yota help.

[jarfly]

Found a pretty decent 4x4 yota im thinkin bout pickin up. Guy said it needed freez plugs. could there be alot wrong with the engine? Im thinkin the thing froze up over the winter..its a 3.0

 

[fix_or_repair_daily]

I'm not really a Toyota person, but I have heard that the 3.0 isn't one of their best engines. Relatively crappy gas mileage, some head gasket problems etc. I'd research them more on a Toyota forum like TRS. On topic though, sometimes freeze plugs go bad just from rust/corrosion. Could be and easy fix if it wasn't full of water and frozen. A few years ago, I picked up an engine for an Isuzu Trooper at the junkyard, and when I picked it up I noticed there was a freeze plug popped out of the back of the head. So, I pulled the head off to check it out and found it was cracked. I didn't even bother to look at the bottom end. I just took it back and demanded a refund. I would say if it was frozen, it is a gamble on what you might be getting into.

Josh

 

[srteach]

Popped freeze plugs could mean cracked block, cracked heads, blown head gasket, warped heads, and many other possibilities. The only way to know is to check it out.

 

[RollinWOT]

I work for Precision Toyota here in Tucson and theres a reason that we don't see many of those 3L's...'nuff said. However the 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 is a fantastic engine, especially supercharged. Try and find an older Tacoma, preferrably SR5(Sport-Rally 5-speed) with 4x4 and either auto or stickshift and you'll be set to go.

 

[RangerBoy94]

First Gen FTW this is my next truck. Get one with a 20r 22r or 22re they're indestructable.

 

[4.0B2]

22r or 22re is where its at IMO for a yota... with that being said, the 3.4 is a nice one. but the 3.0, well its junk. i've had one or 2. first one i fixed, BIG MISTAKE, the second i did the 3.4 swap and got major money out of it!!!!

seriously, if its just freeze plugs...well i could see just fixing that. but check the timing and everything on it b/c the 3.0's have their notorious problems. if anything else shows up wrong, 3.4 swap it to save from future headaches. look around on a couple of yota forums about the 3.0's... they are not well liked usually.

 

[jarfly]

Yeah, Id hate to sell my daily for this and it need an engine so I think im goin pass. Im just tryin to find a stock-ish 4x4 to daily. And yes Id love to find a reg cab 4x4 yota with the 22r, but I can't see giveing 3000+ for a 93 model truck.lol So I guess the hunt is still on.

 

[Hagan]

Whoever thinks the 3.0 is junk doesn't know what they are talking about. If your talking about the head gasket issues then your wrong. Yes, SOME of the 3vze's were recalled due to head gasket issues but a LOT of Toyota's have head gasket problems. 22re's are slow. You can't make any power with them unless you do extensive work...other than adding exhaust and intake (restrictive flapper!). I've had 22re's, 22r's, and 3vze's.

 

[4.0B2]

i would like to find a 92 ext cab yota. 22re and 5 speed. we did a 2 inch body lift and a 1 inch ball joint spacer and 1 inch block-rear to make one fit 33's comfortably... and he still gets 20 mpgs in town and about 22 on the interstate.

sure they are "slow" but gear them. its a truck.. not a race car.

i've dealt w/ to many issues from to many 3.0s in the trucks.. so regardless that "i don't know what i'm talking about" as mention in the comment above me.... i won't own another one, they are junk in my eyes b/c of the 2 i owned and the ones i've worked on as side jobs.

 

[RollinWOT]

4.0 is right. 3L 3VZ-FE's aren't good, 3.4L 5VZ-FE's are really good, but as for the 22-series, I personally would go for the 22R. As an employee of Toyota, I know those engines inside and out, and that's just my input...

 

[4.0B2]

and besides-- i'm just giving the input of where i've personally dealt w/ them, i don't care that the 3.0's have a bad rep... i don't listen to people about that crap, b/c if i did-- i'd agree w/ the cooling problems on the 2.9 and 4.0's (which i've never had an issue with) but since i've never cracked or warped a head w/ cooling issues-- i don't see it as a problem.

 

[RollinWOT]

^Exactly my point.

 

[Hagan]

4.0 is right. 3L 3VZ-FE's aren't good, 3.4L 5VZ-FE's are really good, but as for the 22-series, I personally would go for the 22R. As an employee of Toyota, I know those engines inside and out, and that's just my input...

3VZ-FE's are for Camry's....3VZE is for 4runner/Trucks...just to let you know.

I would go with a 22rte...

But look around...i guarantee there are just as many 3.0 or not more vehicles STILL around on the streets.

 

[RollinWOT]

Excuse me, my knowledge of the VZ series is limited at the 3 series engines but the current NZ, UR, and 5VZ/4VZ engines are my strong point.

 

[4.0B2]

yeah i didn't know all that lettering stuff... i'm not that fancy. oh well.