To Head gasket or not to head gasket

Hello!
I just got a used 2011 5.7 flex. Right after getting it I changed all the fluids everything looked good. Truck runs well, no smoking, no coolent smell, and never even close to over heating. I drove across the country in 3 days now my oil is a milkshake. I read a lot of people saying to just get a new engine. Is that really the way or is new head gaskets the way to go? I would be doing the work myself.
Thanks for any advice
-Taylor

 

Do you have an oil cooler on the front of the motor? If so, I would pop off the coolant hoses and couple them together, change the oil, then see if there's oil dripping out of it. If you want to drive the truck with this bypassed, I would cap off the coolant barbs on the cooler as well just in case oil wants to leak out.

 

I do have that oil cooler. I've never read anything close to this. I'll have to get that a shot.
Thanks
-Taylor

 

Thanks guys! I'm going try bypassing the oil cooler then get a leak down and compression test. We will get this figured out! I'll update in a few days

 

I can also share that long ago I had a Westerbeke diesel engine on a sailboat where the water pump failed and made a salt water milkshake out of the engine oil. I replaced the pump, changed the oil weekly for a month, and the engine ran another 1000 hours before I sold the boat and was just fine.

Yes, you may find that the oil cooler isn't the issue, but I always recommend starting with the cheap and easy possibilities.

 

you make the by pass??? i want to do the same

 

It would be cool if @Teetonken updated the thread.

 

Any news?

 

Sorry I’ve been crazy busy with work. Just got the bypass off. There was no sign of an oil cooler leak. I’ve talked to a few local Toyota specific shops they all said there was nothing to worry about. It’s normal for after a long drive. I’m not really sure if that’s case. Going to get a leak down test when I have some free time again.

 

I took by surprise the olí cooler broke, mix water and oil, temporarily works a bye pass with what I had at home but still solves. the olí cooler factory is at $ 800. easy temporary fix

 

If you look on eBay, this part doesn't seem to be all that available. While it's possible that this means that yards are leaving them mounted to whole engines that they are selling, it's also possible that there's some demand for these and they are selling frequently.