For all those frustrated 3.0 v6 owners
05-14-2008, 05:38 PM
#121
Contributing Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Where it always works if you work it, in Sunny Selinsgrove, PA
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Since everyone is giving their $0.02 i thought i would. The 3.0 is not a bad engine, it is very reliable and if maintained right it will last almost forever. The main issues with the 3.0 is the fact that it is underpowered (in the 4wd vehicles) and it has headgasket issues.....I know that this has been beat to death so sorry for bringing it up again. What I have not seen to many people talking about it the power to weight ratios. I have a 91 pickup with the 3.0 and one of my dads cars is a 91 Alfa Romeo spider. That car has an I4 with less than 150hp (which the 3.0 is supposed to have stock) but that car weighs absolutley nothing. So even though that car has a smaller enigne with less hp than my truck, i still have a hard time keeping up with it. Another factor is the way the vehicle is geared (transmission, differentials, and the like). Another example: My dad also owns a 06 Jeep wranger rubicon (I know its a jeep but bear with me). That has I6 with close to 200 hp (i dont know the exact amount it might be more or less) but it is geared so low that my truck with 233k miles on it is faster. Also comparing the 3.0 to the 3.4 is like comparing apples to oranges. Dont get me wrong the 3.4 swap is a very common thing and no doubt the power gain is noticable, but those engines are complety different, I know that they share the same block but that is about it. The 3.0 was designed and produced in the late 80's and earley 90's where as the 3.4 was desinged and produced from the mid 90's until 2004. So the technology and knowlede bases are going to be different and no doubt the engine that was produeced later (the 3.4) is going to be beter. But I digress.....It all comes down to how people want to spend their money, some people for one reason or another would like to try and upgrade the 3.0 (albeit just fixing parts of the problem), others would like to not worry about the 3.0 and put a newer more effiecent/powerful engine in (the 3.4), and there are even the ones who put domestic enignes in their Toyotas. But if it is soley more power that you are after and your 3.0 is still running, and you just love your truck too much to trade it for one that comes with a 3.4, just buy a sporty 4 cyl. car, WRX, civic SI and the like (great gas mileage and power -win/win) and just use the truck on the trails. Oh.....thanks for listening I wasn't trying to rant too much. lol
05-14-2008, 06:19 PM
#122
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Thurston County WA State
Posts: 977
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a 3.0 that has 220,000 miles on it. Has no power anymore and has horrendous fuel economy. I am running 5.29's and 37" MTR's. I have a 98 Tacoma 2WD 2RZ-FE (2.4l DOHC 16V) with only 42K miles on it that is going in. It has close to the same HP as the 3.0 (150HP/180TQ), but less torque. My 2RZ (142HP/160TQ) with some mods should easily be able to match what the 3.0 was able to produce when it was running well. Besides the 2RZ has an aluminum block so it is lighter and can rev higher. There are superchargers and turbo kits out there for it as well if necessary. The best part was that it was fairly cheap for the complete engine with harness, radiator, ECU, and exhaust- $600.
05-14-2008, 07:51 PM
#124
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Boonies
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I dont have a lotta experience with toyotas but im happy with my engine, its not a racecar but is quick enough. has nice acceleration, cruises at 75 on the highway.
05-14-2008, 09:06 PM
#125
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Thurston County WA State
Posts: 977
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I used to think the same thing but my truck got taller, and a lot heavier, and the lack of power just limits the thing on the trail where it matters.
05-15-2008, 06:42 PM
#128
05-15-2008, 06:49 PM
#129
12-01-2009, 07:38 PM
#131
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the 2 previous 3.0's i owned were 5-speeds. got around 20 mpg and were very good running trucks. both had 200 thousand miles on em. the runner i have now has 100k, gets around 13 mpg lacks power(auto)kills it but its reliable and the power difference is bearable.
12-02-2009, 12:43 AM
#132
Registered User
So far Im happy with with my 3.0 5spd 4Runner.Gets me where Im going and does fine on the highway,no problem maintaining 80mph.Hopefully I will get another 100K out of it (234K on it now).I ALWAYS let mine warm up until choke releases.
12-03-2009, 07:36 PM
#133
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: bremerton,washington
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
does any ones 3.0 have a valve tick sound i just rebuilt and did knew valve had them reseated and all. bored 0.050 all new gaskets .........runs great just sounds kinda ticky to me ..first yota lol
12-07-2009, 03:40 AM
#136
I'm waiting for my 3vze to blow up so I can drop a 1uzfe into it; only 160k on it though, hopefully not TOO soon!
Mine just has rough idle/ hard start about every other time or so; I've messed with every sensor, had the intake manifold off, TB removed/cleaned at least 3 times and small improvement but not a fix. It's not catastrophic, but have a feeling something 'bigger' might be happening. New plugs to go in when I get home in a couple weeks and some more cleaning/prodding in the engine bay. Anything serious goes on this engine and the 3vze will be gone. I get depressed when I go from working on my 5vz S/C'd tacoma to the crowded bay of my 4runner! but so far it's been reliable...
Mine just has rough idle/ hard start about every other time or so; I've messed with every sensor, had the intake manifold off, TB removed/cleaned at least 3 times and small improvement but not a fix. It's not catastrophic, but have a feeling something 'bigger' might be happening. New plugs to go in when I get home in a couple weeks and some more cleaning/prodding in the engine bay. Anything serious goes on this engine and the 3vze will be gone. I get depressed when I go from working on my 5vz S/C'd tacoma to the crowded bay of my 4runner! but so far it's been reliable...
10-22-2010, 10:52 PM
#137
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
man I just havwe to jump in here and say something !!!!!!!!I have 2 85 straight axles, one a short bed bases model and the other longbed SR5, both 5 speeds, I just sold an 81 straight axle. I also own a 93 dxl ext 3.0 4x4 5 speed, and as to power I drive the 3.0 all the time now. Its awsonme compaired to the 85s, it has 4:56 gears the others have 4:11s and I get 19 hwy/16 city on 32/11.50/15s which is about what I get with the injected SR5 with 31/10:50/15s and the 4:11 gears., almost exactly the same across the board. Of course I have not figured how much I am over driven by the tires on either vehicle...but I will say this, they are all fun, all under powered and thats great cause I dont need the breakage or tickets more power brings. And by the way, the SR5 and the 93 3.slow both have 245,000 plus on them with no head gasket failure!!!!!!! Im sure if I overheat either of them badly enough there would be problems but I take care of my rigs. As to the the kid who put all that stuff on his truck I say this......I AM GLAD THERE ARE YOUNGER ONES TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS HOBBY/LIFESTYLE !!! ITS GREAT TO SEE SOME YOUNG PERSON DOING INSTEAD OF ASKING OTHERS TO DO FOR HIM, SOME COULD LEARN FROM HIM !!!! All that said, I was not yelling in caps Im just deaf LOL !!!! Grasshopper remember long after the grass is faded and gone the Toyota remains.......(for others to play with as they so choose)
Last edited by irontoys1; 10-22-2010 at 10:56 PM.
10-25-2010, 04:17 AM
#138
Contributing Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: TENN Native Languishing in Virginia
Posts: 4,787
Likes: 0
Received 34 Likes
on
14 Posts
I dunno why you guys all complain so much about the 3.0
haha
it's a truck. plain and simple. albeit, a Toyota Pickup. Never was designed nor made to produce high speeds. I can, with my 3.0, 4.10 gears, automatic transmission, and 31 x 10.50's get my tires to spin. I can safely merge in traffic, and at least it runs a helluva lot better than the older domestics on the road.
the truck is untouchable offroad, and will take a beating at all times in all places. so what if some guy is faster off the line. Drive the truck for its purpose and you'll never be disappointed. I'm not!
haha
it's a truck. plain and simple. albeit, a Toyota Pickup. Never was designed nor made to produce high speeds. I can, with my 3.0, 4.10 gears, automatic transmission, and 31 x 10.50's get my tires to spin. I can safely merge in traffic, and at least it runs a helluva lot better than the older domestics on the road.
the truck is untouchable offroad, and will take a beating at all times in all places. so what if some guy is faster off the line. Drive the truck for its purpose and you'll never be disappointed. I'm not!
