3.0 Opinion

[92-SR5]

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.

That is for sure, when I swapped the trans in mine, it was about the most annoying thing in the world to try to get to all the bellhousing bolts on tight. Can't get much easier to work on than a 22re though.

 

[Thurlo76]

my uncle has a 3.0 in his 92 and i have a 22re in my 87. over on the oregon coast he can hardly keep up on the roads along the ocean, all hilly and curvy. i can hold a constant 65 going up hill in 4th gear and he puts his into 3rd to stay behind me, but he sure can beat me off the line but i take the lead when we hit about 45mph or so... each engine has its own abilities but i think in the end the 22 series are the most reliable by far. more after market stuff, cheaper parts, more available parts, can find them almost anywhere, and way easier to work on.

plus ive always loved the sound of the 4 banger. that genuine toyota sound that you can hear coming down the street....

 

[ktodog]

I had a 1994 4WD 4Runner with the 3.0. Very smooth engine and I am pretty sure you get some beefed up running gear. Mine had the HG recall performed by Toyota at 76k and I drove it to 120k with no issues. My Chief Complaint.....FUEL MILEAGE WAS INCREDIBLY BAD!!!!! I mean 10-14 tops. Asked the dealer to check it out due to the poor mileage and he laughed.....

Fuel Economy site says it all.......

 

[mattm94]

Head gaskets were enough of a problem to cause more than one person I know personally to get a NEW 3.0 long block under the campaign. 7M inlines were also known for HG failure, and either engine could avert disaster by torquing the HG bolts properly (or better yet replacing them with studs) instead of to "Factory Spec".

3.0 is a **** that will take you to the end of the earth and back once the HG issues are taken care of. Most power/MPG issues can be directly related to the exhaust/emissions, and to a certain extent the hydraulic transfer case in the auto.

Ever driven a late 80's/early 90's chevy 305? The '89 emissions mandate was TOUGH on the HP/TQ of everybody, and they all burned more petrol and made less power to make emissions "Cleaner". FWIW