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Hey Guys! Just got my 08 is350 a couple of weeks ago and loving every inch of it since then!
Except for this,
After researching I know that the weak spots of the 2gr-fse are the water pump and alternator, so for preventive maintenance, I did the water pump first since its a more viable accessory imo. While removing the water pump I noticed that it had this tiny crack in the outer water jacket. Which surprised me as the previous owner of this car was very meticulous with maintenance of the vehicle, and well its a lexus. Reinstalled everything and everything is working fine, no overheating, no white smoke, coolant not mixing with oil and coolant level not dropping. So my question is, should I be worried about this crack? it is located by the water inlet tube, the bottom tube of the water inlet goes into this passage/jacket. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that I dont need a new block. any help will be appreciated thanks!
Have you personally done oil changes and saw ZERO coolant in the oil drain pan?
If I had to guess, the water pump was replaced before AND someone used a sealant on the bolt threads in such quantity so as to hydraulicly compress said sealant to a very high pressure while securing the water pump and the weak link is the inner wall which was blown out and went into circulation in the coolant system. i.e. Likely in the blocks water jacket sitting there harmlessly.
The fact that its not leaking is awesome. That bolt impaticular needs a good sealant on it and its threads or it may seap at the bolts flange.
Fingers crossed on that one and GL!
This could be a good or bad idea, but pushing it full of that aluminum type bondo (name escapes me) might be an option. It would have to be real clean but NOT get any on the threads inside. - Eeeek - maybe just leave it alone. Tough call.
Have you personally done oil changes and saw ZERO coolant in the oil drain pan?
If I had to guess, the water pump was replaced before AND someone used a sealant on the bolt threads in such quantity so as to hydraulicly compress said sealant to a very high pressure while securing the water pump and the weak link is the inner wall which was blown out and went into circulation in the coolant system. i.e. Likely in the blocks water jacket sitting there harmlessly.
The fact that its not leaking is awesome. That bolt impaticular needs a good sealant on it and its threads or it may seap at the bolts flange.
Fingers crossed on that one and GL!
This could be a good or bad idea, but pushing it full of that aluminum type bondo (name escapes me) might be an option. It would have to be real clean but NOT get any on the threads inside. - Eeeek - maybe just leave it alone. Tough call.
Liquid Weld. Works great. I used it back in the 90's to repair a crack in the head of a 1976 Mercedes 280S. The crack was too deep so they could not machine it out, so sealed it with Liquid Weld
Last edited by AMIRZA786; Nov 12, 2020 at 10:42 AM.
Liquid Weld. Works great. I used it back in the 90's to repair a crack in the head of a 1976 Mercedes 280S. The crack was too deep so they could not machine it out, so sealed it with Liquid Weld
Thank you so much for the additional info guys! I am on a college budget right now and dont have the funds laying around to purchase a short/long block 2grfse. I’m very paranoid right now and hoping that it doesnt go through the block and into the cylinders. Hoping and praying it’ll last a very long time. That being said I should be fine right? Do you think that it only possibly cracked the inner wall and maybe there is a thick wall behind it? I’m sorry im not extremely mechanically inclined but I can do some stuff an average mechanic can do. Engine swap is not one of them though oof.
Last edited by jusss2is; Nov 16, 2020 at 08:30 PM.
Liquid Weld. Works great. I used it back in the 90's to repair a crack in the head of a 1976 Mercedes 280S. The crack was too deep so they could not machine it out, so sealed it with Liquid Weld
Any info on specific brand and how to do it? is it the same as the nowadays called “JBWeld” products? Should I be fine just leaving it alone? My biggest fear is it will crack enough to rupture inside the cylinder, fingers crossed I hope not.
Find out if someone in your area that does aluminum welding. Read Google reviews then contact someone reputable with experience. Many times these guys offer mobile welding services.
Best of luck.
Find out if someone in your area that does aluminum welding. Read Google reviews then contact someone reputable with experience. Many times these guys offer mobile welding services.
Best of luck.
I have read that welding actually makes it worse? it makes the block weak or somwthing like that. Am I wrong?
Thank you so much for the additional info guys! I am on a college budget right now and dont have the funds laying around to purchase a short/long block 2grfse. I’m very paranoid right now and hoping that it doesnt go through the block and into the cylinders. Hoping and praying it’ll last a very long time. That being said I should be fine right? Do you think that it only possibly cracked the inner wall and maybe there is a thick wall behind it? I’m sorry im not extremely mechanically inclined but I can do some stuff an average mechanic can do. Engine swap is not one of them though oof.
No one said anything about replacing the block. Your issue is isolated to the front timing cover which is replaceable. Although the cost to replace it would be high just for the gaskets alone.
Hindsight and looking on PC screen vs phone, it doesn't look like the bolt did it. That said, if you find coolant in your oil (it goes to the bottom, heavier than oil), then you have a problem. Mind you this condition will only put coolant in the oil, not oil in the coolant.
So, draining a quart of oil once a week week after it sits over night will let the any coolant drain from the pan. Make sense?
No one said anything about replacing the block. Your issue is isolated to the front timing cover which is replaceable. Although the cost to replace it would be high just for the gaskets alone.
Hindsight and looking on PC screen vs phone, it doesn't look like the bolt did it. That said, if you find coolant in your oil (it goes to the bottom, heavier than oil), then you have a problem. Mind you this condition will only put coolant in the oil, not oil in the coolant.
So, draining a quart of oil once a week week after it sits over night will let the any coolant drain from the pan. Make sense?
I see, makes alot more sense now! A big relief for me thank you so much! Been always checking my oil and dipstick shows no sign of coolant mixing in oil. Im pretty sure the dipstick goes deep into the pan so that it can show accurate oil level, please correct me if im wrong. I’m due for an oil change in about 2k miles and will report here any results. Thankyou so much you do not know how relieved I am knowing that my block is safe
Cracked Outer Water Jacket
