Do you like the 3.0 v6?

[hammerdown]

I was wondering what evryone thought of this engine? whether it's reliable, how many miles one usually goes for, I know they had problems with the head gaskets going out right? what years were those in and why? if you've had a yota with this engine in it? whats the horsepower on a stock one estimated at? 

the reason I ask is I've thought about buying a 3rd gen with this engine in it so I just want some more info/opinions on it.

THX 

[79coyotefrg]

apparently  some are good  some are lemons,  if it has had head problems chances are it will again

[79coyotefrg]

hp  about 150 

[kneedownnate]

Do away with the head bolts in favor of doa head studs, or arp studs, and get some good gaskets and it should be plenty dependable.  They come pretty choked up from the factory, so it's supposed to really help if you get a good set of headers w/crossover and do a complete free flowing exhaust of ample size.  Are you searching for a v6 truck in particular or just wanna keep your options open?

[hammerdown]

I almost bought a 3.0 ext cab last summer, and theres another one that I'm thinking about, but I just wanted to know what everyone thought of them and if it would be reliable or not, etc...

anyone who has a truck with this motor in it care to comment?

THX for the replies

[RokCrawlinToy]

I've had my rig since it was new in 1992 and the headgasket was the only major problem I ever had with my rig, and once it was fixed, I never had any other problems with it besides normal wear & tear. Kinda sucks on hills with 37s but it was OK when I had it on 32s. For me, its been a reliable engine. I know a lot of people hate this engine but, its worked fine for me for the last 14 years.
Now I just break various parts & sheetmetal reshaping while wheeling.
I am going to replace it in the next couple of years, probably with a Toyota Turbo Diesel.

[BONER]

i have had the 3.0 for 180 k miles . totally dependable engine. reliable starts easy. i hydrolocked it once , pulled the plugs spun it over a bit put the plugs in and it fired right up. i have had great luck with a free flowing exhaust and air filter. it has ample power for tires up to 33's. i live in pa we have some big hills, only on the biggest one do i have to run it in 3rd gear 4500 rpm to sustain 55 mph. few people speak the virtues of this engine, however i like it. i hope i helped.

[hammerdown]

THX for the replies, if i do end up with a truck with one I'm going to be runnin at least 35's-37's but prob not bigger and with 5:29's.

What did it require to fix ur headgasket problem RokCT?

Wasn't there a factory recall for this problem on certain year pickups?

[RokCrawlinToy]

it was one of those factory recalls back in the 90s, didn't cost me anything

[wa4x4]

I had a 1994 3.0 in my 4runner. I had it for about a year when it decided to go boom. I had it rebuilt because it was leaky and tired when I bought it at 135,000 miles. I sold it around 145,000 miles after the valve cover gasket leaked and it ran low on oil even though the oil pressure guage told me everythign was A-OK.

[fj-rankenstein]

I had a 1994 3.0 in my 4runner. I had it for about a year when it decided to go boom. I had it rebuilt because it was leaky and tired when I bought it at 135,000 miles. I sold it around 145,000 miles after the valve cover gasket leaked and it ran low on oil even though the oil pressure guage told me everythign was A-OK.

ok, who in the world relys on a mechanical/electrical gauge to tell them how much oil is left on your engine??? this is just plain silly....waiting for the "little red warning lamp" to come on to tell you if your engine has oil in it is just wrong...  got to love those things called "oil level dipsticks...."

as far as head gaskets go, I dont think toyota has built an engine that doesnt have this problem to some extent (5m,7m,3litre,4age etc...)  or further more pretty much most toyota engines have some sorta weak spot that can turn serious if given a chance..... how come no one ever talks aboot the fact that 22r timing chains (84+) are junk and that the guides dont last...

I think that the early toyota 3 litres had some issues and being that toyota is toyota, they stand behind their product 100%.... nobody should have had to have paid for the headgasket upgrade...toyota took the hit for that one...
if there is a reoccuring headgasket problem, it amazes me that no one ever really checks or talks aboot checking the head or block for warpage..... if your vehicle is second hand there is a good chance that you dont know the complete history of that engine and it could have been overheated which would cause headgasket issues as well down the road...

I wheel with a bunch of guys with 3 litres all with at least 300,000km's on them and they have all been good engines...and none of these engines have been babied either....lots of them see the rev limiter quite regularly...
I do think that they are underpowered a little but really, what early toyota isnt???

I think these engines are ok and wouldnt scare me to run one...

[furrballs95]

i have a 3.0 that has almost 124k on it the head gasket blew last summer and i had those fixed and it runs awesome now. i also had a 91 extracab that i went thre 2 3.0 but that was also because i beat the flopp out of the truck all in all i can say that the 3.0 is a great motor if you take care of it.

[BLACKDOG]

the 3.0 isn't a great motor, but it isn't a terrible one either.  I've had some pretty bad experiences with it, went through 2 motors in 2005, but I'm still driving around on a third one.    I run 35"s, used to run 37"s with 5.29s, its a bit underpowered, but not really that big of a deal.  When they've been running my motors have never let me down, one got me home with a cracked block, and I drove the other most of the summer with bad piston rings.    It happens   If you keep on top of the fluids, and don't let them get low, you'll probably be alright.  This isn't the kind of motor that you can let run almost dry.    If the truck you're looking at has been taken care of, you'll do alright, don't run because of the motor that is in it.

[hammerdown]

thx for the replies! 

Blackdog, what happened with your first 2 motors? did you have to pull 4th up every hill with ur 35-37's? just kind of wondering, I've driven my buddies with 35's a few times and he's got 5:29's, it deffinately isn't overpowered, I'll say that, but once your up and runnin it's fine. How do you do on gas mileage? I'm guessing 15mpg with 35's? roughly

bottom line is would you buy a nice truck with this motor in it or shy away no matter how nice the truck is?

[BLACKDOG]

MY first motor was the original, had about 190,000 when it started actiing up.  Got milkshake oil, the whole works, so I pulled the heads, had them redone, and tossed 'em back on.  Didn't work, actually did the head process twice, 1st with just the drivers bank, then with both.  Pulled the motor, and threw in a motor from a private owner.  This one ran well for about 2 mos, then developed some blow by, and a hunger for oil.  I pulled that motor in sept, and put in the one I have now.  I actually just got the truck running again (electrical problems) so I can't say much about this motor's preformance yet.  So far I'm happy wit hit, it reminds me of when I drove my truck with the original motor at about 165,000  

Hillwise, Its been alright.  I'm not running up hill going 80, but I'm not holding everone back doing 35 40 either.  Its only the good grades that I've got to drop to 4th, 5th usually does the trick.  Gas milage I got roughly 16-18, mabye 20 in my old engine, 10-12 in the one I had last summer, and my new one I haven't figured it out yet, but so far I'd say its been in the high teens as well.

Bottom line, it'd have to be up to the truck.  If its got a good maintenace history, and has been taken care of, I don't see why not.  If I found another truck for the right price, I'd probably do it again   Its not a great motor, but if you treat it well, it usually takes care of you

[wa4x4]

Well when I destroyed mine I checked it that morning, it was fine. I drove 100+ miles over the pass and when I got there it sounded like crap and I soon found out why.

[whiteman]

I have never owned one but a few close friends have one or two.
 
My buddy Ray has a 89 short bed with a 3.0l, he rebuilt it at like 215k.  It was still running strong but he let a friend barrow it and he over heated it.  After that it just ran like so he rebuilt it and holy crap that motor is sweet.  He has 2 1/4 into a 40 flow master and 3" out, the thing sounds Bad AS$.  He has 5.29's with 37's he say's it feels close to stock but wishes he would have stayed with the 35's just for the added power, he could do dry pavment donuts, and I mean a real donut not some f*g ass drift. 

The other buddy of mine has a 91 3.0l and it has 240k on it, runs awsome.  He also has a 89 excab with the 3.0l and he just rebuilt it after 260K.

[furrballs95]

anyone know any little tricks to squeeze anymore juice outta the 3.0 i got a k&n filter and a glass pack but i'm gonna be puttin a dynomax super flow on it here soon. but is ther anything else that can be done thats  not going to crush the wallet

[BLACKDOG]

anyone know any little tricks to squeeze anymore juice outta the 3.0 i got a k&n filter and a glass pack but i'm gonna be puttin a dynomax super flow on it here soon. but is ther anything else that can be done thats  not going to crush the wallet

header, good plug wires and plugs, exhaust and intake.  I've heard that running a snorkel on them does make a difference, gets the intake outta the road dust   Also, in CA at least, when it is timed to pass smog, that isn't the best running position for the timing.  A lot of people don't realize that   I know you're not in CA, but something to think about?

[hammerdown]

thx for the replies!   the truck I may be interested in, at the moment anyways, has 105,000 original miles and it is supposed to run good and not need anything done to it? 

[furrballs95]

thanx for the info BLACKDOG   i was thinking about puttin a snorkle on my truck but i wanted to make my own, you know of anyone that has put one on a reg cab with the 3.0 in it

[BLACKDOG]

thanx for the info BLACKDOG   i was thinking about puttin a snorkle on my truck but i wanted to make my own, you know of anyone that has put one on a reg cab with the 3.0 in it

I don't know of anyone, but I'm sure it wouldn't be hard.  I actually have a K&N airfilter on my truck, the cone winds up sitting right behind the headlight. 

If I were to put a snorkel on my truck, I'd probably use  ABS piping, run a 90* angle from the filter tubing, through the fender, and the either use the safari snorkel (for looks) or just run ABS as high as you want to go.  Someone on the board actually posted how they designed a removable snorkel, in the rig gallery. If you aren't gunning for looks, an ABS snorkel is definitely the way to go, and you could do it for less than $10

[gedean]

My 89 4Runner has the 3.0 in it.  I have had a very good experience with it and I'm at almost 200k and counting.  What I've been told is that the reason the 3.0s have the problem with the head gasket is the proximity of the coolant passage to the cylinder in the back on each head is close enough that it does not allow for much gasket material to clamp.  The higher pressures from the exhaust's stock routing and some time can cause the gasket to go sometimes.  Putting a header and a good exhaust on the motor goes a long way to fixing the problem though.  I haven't had any problems with mine, and the power while not stellar is enough for me... but I've just got 31s on my 4Runner (DD) not 37s.

[toymech]

 The 3.o is a good engine,it has a fair share of characteristics that make it not as reliable as a 22r engine. The engine is considerably much more involved to work on compared to a 22re,and had a recall due to toyota using (get this) graphite head gaskets. Not only do the gaskets leak like sivs,but in some cases were installed backwards when the engines were built. If you happen to be lucky enough to have a 3vz-fe 3.0 a few years back,if your dealer found water in your short block from leaking original gaskets=you got a new short block compliments of toyota motor corp. I think its a good engine though very under powered,but dont compare it to a 22re. A 22re can run with a bag of sand in the oil pan,lol. Later.    Mike

[furrballs95]

my buddy got one of the 3vzefe motors when his head gaskets went it came strait from japan. it by far the most powerful 3.0 i have ever sceen. i just put a new highflow cant and a dynomax superflow on my 3.0 today sounds good gave me alot more bottom end

[toymech]

 All the 3vz-fe engines are 3.o that we speak of. The 3vz-fe engines came in all v6 trucks from 88 to 95. 95 and up are 5vz engines=I like these engines way more than the 3vz. More power. Lets just say the #RZ-fe is the closest well get today to a nice reliable 22re.

[Kurlee Daddee]

I had a 3.0 V6 in my 94 Runner and I would never own one again. Mine was included in the recall TSB, and was fixed under warranty. But the damage was too severe after it was fixed. And within a year, it had sucked a valve and needed $3k in work to be road worthy again. So I traded it for a WRX. The rest is history. And this is another reason why I chose a Toyota with a 22RE.

[Plowking]

I have the 3.0 3vze and had a local shop rebuild a running core, My best advise would be if you have one rebuilt go to someone that knows the motor and dosent compare it to a chevy v6, I got the thing running dont get me wrong it runs awesome with the k and n intake kit and the downey headers with 2.5 exhaust. But I have an annoying valve tap and dont  have the time to adjust the valves properly. If I ahd to do it again I would have went with the 24 valve 200 Hp engine

[eddyb]

255,000 miles and still runs like a top.  I run the same hills of Western Pa. that boner and furry run.

[furrballs95]

hey my 3.0 is got the same loud valve tap that you are talkin about its starting to get anyoing is there anything that i should be worried about with it doing that ? 
     

I have the 3.0 3vze and had a local shop rebuild a running core, My best advise would be if you have one rebuilt go to someone that knows the motor and dosent compare it to a chevy v6, I got the thing running dont get me wrong it runs awesome with the k and n intake kit and the downey headers with 2.5 exhaust. But I have an annoying valve tap and dont have the time to adjust the valves properly. If I ahd to do it again I would have went with the 24 valve 200 Hp engine