Symptoms
Bubbles or coolant pushing into the overflow bottle, coolant loss, rapid overheating, rough running and lost power. A pressure test may not show the crack.
The fix, step by step
- Fix whatever made it overheat first (radiator, fan hub, wastegate, hoses), or the new head will crack too.
- Remove the timing belt, intake and exhaust, injector lines and turbo oil and coolant lines, then the head.
- Have the block deck checked, fit a genuine head gasket, and reassemble with a fresh timing belt.
- An IH8MUD member's 'lessons learned' thread is a reminder to put the washers back under the head bolts.
Tools & part numbers
- Full metric socket set
- torque wrench and angle gauge
- straight-edge and feeler gauges
- factory or Gregory's manual for the head-bolt sequence
Where to buy the parts
Genuine head gasket, 1KZ-TEHD Automotive ↗Amazon ↗
1KZ-TE full top-end gasket set, Hilux/PradoHD Automotive ↗Amazon ↗
Timing belt kit for 1KZ (do it while it's apart)HD Automotive ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 90 parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.