Parts for your 2007 Toyota Highlander-Head gasket

2007 Toyota Highlander (Kluger) Head Gasket — what it does and when to sort it

The 2007 Toyota Highlander (sold as Kluger in Australia and New Zealand) absolutely uses a head gasket. Toyota’s Factory Service Manual (FSM) for the 2AZ-FE 2.4‑litre four and 3MZ‑FE 3.3‑litre V6 includes full cylinder‑head removal and installation procedures with head‑gasket specs and torque‑angle settings, and Toyota’s Electronic Parts Catalogue lists head gaskets for both engines. So yes—this part is relevant on this model.

On these engines, the multi‑layer steel head gasket seals the cylinder head to the block, holding combustion pressure while keeping engine oil and coolant in their own passages. When it’s healthy, the vehicle runs smoothly, holds good compression, and keeps its cool under Aussie and Kiwi conditions.

Common signs it’s on the way out include:

• Overheating or unexplained coolant loss
• White steam from the exhaust, sweet smell
• Milky, coffee‑coloured engine oil or frothy coolant
• Cold‑start misfire, pressurised hoses, or bubbles in the radiator

If replacement’s on the cards, it’s a proper workshop job. The FSM calls for precise surface flatness checks, correct head‑bolt torque‑and‑angle, and clean, dry mating faces. It’s smart to send the head for a light skim and pressure test, fit a quality MLS gasket, and use new torque‑to‑yield head bolts. On 2AZ‑FE engines, technicians are mindful of known head‑bolt thread issues in the block