1986 Toyota Tercel Wagon Washington State (Tri-Cities)

[Scout23]

Up for sale 1986 Toyota Tercel. Has a blown head gasket. Still runs good but wouldn't drive it far. Items that have been replaced in the last few years include alternator, muffler, water pump, timing belt, exhaust valves, radiator, heater core. I had to change the overflow tank and washer fluid tank. Drivers door panel off due to the tabs that hold the window to the regulator broke and it's easier to keep the window on track to roll up and down. Vehicle currently has 173889 miles. When gas prices were high was my daily commuter. I have changed the head gasket at least twice and for some reason continue to blow head gaskets. It has some dings and dents. Front windshield is cracked. Hood has been changed. Was told hit a a deer. When running good will drives great. Will do 75 mph and average about 23 mpg. Possibly the head has a crack because the same problem keeps occurring. Never had any transmission problem (5-speed) and last November filled with fluid. It is 4wd but I've actually never put it in. Just ready to move on to something newer and would like to see the Tercel go to someone who could use the parts or continue to run it. It's about due for new tires. Has current tabs. Make an offer. Would rather not part it out. Hate to send it to the wrecking yard. Email dustytrailadventurer@gmail.com with questions. Thanks for looking.

[Eyeball]

Very nice looking car, wish we lived closer together or i had something to tow it with cause i would be all over it. Just out of curiosity what kind of head gaskets have you used? I was putting Fel-pro gaskets on my 2wd tercel with the same problem (kept blowing) which was very frustrating. Picked up a 4wd which i had to re-ring so I went to Toyota and purchased a Factory head gasket (completely different material) and never a problem. Sorry for going on a tangent.

[Scout23]

I've done both. Both seem to last about the same amount of time.

[Petros]

it is pretty rare that the head would be cracked, though anything is possible. It might be badly warped (alwasy check that is is flat within factory spec of 0.003"), which means resurfacing it (by hand as in my head gasket guide, or by machine shop). The more likely cause of repeated head gasket failure (presuming you are following the installation procedure...very important), some other part of the cooling system is causing it to overheat that will damage the new head gasket.

Always go through the cooling system when you replace the head gasket, find the cause of the orginal overheating and correct it. If you do not correct the original cause of the overheating you will just damage the new head gasket and you will have to replace it again. Head gaskets do not cause overheating, they fail after it was overheated from some other cause. After it fails, than of course it will overheat because you can not keep coolant in the engine.