to smash the like button on this video
Pretty impressive that engine ran on 5 cylinders. Most wouldn't do that. 4 litre is nearly bullet proof engine. My 13 Tacoma was running great at 170 000 kilometres. Change the oil and they just go.
I just bought a 2013 tacoma pre runner and my anxiety just melted away with this video. Mine only has 128k. I'm very happy that I bought it.
ZEEE water pump buyer was my fav on this one. Keep up the good cheer while doing these.
What a well designed, elegant, V6, two thumbs up Toyota. 👍👍
Just started the video. As a 4Runner owner I’m intrigued
Mad props for you for getting through this teardown in the heat and while under the weather. As always loved the video and I hope you take some time off in some ice cold AC
My '98 4Runner has the 3.4-liter V-6. Great engine!
Hard to explain to my wife why I am cracking up out loud watching the water pump skit. Well done Eric-well done
It’s crazy it just ran with a tick and that’s it for having a dead cylinder.
I have a lot more respect for the 1GR and the 4 bolt mains on it. Makes me glad I bought one.
I drove grand Cherokees for years and went to a 4 runner about 5 years ago. The 4 runner is a ideal suv for my needs so when I came across one in good condition cheap with a rod knock I bought it.The engine was ran on very dirty oil causing the rod bearing failure and the total trashing of the rest of the engine. I bought a good low milage engine to repair the car and it was worth it because buying a good condition 4 runner in the same condition would cost a lot more. I think engins are expensive because 4 runners are popular and the all-aluminum engine is not rebuildable once the cylinder boors wear out because the boors can't be bored out as the cast-iron lining is too thin.
Yes, plus many cores are too high mileage to sell once a vehicle is scrapped. I’ve seen quite a few in Pick and Pull yards in 4runners and the occasional 05-06 Tundra, with 330k, 350k, etc etc. Not worth a resellers times to pull and sell, especially since they aren’t rebuildable.
I like the oil filter better on that motor than on my 2020.
I love the way you get rid of those good used H2O pumps
I thought I was the only guy who drove around looking for used water pumps
So as a owner of this exact type of vehicle this engine came out of, thanks for the tear down. More for “research purposes”. Of how things get taken apart when or if I want to change then.
Love watching these videos, been going strong for like 2.5 years. I enjoy watching the water pump skits evolve, hopefully soon maybe shirts for the lost and scrapped water pumps?
My 2010 4runner has 211k miles and runs like a top still even after being tuned and beating on it every day, only issue was the water pump had a slight leak but didn’t want to take any chances and replaced it.
Just recently picked up another 2013 4runner limited 4x4 with 130k in hopes of it lasting forever
Just a note about the cam surfaces in the heads, unless your engine takes a lot of foreign material generally those surfaces "never" wear. The cams are always being pushed up by the valve springs, so the parts that wear are the caps, which are replicable and then the bottom surfaces are used as reference for your line bore.
That makes a lot of sense
just got out of the hospital today , and that waterpump was just what I needed to put a proper smile back on my face - thankyou , and dont ever stop !
Eric, I absolutly love your videos. After a long day at work, I love that I can come home and watch one of your viveos to relax by. Keep up the great work!!
Impressed it turned over and ran, just proof older toyotas where honestly just built different
You can still buy this engine new for one more year in the US.
Good evening Eric. Now that engine does have a slight tick. Excited to see what that tick is coming from.
Great to finally see a Toyota V-5 teardown. Loved the water pump customer skit! Cheers.
So glad to get to finally see this engine on the channel! Just had the head gaskets replaced on mine and it’s the engine used by all but one car of ours
Unnerving to see that cylinder six was the disconnected problem cylinder. As that is where my head gasket failed and was leaking coolant into the combustion chamber...
@@portergum6014hydraulic lock makes rod go boom.
What year was that 4.0 that had head gasket fail?
@@procowboy172205-06’s 1GR’s are most common. Supposedly Toyota did a fix in 06’.
Props to Toyota it still ran!
Been waiting a long time for one of these. These engines have such a reputation for reliability, I’ll be interested to see how the owner managed to kill it.
Love the mk 3 supra water pump buyer.....
Exactly the right person and zero dramatization.
Best part of the week! Watching Eric's teardown videos. The water pump gag got me. A suggestion for another engine disassembly video. What about a GM 3.8 V6?
My 1989 Olds had that engine, the timing components were pretty much all sitting in the oil pan by 100k.
@@piggy310plastic parts or bad manufacturing?
@@taliakuznetsova7092 Plastic parts..
@@piggy310 plastic is both a marvel and the bane of society at the same time in a magnitude of ways.
I think the rod was bent due to hydro-lock (water). The engine was run a short time and wiped out that bearing and then snapped the rod. That engine is 100% serviceable.
Really good to see all the info in the vehicle! So now I know what a disconnecting rod sounds like haha. Thanks a lot for doing this in a tough environment at the time of shooting the video!
Would love to see a 90s DANGER RANGER 2.3l engine in here. 😄👍🏼
these teardowns are getting out of hand. You start the engine up, you try to reuse a water pump and even drove a fkin excavator over it. I really love your content, i'm already waiting for the next one!
When i first started watching this, i was thinking "wouldn't it be wild if it was just a broken or stuck lifter or lash adjuster". I was wrong LOL
The production value add of the water pump's life was a 10/10! All that carnage and just a tick!
Whenever I can, before engine tear down I do the water mist spray trick. Similar to WMI just with only water.
It cleans all the carbon out of the cylinder and related parts. I have actually had it free up sticking valves a few times and ran the engine longer because it allowed compression to regain.
Obviously, don’t use too much water or ya end up with another disconnected rod.
So in this case would you just take off the air intake and spray mist into the throttle plate while a buddy revs it or something?
@@joshanderson924
Exactly. I use a bug sprayer or similar.
Rigs with catalytic converters or diesels with soot traps - best to remove those so all that carbon doesn’t plug it up sooner.
Old school cars with carburetors you can just pour some down slowly.
Here’s a video of a guy doing one on a carbureted engine:
m.ua-cam.com/video/KFtp_jmLF3k/v-deo.html&pp=ygUZd2F0ZXIgZGVjYXJib25pemUgZW5naW5lIA%3D%3D
I really enjoy this channel. I have never done engine work, and I love to watch someone with knowledge and humor do this work.
The reason there was water still in the engine was cuz you only removed the drain from one side. V configured engines have 2 low areas, one at the bottom of each of the banks. So if you remove both of the drain plugs (one on each bank) when the engine is level and vertical and drain both banks, you will only get a few residual drops of coolant when you turn the engine over.
Since no drag racing tonight get to watch this all at once instead of when there is down time cause a mustang wrecked.
A simple answer to your demand question…. Suppliers use whatever they can to up charge meaning if it’s reliable we need to charge you more cause it’s quality, if it’s a pos we need to charge you more cause everyone needs a replacement, if nobody buys them at all there’s a shortage because they don’t make many. It’s all bs everyone is trying to get rich there’s no honesty is our society no more.
The yeeting of timing components will never get old for me
I changed the water pump on my car last week and in your honour I threw the old one against the back fence. Just so you know ;)
And thanks for doing the teardown despite the heat, we all love our weekly fix!
You're upping the ante on your water pump game. Very nice! 👍
Worked for Toyota during the early years of this engine. Timing covers leaked - we used Seal Packing (FIPG) 103 Liquid which is that very black RTV you see on that cover.
Dang would've been healthier to just leave it alone. Seems to be only a drop a week max on mine. Just makes the engine a little dirty
I miss my 3rd gen supra. Good to see one on the channel. Hope to see a 7m-gte motor on here one day.
Interesting bit of knowledge, from the factory the 1GR-FE has Denso spark plugs in one bank and NGK in the other
Denso and NGK are the same company unless I'm mistaken. Wiki it.
@@Cartier_specialistYeah just Toyota always seems to have densos on one side and NGKs on the other. it's a telltale sign your the first person to change the plugs when you see it
Thanks for the teardown despite your just recently recovering from the plague . The background fan sounds were a small price to pay for not having you collapse .
I'm sure you have a reason for not cutting open oil filters, but for me, it would be instructional on how much material relates to what kind of failure.
Interesting thought. 🤔
Bingo
Loved hearing the engine run before you tore it down!. Loved hearing the engine run before you tore it down!.
I wonder if it had one of those aftermarket air filter intakes that are wide open water magnets.
Nah those don't make all that sludge, that's lack of oil changes
The new standard for water pump removal.
Can't top that one Eric.
Great episode 👏. Keep it up!
Very sweet, but you can't beat a 5th generation TRD 4runner!
Don't like how the rear seats fold. I love the front seats! Do not like the door panels.... 4runners are leather 😊.
You can't beat the 4runner's drivetrain. Simple, reliable and very capable.
But still I love the new landcruiser!🎉
Wait wait wait....
Not only was there _PRAISE_ for a timing guide, it also didn't get unceremoniously thrown to the ground?!!
This is UNHEARD OF!
I know it’s an odd request but me and other Audi heads would LOVE if you got a 2.7t or if by some god given miracle a 3.0 AZR from a b5 rs4. I think they’re slept on motors with crazy potential. Also love the videos man. I always come back to watch every single one. One of the highest quality UA-camrs imo!
I just laughed SO DAMNED HARD at the used water pump scene. 100% love it!!
I’m a Mk3 Supra owner, Toyota Fan Boy and yes, I save every nut and bolt I can. I loved the added humor!!