I have never had a 22r however I bought my tacoma new in 1996. It has a 2.7 and 5 speed. I now have 215,500 miles on it. I think it is bulletproof. The only thing I have ever replaced is the fan clutch and a broke exhaust manifold. Last week iI replaced the original cat.converter. It runs better than new. No oil leaks. Uses no oil. The best truck I have ever had. So dont worry about the 2.7. I'm now working on the 300,000 mark.

 

Thanks for all the input I think I'll be looking for a 2.7 definitely with a stick. Wish me luck

 

just to keep flogging this one... i've put 20,000 miles per year on my 2.7L tacoma for five years now. with regular maintenance, it runs better, stronger and more reliably, i think, than the 22re. there is only one "known" issue that i know of, the exhaust manifold is said to tend to crack (mine was cracking, but didnt hiss yet). a great excuse for a header. the engine performs real well with proper aspiration from a header and an air filter box job. i had a catback system, which i took off because i didnt like the sound, and the header and air intake "elbow job" seem to have givn all the breathing necessary at this point. (until i bring home an s/c from my longbeach buddies this weekend, then i'll add a fatter exhaust pipe just for good measure).

i have several friends with the same truck in 3.4L, they are all real happy and the trucks seem to be every bit as reliable.

so i figure the trade is economy for power. the 2.7 is somewhat more economical (a little in gas milageand more in maintenance and insurance) and the 3.4 is fairly more powerful (although the 2.7 has plenty of power for most drivers). so, it depends what kind of trucker you are. both exellend vehicles.

 

I guess I better have some words with the Toyota dealer then if there is a chain! I thought there was.

 

So, let me get this straight, the 2.7 requires less maintenance usually as opposed to the 3.4? I don't need alot of power, I'd rather have something with better gas mileage and less maintenance. Going from a 22re with tired valves and 224,000 miles I'm sure I'll appreciate the difference with a newer 2.7. What kind of mileage does it get 22-25 mpg or more?

 

I've gotten as high as 23 on the highway with my 97 4runner, but generally i'd say i get 17-18 around town, 20-21 hwy. Not economy car numbers, but pretty great for a big 4wd.

Edit: My 90 had about 240k and noisy valves, the 2.7 was a big step up. If I ever put an engine in the 85 I'll probably swap in a 2.7.

 

I will attest to the 2.7L motor as I had one in my 96 taco....Mine only had 106k on it when I sold it, but it was as quiet as a mouse, had great power and torque (considering it was a 4 banger), and I am sure it would have lasted a long time....Oh yeah, note to self; Steering racks tend to blow out when wheels are loaded with 40 pounds of mud after wheeling......hehe, that was my fault though... :pat:

 

Its not a 22re ,its just the next motor you have to figure out how to fix!!!!!

 

I had two 85's - One in 1985 and another I bought from a friend in 1995. Both had Timing chain/guide replacements at or around 130,000 miles. Aside from that the engines were very stout. I had a 88 a few months back that was bought with 160K, so I don't know what was done to it, if nothing. I now have a 2.7 in a Taco I bought with 135K. I think that the 2.7 is smoother running. The exhaust manifold was replaced with a header recently due to a fracture in the middle and a sad noise after starting cold. I like both of the engines, but since the 2.7 is newer and more efficient for the amount of power it delivers, I would have to say that it is my favorite. My 88 and the Taco got the same mileage - 22-25 mpg. I didn't worry too much about the mileage when I had the 85's but they were a little less if I remember correctly. Probably due to aerodynamics under the front axle.

 

I have run both the 22re and the 3RZ, even had the 2RZ for a while. I never have liked the 22re yes it is great on gas i get close to 30 miles to the gallon out of a little single cab short bed 95 pickup but it has the motivation of a riding lawn mower. after a while the valves need adjustment and are making a bit of a ticking noise but i am afraid to get into the top end and adjust them because i am about the 6th owner of this little truck and with 265K on the clock. i know one or two have been into that motor before me. My experience with the 2RZ was less than impressive although at 180K it had not oil leaks no noises or engine issues of any sort even if the truck was beat to crap when i got it it only got 23-24MPG on average in a single cab short bed truck. I have to say though my personal favorite is the 3RZ i have run one in my 98 Tacoma extended cab 4x4 5-speed for almost ten years now and it has done every thing i have asked from it then some my tach has seen 5500+Rpm a number of times, it has melted rear tires off the truck, started after being sunk in mud holes, and a bunch of other not so nice things a motor can go through. After tearing it down at 207,450 due to collapsed piston rings (oil rings) the bearings show little wear, the pistons don't have carbon deposits, the timing chains look good. The 3RZ has done right by me, other than having to replace the clutch once and a rear main seal after converting to synthetic oils i have had no problems in the 80K i have put on it. Average gas mileage out of my tacoma with 31's was 16-18 if i was nice and 13-16 if i was driving a little aggressively.

 

I own both. I've got an 88 22RE Auto and a 99 3rz auto. Toyota fixed the weak timing chain guide on the 2rz and 3rz. So with the rz series, it's pretty unlikely to have to go into the motor if you change the oil properly. The 3rz idles worlds smoother than the 22re b/c of the balance shafts. But you can tell the 3rz has a much longer stroke than the 22r b/c it takes it forever to rev up in comparison. The 22re gets a little better mileage but not much. All in all I'd have to say that I like the 3rz better. But they're both good engines.

 

I've had both, and you really can't go wrong with either. Used dino oil in both of them, changed religiously every 5000 miles.

My '94 4x4 5speed with 22R-E I drove for 210,000 miles. It ran like a champ when I sold it.

My 2002 4x4 5 speed with the 2.7 I drove for 252,000 trouble-free miles before someone crossed the center-line and totaled it. It still ran great at the time.

I liked the added power of the 2.7, but really both of them were great engines.