3.0 Opinion

[rlpjw1959]

Hi All - Just picked up a 89 4runner with a 3.0. 170K miles. Auto Tranny...

I have owned both 4 and 6 cylinder moter on the first gen 4runners and I'm very impressed with the truck.. Runs great OD is awsome and 4X4 is just excellant.

The 3.0 seems to catch alot of Sh** on the site, but I have to say I'm impresesd and very happy with the truck. It seems to have great pick up speed and cruises great!

Anyway just wanted to chime in for anyone that could be considering the motor. If it has been maintained go for it. It is a great motor. The ONLY downside is gas mileage. Looks like 16.5 MPG. running around. I could be 18 on long runs.

My .02

 

[hoe_nah]

I love the 3.0 I've owned both as well....
I prefer the 3vze over the 22r/re
only down side is MPG

 

[slipknoter106]

I love my 3.0 it hasn't let me down yet. When I bought the truck it had 179k. I drove from Oklahoma to Missiouri and from there my brother drove it home to Georgia with no problems. Then from Georgia to Kentucky, as of right now i have exactly 185k. I bought the truck last Febuary. I drive it daily but I really dont drive much. In that time, I've put whole new EGR system and then a basic tune up stuff like spark plugs, Dist. cap and fuel filter etc. etc. Also bought other Misc. parts as well but I can't complain. My father has a 22r with almost 500k miles on it. the 22 series motor are very dependable as well. Me personally either motor is very good!

 

[Hyde802]

Glad your happy with the truck! 3.g0 all the way!!

Give it a good tune up and change all your drive train related fluids. Should help with the MPGs.

 

[1st Gen 4Runner]

I had a 3.0 V6 in an '88 Xtra Cab. And had the truck for 8 years before it was stolen and I never had a problem with it. A very common issue with the 3.0 is blown out head gaskets. In the 8 years and 160,000+ miles I owned that truck, this issue never presented it's self to me. But then again I modified the exhaust a bit by taking out that tube that goes from one bank to the other, and ran dual exhaust all the way back. I don't recommend doing this if you have local smog or visual inspection in your state. But in a nutshell... You will be happy with the 3.0 3vze, I know I was!

 

[Footofgod]

For a daily driver, the 3.0 is great. I take mine off road with no issues except it doesn't have much climbing power till you swith to 4L.

 

[Bear_F_ucker]

Love my 3.0, dont care about MPG, just love this truck in general.

 

[the great him]

the only thing the 3.slow is good for is a boat anchor

 

[Hyde802]

Most who hate the 3.0 owned/drove one with an auto.

And When my 92 was a DD, with BFG AT 30x9.5 I was getting anywhere from 17-21 mpg. My stock 4runner was getting 18-22. Not a huge difference IMO.

OP: Glad your liking yours! Now lets see some pics!

 

[badhabt]

I've got a 3.slow in my 5 speed-88 runner. Over 300,000 miles on it, and still purrs. Gets decent mpg's too. Oh, and no HG probs either.

 

[rlpjw1959]

Pics

Rocking the Soft Top. Interior is just as good as the exterior!

"Kid" - Get a job...

 

[Hyde802]

"Kid" - Get a job...

I dont know if id go that far. You did ask for opinions....:toilet3:

 

[fl3xforc3r3d]

I bought my runner with a 3.0 that had 235K on it and it ran great. showed about 130 compression warm. swapped the old one out for a rebuilt one with 20K on it.

 

[GonOvr]

I'm a horsepower junkie so I always want MOAR!

I had a 3.0 5spd and ran the dog piss out of that thing just so I could toss it. It never gave up on me and I got 17mpg with 5.29s and 37's. It finally started leaking coolant out the back of the intake (about 3 drops a day), that was my justification for swapping it out. Still ran great, I guess you could call me an activist of the anti-stock regiment.

 

[KenBrunner]

207K on my 88 3.0 man trans. Owned it since nearly new. Just had my 2nd waterpump after another 100k - Overheated badly both times. Never warped the head, thankfully. NO headgasket problems. I STILL get around 21mpg mixed hwy/city - I drive modestly. 3.slow?? Feels like a rocket to me when I stomp on it? Love it. Never gonna let it go...

I thought the theory is the 3.0 has to work less than the 4cly and that makes it work less and last longer and get better fuel econ? Perhaps some of that is true.

 

[the great him]

"Kid" - Get a job...

i think your arrogance speaks for itself.

 

[Thurlo76]

whats with all this hostility?

 

[4runnertank]

I had 286k till I just put a brand new one in. For what I do with it, I have no problem with it. And all you hardcore "GEARS GEARS GEARS" guys are gunna laugh at me, but I run 36x15.5's with steel rims on my stock 4:10 gears. Talk about a power loss. But hey, I don't run at 4500 rpm's on the highway haha :bigok:

Yea 3.0's a solid engine, especially 5 speed

 

[92-SR5]

In my opinion, it is not worth it because of the hassle of doing HG work and the constant lack of MPGs.
I made the mistake of buying a 88 4runner with the 3.0 in it. The only upside was that I made more money parting the truck out than I bought it for. Personally I don't think it lacked that much power however, my 22re is WAY more gutless than the 3vze, but I really don't mind.

 

[the great him]

idk i have some friends with the 3vze, and my 22re truck is just as quick as theirs(both have stock gears and 33s and both are extra cabs). sure the 3.0 makes more power, but its heavier, so the extra power it makes is robbed buy its weight. but i also get about 17-19mpg around town 2ith my 22re and can get 25mpg on the freeway(thats with a light bar and a SFA) i dont see any 3vzes doing that. and the 22re is so much easier to work on, their is way more room in the engine bay, and "getting to things" is much easier than on the 3vze.