engine noise

[d.richey]

I recently acquried a 91 Winnebago v-6. I liked enough about it I overlooked listening to the engine closely. I had checked and the head gasket had been done in 98. Is the clicking flutter sound another head gasket problem? Can it reappear? If that is what it is I notice the recall are out of date. What is my next option. How expensive can this get? Are there any specialists in working on these engines in North Carolina? I may be jumping ahead in diagnoses just sort of checking ahead. Who typically will work on the engines on these small motorhomes.Thank you Doug

[turtle]

I recently acquried a 91 Winnebago v-6. I liked enough about it I overlooked listening to the engine closely. I had checked and the head gasket had been done in 98. Is the clicking flutter sound another head gasket problem? Can it reappear? If that is what it is I notice the recall are out of date. What is my next option. How expensive can this get? Are there any specialists in working on these engines in North Carolina? I may be jumping ahead in diagnoses just sort of checking ahead. Who typically will work on the engines on these small motorhomes.Thank you Doug

Anyone who works on Toyotas of this vintage will (or should) work on your motor home (unless they just don't want to) as they are the same "truck" as a non motor home.

Have a compression check run on the engine. This will tell you if you have any problems. If it checks out ok you are fine.

[bufbooth]

The noise you hear could be a bad exhaust gasket or a cracked manifold. These problems

sometimes get quiter as the engine heats up. Moosepunky is correct about the compression

test on determining if you head gasket is leaking.

Dennis...

[futar]

You never said how many miles on the engine. The V6s have mechanical lifters that should be adjusted every 60,0000 miles. They depend on a specific weight oil to fill the clearance when the vehicle is warm. They can be noisy when the gap gets big. One inexpensive tool to have is an automobile stethoscope. They're about $6.

[monty]

If you are noticing this noise when you are driving check where the steering shaft goes through the firewall. There is a seal on the shaft and it is common for that seal to fall apart with age. When it does you will hear a ticking sound from the motor. I have owned alot of 3.0's and they all had a bit of a tic to them. It is just amplified alot coming through the firewall.

[Maineah]

Usually the 3.0's leaked water every where when they lost a head gasket. Out the exaust and on the ground. The valve clearance is adjusted with selective shims and is not really a back yard project requiring special tools and removal of the intake runners. Diesel Mike is right it is the same engine used in all the trucks so any good garage should be able to deal with it regardless of what the problem might be.