IS220DEMON

Unbelievable. Would you be able to tell me more about the second repair? i.e. head skimmed? if so by how much (mm), which head gasket manufacturer did you use for replacement? How is the car holding up now if you still own it?

That's very true in most cases but I believe with the problem with the 2AD-FHV engine was the poor design of the cooling channels making the engine more susceptible to HG failure. Nope 77K :( however I have mates who's IS220D have 150K and haven't failed yet...

FYI "Posted June 14, 2011 Yep! I thought you'd have to do that an all. You just can't skim the head on these cars. Like Ormi said... It has to be a new block ect. Hope all goes well you could skim the head / block but then you may have to use an aftermarket thicker headgasket. good luck finding one of those....no other companys make them yet you will get.................... a new block new shells new thrust washers new pistons new rings new head new water pump all gaskets egr if needed and two years warranty on the engine... glad to hear you dont need to pay mate"

I've just had a read and from what I gather from what Ormi wrote is at the time of writing that thread the head gasket was un-skimmable due to thicker aftermarket head gaskets not being available and not because of liners on the head... the mystery continues haha

No I did read that but I was hoping to get an answer from someone who had theirs repaired from an independent garage. I understand the block cannot be skimmed due to having fused thin-walled iron-cast liners but didn't think the head was un-skimmable...

Thanks guys. Can anyone clarify whether the heads are skimmable? or if you've had head gasket works done before were they able to skim the head?

I believe Lexus are charging somewhere near the £2k mark. Few questions regarding your repair: 1) Did you need to skim the head? If no do you know if the head is skimmable? 2) Did you replace with OEM gasket or performance? If performance where did you purchase it from? Thank you.

So the Engine Coolant Temperature is reaching 112C when put under load which is causing the Coolant to boil causing Over-pressurisation in the Expansion Tank and Coolant to be ejected from the Overflow pipe. I thought it may be the Radiator Cap causing this however the problem still persists after changing the Cap with a OEM. The cooling system cant seem to hold coolant at the Full mark. It now appears I have smoke coming out my exhaust when the engine is warm... I live near the Watford area.

Can anyone recommend a mechanic near London to do a head gasket repair on the is220d? Preferably someone who has worked on these cars before.