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ENGINE DIED AT 160K????

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by JusCookin4u, Jun 22, 2022.

  1. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:20 PM
    #1
    JusCookin4u

    JusCookin4u [OP] Chef here just loving his Platinum

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    I am sick to my stomach. My 2014 Tundra Platinum stopped tunning on me out of the clear blue!!! What a Father's day present!!!! I had no prior issues with the truck it started sputtering and then I heard a clicking sound. There was no smoke no oil leak no water pump failure nothing but a engine symbol on the dash. The truck has 160K miles on it dealership serviced and oil changes. Dealer ran check and initially thought it to be accidental diesel gas. After testing the gas they found that it was in fact bad gas but not diesel. I had just filled up at WaWa and generally use WaWa or Sam's club gas. I never let the tank go below 1/4 tank and have never driven the car to full and complete E. So after there 1000 diagnostic Im being told that I need an engine. One of the cylinders has seized up due to the bad gas and the engine now is no good. I'm a chef not a mechanic so I'm totally baffled. When this happened i began looking for engines due to my fear that I might need an engine. the dealership found two engines one with 86K miles on it for 10K and another with 150K miles on it for 7K. They're charging 4K for the install. Doing my own research I found an engine with 36K on it for 5300. My question is how is the engine not rebuildable? Am I being had?
     
  2. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:24 PM
    #2
    Johnsonman

    Johnsonman New Member

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    So you're saying the clicking is from a seized engine due to bad gas affecting 1 cylinder???
     
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  3. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:24 PM
    #3
    TRDFerguson

    TRDFerguson SSEM #99/RGBA #8-ish?/It’s a funny name.

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    Definitely find another local mechanic with good reviews and get a second opinion. I wouldn’t trust a stealership’s diagnosis.
     
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  4. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:27 PM
    #4
    JusCookin4u

    JusCookin4u [OP] Chef here just loving his Platinum

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    That is the answer they gave me. I don't understand that. Since when are engines not rebuildable is my question?
     
  5. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:28 PM
    #5
    KNABORES

    KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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    That really sucks. They have proof that the gas you got was bad? WaWa should be held responsible for ruining your engine with their faulty gas if so. It’s not that your engine isn’t potentially rebuildable, it’s that labor is more expensive than parts these days. Cheaper to replace. Time is money.
     
  6. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:29 PM
    #6
    Jim LE 1301

    Jim LE 1301 Camaro Lover, SSEM # 11,TTC#179

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    Doesn't sound right to me. Tow it to a reputable shop and see what they say.
     
  7. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:33 PM
    #7
    Jtundra81

    Jtundra81 Just a member

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    Get a second opinion for sure
     
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  8. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:39 PM
    #8
    TundraMcGov.

    TundraMcGov. Your friend. Your foe. Not yo Ho.

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    Sniff. Sniff. Yep. I smell a rat. I'm guessing that for the stipulated prices the dealership gets to keep your "bad" engine.

    You need to find someone else to help you diagnose.
     
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  9. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:44 PM
    #9
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    The whole story smells like fish.

    And $1000 to come up with that diagnosis? Unreal. Did they tear the engine down? Or just diagnose?
     
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  10. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:51 PM
    #10
    JusCookin4u

    JusCookin4u [OP] Chef here just loving his Platinum

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    They dropped the tank cleaned and flushed the entire system, plus initial diagnostic fee of 150.
    Took them a day with labor and taxes that the total due
     
  11. Jun 22, 2022 at 7:52 PM
    #11
    Tundar the Barbarian

    Tundar the Barbarian New Member

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    That doesn't sound right...not a mechanic, but I am a car nerd...I'm not sure how a single cylinder would seize from bad gas...if they mean water in it, it'd run rough, because water would be in all cylinders, and it'd have to be more water than gas to cause it to hydro, if I'm thinking the right scenario.
     
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  12. Jun 22, 2022 at 8:19 PM
    #12
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    I might know a guy with an awesome set of tools, and am having trouble with that one too. Unless it’s a badly scored / scuffed cylinder, and they identified it with a scope or tore the engine down, there is no way to determine that one particular cylinder seized.

    Or the “bad gas” thing is BS, and there was a top end issue like a broken valve spring, dropped valve, or something that took out a cylinder. Either way, their story as we’re hearing it doesn’t quite do it for me.
     
  13. Jun 22, 2022 at 8:37 PM
    #13
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Will they install the engine you found and put some of the $1000 fee towards the cost of repair? Also, will they put their assessment that it was bad gas on paper so you can take that to where you got the gas and get them to cover it?
     
  14. Jun 22, 2022 at 10:04 PM
    #14
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Did they save any of the "bad" fuel? How did they test it?

    Fuel stations have insurance for problems like this. I have had a few buddies that had water in the fuel on diesels and destroyed the complete fuel system. That usually costs 8-15K on a diesel. Fuel station insurance paid for the repairs. They both had samples and receipts (proof) that this is where the fuel came from.
     
  15. Jun 22, 2022 at 10:19 PM
    #15
    snivilous

    snivilous snivspeedshop.com

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    Something is fucked with that whole story.
     
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  16. Jun 23, 2022 at 12:26 AM
    #16
    Blue By U

    Blue By U New Member

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    "Believe nothing of what you hear and half of what you see and you might be ok."
     
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  17. Jun 23, 2022 at 3:35 AM
    #17
    Retired...finally

    Retired...finally Utilizing that doctorate of procrastinatory arts

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    You are attempting to be had but you came to the right place to prevent that. Can you provide more details about things leading uo to the check engine light? I.E., was the engine at operating temps? Approximately what RPM was the engine running? The ticki g sound: Like tapping spoons on a table or a deeper sound like hitting a table with you hand? About how long did the sound last and what happened when you tried to restart?

    BTW, I'm sure now that we know you're a Chef we will asking you all sorts of questions which you will know the answer too.
     
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  18. Jun 23, 2022 at 4:00 AM
    #18
    blanchard7684

    blanchard7684 New Member

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    It is rebuildable in most situations. Unless there is catastrophic damage to engine block or cylinder liners then it is rebuildable.

    160K on a well maintained, or lets be honest even a poorly maintained, Tundra, is nothing for miles. Skepticism here is well founded.

    I would question the "seizure" diagnosis. ask the actual mechanic if he can demonstrate the seizure by turning the engine by hand. You should be able to get a rotation with some effort. If he has to literally stand on the ratchet then it is seized.

    Next ask if you can see the damage via borescope in the affected cylinder (if they don't have one you can get a cheap one from homedepot or lowes with Milwaukee brand). If seized then there should be signs of mechanical damage like scraping, discoloration, possibly even a piston is broken or something in the running gear has been wedged into place.

    If there is a seizure somewhere else like camshaft, or engine bearing (connecting rod or main bearing) then lubrication is the main culprit most of the time.
     
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  19. Jun 23, 2022 at 4:12 AM
    #19
    batman900

    batman900 Yep

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    As others have mentioned, I'd gather more info from the dealer or get a second opinion before deciding on anything.

    On the Civic Si forums I remember someone getting some crazy bad gas, testing showed it was 70% ethanol, 10% water and 20% gasoline. It was supposed to be 93 E-10, didn't kill their engine. Anything is possible but I'm guessing they got a code, don't know why and just blamed something. I hope that is the case anyways for your wallets sake. Will be watching for updates.
     
  20. Jun 23, 2022 at 4:15 AM
    #20
    pursuit2550

    pursuit2550 New Member

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    Reason number 1,249,987 why I stay away from dealers. I don’t even trust them for simple oil change, ask me how I know. Anyways like others have said, take it to a real mechanic. Ask around for references, look at reviews. Just because it’s the dealer doesn’t mean they are being legit or know what they are doing.
     
  21. Jun 23, 2022 at 4:29 AM
    #21
    Retired...finally

    Retired...finally Utilizing that doctorate of procrastinatory arts

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    I'm wondering if the servicing dealer and the troubleshooting dealer are the same. If in fact a catastrophic engine failure maybe they had been using the wrong motor oil and it finally caught up to them. I really doubt it since the Tundra will run on sludge from the La Brea tar pits and still outlast any engine from the big three.
     
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  22. Jun 23, 2022 at 7:06 AM
    #22
    Deacon Blues

    Deacon Blues New Member

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    Bingo.

    Get a reader and see what codes are being thrown first before anything else.
     
  23. Jun 23, 2022 at 7:11 AM
    #23
    xc_tc

    xc_tc New Member

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    Dealer should have done diag and shared what codes they pulled and pictures of the bad cylinder. “Bad gas” could cause a predetonation event that could burn up one cylinder but in a 3UR it seems highly unlikely.
     
  24. Jun 23, 2022 at 8:15 AM
    #24
    blanchard7684

    blanchard7684 New Member

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    If a major engine component failed usually the first codes that are set are cam timing and cam position and crank position codes.

    Codes are not necessarily dispositive of engine failure.
     
  25. Jun 23, 2022 at 8:34 AM
    #25
    68rs75z28

    68rs75z28 New Member

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    Were you driving it hard when it died?
    Usually bad gas won't show up at a light cruise. If driven hard, then it can rear it's ugly head.
    I don't buy that bad gas killed the engine. Either a major component failed, you ran out of oil, or it was running hot(which can cause a whole slew of issues).
     
  26. Jun 23, 2022 at 9:42 AM
    #26
    JusCookin4u

    JusCookin4u [OP] Chef here just loving his Platinum

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    Normal driving. Had not even gotten up to 40 mph. was accelerating slowly due to driver in front of me appearing to be lost. Yes I'm going to ask all of these detailed questions now that I'm armed with this ammo!!! I cant thank you guys enough for the assistance and I will certainly keep you posted on the outcome
     
  27. Jun 23, 2022 at 10:05 AM
    #27
    68rs75z28

    68rs75z28 New Member

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    Being that you have a 2014, I am curious if you were part of the fuel pump recall.. I say that because some tundras would end up just "dying" like you described. The clicking sound is a little concerning though, was it from the engine? Does it crank over at all?
     
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  28. Jun 23, 2022 at 10:33 AM
    #28
    KNABORES

    KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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    Best of luck sir! Keep us posted.
     
  29. Jun 23, 2022 at 12:07 PM
    #29
    rock climber

    rock climber New Member

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    Add me to the skeptical list.

    Dealerships tend to replace things rather than repair. I had my old T100 diagnosed due to wandering steering. They told me the wheel bearings were loose and probably damaged, $3,500 to replace both knuckles. So I took it to a local shop and paid $350 for new bearing install.
     
  30. Jun 23, 2022 at 1:08 PM
    #30
    agrestic1

    agrestic1 New Member

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    Chef, one cylinder is seized? I'd get another opinion on that.. If the seized cylinder wall is scored then it would have to be bored oversized, ( made bigger), then oversized piston and rings would be used. The boring or oversize from standard can go to 1mm or 40 thousands of an inch (.040) .Sure the engine can probably be rebuilt, but you have to consider the time factor, engine removal, send to a reputable shop, they tear it down, rebuild may include bearings, pistons, rings, bore and hone cylinder or cylinders, rebuilding cylinder heads, chain, reassemble , reinstall,,etc. Down time... So yes if it does indeed need an engine, a good low miles used engine may be an viable option..IMO
    Yes please post any progress..
     
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