5.7L shot with 88,000 miles

Hello all, wanted to share my recent experience. I’ve got a 2011 Rock Warrior with 88,000 miles. I tow occasionally about 3,500 pounds and I take excellent care of my truck. A few days ago I was driving along approaching a stop sign at about 10mph and the truck just died and would not restart. I had the truck towed to the dealer where today they told me a valve broke and fell into the engine. Based on what they saw without tearing it down further they think the engine is shot and quoted me at $17,000+ for parts and labor on a new one. This in a truck that’s only worth in the $20,000+ range. I called Toyota corporate and they also stared a case number for me. They told me that occasionally they assist with repairs but that it’s typically only between $500-2000 if they do and in a case like this where the cost of the repair is close to the value of the vehicle they won’t compensate anything. I live in Alaska so the only other Toyota dealer is hundreds of miles away. Im going to take my truck to another shop for a second opinion but at this point my truck is shot. Junk yards and other options for motors up here are scarce. Any suggestions anyone has to get this truck running economically would be appreciated.

 

No on knows anything until you get inside that engine and see how bad it is but that’s going to cost you some labor. Buying a used engine might be the way to go but you say used engine might be scarce sorry your stuck between a rock and a hard place I think your going to have to dissembled this engine and see exactly what you need maybe just a valve some valve springs and retainers, timing chain, head gasket, hopefully just hone a cylinder wall but who knows until you get in. Good luck

 

$17k is crazy, you should be able to get an engine from a wrecker for 5k on the high side. Check out www.car-part.com for what's in your area.

I'd want the head pulled and see what damage actually occurred.

 

Appreciate the responses. I think you guys are right and without tearing the engine down further there is no way of definitively knowing how much damage occurred. The tricky thing is by the time I tear it down that extensively only to find out it needs to be replaced anyway I’m out a ton on labor just for the teardown not to mention the cost for the install of a new engine. And if the valve broke apart in the engine metal pieces could be spread all throughout the motor. I’ll check that website out and see if I can find any used motors in my area. But that in and of itself brings up another issue with the potential risks of buying a used or refurbished motor and taking a risk on its shape/condition. No easy or cheap option unfortunately. I’ll also see if some shops other than the dealer can give me a better idea of what damage occurred without spending a fortune.

 

That is all true but if a valve broke it will be confined to that cylinder now yea it can damage and score the cylinder bore damage the piston and head but metal will stay their but you will still need a block and a head so yea man sorry your in this situation.

 

What he said. I'm sure junkyards are not as prolific but they do ship from the lower 48 and you can probably find a rebuilt. It all depends on your ability

 

Not too many local options in AK and shipping costs can be quite exorbitant.

 

I've seen used 5.7L's go for around $4500 here in Denver. If you could find a used one in the Seattle area shipping costs would be greatly reduced if shipped by barge up to Anchorage.

 

Find another shop and see what they say. If there is a jacked valve I bet you can get a new piston and valves, hone the one cylinder, maybe a new head or clean up the head, and have it back together for (relatively) cheaper than a new engine.

I also have a hard time believing a valve fell out, and if the engine could still spin that it would just stop running. You'd lose compression on that cylinder but the other 7 would still be fine. Unless the ECU on the truck turns the engine off when it notices a catastrophic failure like that, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a different and perhaps simpler issue.

 

Or get in your other vehicle and drive down somewhere and throw it on a trailer and pick if you don't have a truck. Lots of options to save money with $17K on the line.

 

Canada is an option too. Check the BC/AB provinces along with Yukon.

 

Doesn’t LKQ warranty their pull out motors?

 

That's the nice part about car-part they show Canadian yards also.

 

Yeah I’m a little skeptical of everything the dealer said too. After some digging I found a motor in a yard here locally for $4200 with 68,000 miles. They recommended a shop who they say they’ve only heard good things about from customers. I called the shop and they found it hard to believe I would need a new engine too. But if worst comes to worst their labor cost would be approximately $2000 so $6200 total. I’m hoping I don’t have to go that route but if I do that sure as hell beats $17,000.

 

How about pulling the spark plugs and sticking a borescope down there. You can get a cheap one for your phone off of Amazon. How can they be so certain of valve fell down inside without taking anything apart. Maybe the timing chain just skipped a tooth because of a bad tensioner.

 

Routinely see 5.7s for sale in my area under $3k. Last 2 complete I looked at were under $2000.

 

Those aren’t bad prices for motors at all. Our selection up here is pretty limited and unfortunately most options for shipping one up are expensive as hell. The engine with 68,000 for $4200 is the best deal I’ve found so far.

The dealer didn’t offer much proof of the engine needing to be replaced. Their supposed reasoning was based on what they supposedly saw with as far as they did break the engine down. They tried justifying it as chances are I’ll need a new motor so I might as well save money but not having to pay for the tear down of this motor plus the cost of a new motor and the install on that one. I’m definitely towing the truck to another shop where we can look at it in more detail to either confirm or deny what they’ve said and go from there.

 

Guys the man is in Alaska. Your prices in Colorado and Alabama are not relevant. He doesn't have the same options as the lower 48.

 

Also, it seemed be at low speed when the piston hit the valve. Good chance there wasn't a lot of damage. Replace piston along with rod and head job with new valves and do the other side.

My wife went to a Lexus dealer because I wanted a scan on an 2006 RX330. They gave her an estimate of $10K of service items and missed a bunch. Rock Auto and $3k worth of parts. They want you in a new rig

 

They’re ripping you off, wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t need a new motor. Go somewhere else, 17k is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard

 

Oh no way would I ever pay them that ridiculous amount. I’m going to take the truck to a reputable shop here in the next few days when I have time. After talking with them on the phone he stated he would be surprised if I needed a new motor as well. Hopefully he has good news and it can be fixed, if not the $6200 or so for a motor installed there sucks but sure beats $17,000. The dealer can take that and shove it, ridiculous.

 

Keep us posted!

 

Good luck! I hope this situation works out well for you. Keep us updated.

 

Sorry about your truck, that's really sucky. 17k is crazy high

 

Well aware where the OP is located. Worked there myself. Well aware of the lack of options up there, that's why the lower 48 is quite relevant. Where do you think most stuff up in AK comes from? If you are ever in Anchorage check out Cook Inlet and you will see barge after barge bringing in goods from Bremerton. The Anchorage airport is the thirst busiest in the world for cargo flights. Sounds like OP got lucky and found a motor locally which is a great find. When faced with a crazy $17K repair, all relevant options need to be considered including out of state which is quite the norm up there.

 

Nice find! I needed some parts for two older snow machines I bought while up there and there was a snow machine salvage shop and yard that had what I was looking for. Sometimes you got to scrounge a bit and you just might find what you need! I remember seeing lots of Tacos and Tundras in Anchorage. Lots. Odds were good finding a motor out of a moose killed Tundra...heh...heh.

 

Exactly what I was thinking but couldn’t articulate at 2 am while feeding a baby.

 

It’s to early to articulate and intoo didn’t sleep.

 

That's quite understandable

 

Yeah thanks for all the suggestions and advice. The engine I found locally has 20,000 miles less than the rest of the truck so IF I end up needing a new engine and the dealer was accurate in their assessment than $6200 is manageable and makes sense. Not $17,000 for a truck worth $20-22,000. I’ll update next week once I have time to get the truck towed to another shop and see what the final verdict is.