head gasket issues again

[dimitar bonev]

hi people. i am new in here,so would like to ask you some questions. so let begin. i was dreaming about avensis in graphite grey for the last 5 years. finally found one and bough it from an auction- t3x,2.2d4d,148bhp,2008. straight away bring it to my mechanic and after he took about 600£ to fix all suspension and service it i realised that the head gasket was gone(he was promised to check the engine,but didnt). after that he told me that want 700£ more for head gasket repeired. i said no and resell car at auction,so lost about 1000£ of that car.and now my questions.

1. how often is head gasket problems in percentage(4-5% or 40-50%)

2.is it common fault for all sizes d4d engines

3.is it the same with other models(for example auris) and lexus as well

4.want jap diesel estate,so if anyone have info for the same problem with 2.2 Honda diesel engines

5.is it have same problem with new model(after 2009)

Thanks in advance to everybody that can give me some info. dont like german cars and now i am afraid of taking another jap. diesel, that i like,especially of an auction. dont have much money to risk again. its not easy to resell avensis in uk couse most of them(about 99%) are ex taxis.so will appreciate every help. thaks.

[Konrad C]

Hi Dimitar. To try and get a Toyota Avensis with trouble free AD diesel engine, you need documentation of any engine work done, and service history. More tricky is the owners honesty of any engine problems. You need to check Honda forums on the i-DTEC 2.2 diesel engine or Honest John where the DPF is mentioned in the 'Good and Bad' section. 

At least you found out how risky the auction can be.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Dimitar - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

No one knows the exact percentage of the AD series engines that were affected by head gasket issues, but it is thought to be small.

Depending on model the 2.2 and 2.0 litre engines could be affected

Models affected included the Auris, Avensis, Verso and Rav4.

With the Avensis, cars with a production date of February 2009 may have been affected - which includes early T27's.

See - 

 

[Duggerz]

It's unfortunate that you bought a car with these problems, on the forums here it's mentioned that maybe 5 percent of 2.2 engines have a problem and less of the 2.0 but I wouldn't touch a t180 with a barge pole based on what I've seen here.
I'm curious where you found the data that told you that most are taxis? Certainly at auction they will be, with more miles on the clock than your average spaceship, but there are plenty of private examples to be found. If you'd taken the money you spent on the auction car and the extra you have the mechanic together you'd likely have found a good private sale, where you would have been able to check under the bonnet before you bought.
I apologise but I had to laugh when I read that you resold it at auction when you discovered the head gasket. Clearly that's why it was there in the first place, as someone had the same idea as you first, just dump the problem in some other poor fool. The only car I'd buy from an auction would be directly from a lease company where it had history, and nothing else.

As Heid said, the Honda has is own issues, but is also a good motor. I wish you better success finding your next vehicle.

[alan333]

Lexus also had problems with the same 2.2 diesel engine - I personally wouldn't buy anything fitted with that engine out of warranty.  Broadly speaking the Japanese manufacturers don't seem to be so good at making diesels.  The 2.2 Honda oil burner has some crankshaft problems but I believe it was more due to poor oil maintenance rather than by design (as a side note I owned a diesel Accord for a while but hated it [smoky, unresponsive, clattery] but it did have nearly 100k on it).  The Mazda 2.2 had camshafts made from cheese in the early days but it's reportedly cured now, but they still suffer from oil dilution from DPF re-gens.

[fordulike]

44 minutes ago, alan333 said:

Lexus also had problems with the same 2.2 diesel engine - I personally wouldn't buy anything fitted with that engine out of warranty.  Broadly speaking the Japanese manufacturers don't seem to be so good at making diesels.  The 2.2 Honda oil burner has some crankshaft problems but I believe it was more due to poor oil maintenance rather than by design (as a side note I owned a diesel Accord for a while but hated it [smoky, unresponsive, clattery] but it did have nearly 100k on it).  The Mazda 2.2 had camshafts made from cheese in the early days but it's reportedly cured now, but they still suffer from oil dilution from DPF re-gens.

To add to that, the Nissan 2.2 Dci had issues with turbo chargers failing prematurely. I ran mine to 100k, but was always aware that it could blow at any time.

[Heidfirst]

6 hours ago, alan333 said:

Lexus also had problems with the same 2.2 diesel engine - I personally wouldn't buy anything fitted with that engine out of warranty. 

I didn't have any issue with my 57 plate 2.2 (150) & I have just done a deal today to trade in my 61 plate 2.2 (150) which again has been faultless (against a pre-reg 1.8 Valvematic petrol in case you were wondering). I would personally be happy with a 2.0 or 2.2 AD series engine produced after the dates given in the TSB (e.g. for an Avensis after February 2009). Still wouldn't touch a Mazda 2.2.

However, my general recommendation to anyone is not to run any modern turbodiesel from any manufacturer outside warranty unless you can afford to fix them should they go wrong as the potential costs involved (DMF, DPF etc.) can be horrendous.

Make sure that a diesel is the correct engine for your driving needs (i.e. not all short journeys where it never has a chance to fully warm up or for the DPF to be able to regenerate) & that you do enough annual mileage (12,000+?) for the fuel savings to pay for the additional cost up front.

[dimitar bonev]

Thanks everybody. if head gasket problem is on about 5% is worth to find another avensis,couse its the best car for me and the 2.2,150bhp engine is very economical. about the price-i have paid 1200£ at the auction icl. fee and 600£ to my mechanic and if want a nice one not from auction will go to a price around 3k. my shows 111k on clock,but it was clocked(i believe) and ex taxi(believe as well). anything good for sale,preferably estate?

[Heidfirst]

Obviously check service history & general condition when looking. Thing is that you want to spend £3k when a new DMF or DPF or injectors etc. are all going to cost £1k+ on their own if they need replaced & obviously the higher the mileage the more likely that you may run into those.