3rz abuse

[Bishard]

97 4x4 2.7L 5sd

During a 2.5 hour drive in torrential downpours and roadway ponding my yota began sputtering, shaking, and knocking like a jackhammer. This occurred 6 times during the drive and lasted anywhere from 5-20 seconds. Got home let her cool off and checked the oil. Oil looked great but the hose normally connected to the intake had come off. It was sucking in rain water misfiring terrible during the trip. Reconnected the hose changed oil and 300 miles later still runs like it did at 140k (has 190k now). I don't think the 3rz is mortal.

 

[kball]

That sporadic rain water probably steam cleaned the engine (same idea as seafoam). Maybe we should all try it...?

 

[SJC]

Hahaha^ :bravo:

 

[fastolds]

I would consider them to be one of the most durable engines in the last 25+ years. I just recently went through mine at 216K miles, and only went through it because it had coolant leaking into #1 cylinder. Before that, I had only redone the valve cover gasket. During disassembly, i found that it really didn't need to replace most of the parts that I did.

Keep oil in it, keep it cool and it should last forever.

 

[Bishard]

For Sure

A while back I took a nap at a rest stop off 95 and left it running with A/C on. Woke up an hour and half later and realized it was boiling. Heat gauge above red pointed almost due north. Let it sit for a bit and it was fine like nothing happened. Sits idle at boiling point for an hour then gets me back on 95 at 80 mph. Definitely close to bulletproof. And just as much if not more juice than the 3.0 v6.

 

[thor999]

A while back I took a nap at a rest stop off 95 and left it running with A/C on. Woke up an hour and half later and realized it was boiling. Heat gauge above red pointed almost due north. Let it sit for a bit and it was fine like nothing happened. Sits idle at boiling point for an hour then gets me back on 95 at 80 mph. Definitely close to bulletproof. And just as much if not more juice than the 3.0 v6.

wow, really? probably don't want to try that again... but glad you got away with it :cowboy:

 

[snow junky]

nice

 

[MDST]

The 4Runners, Tacomas, Prados, etc are blessed with Toyota reliability and there isn’t a lot that goes wrong in a well cared.

The valves in this engine can be prone to burn damage. This is generally caused by the valves wearing and not contacting the cylinder head properly, which leads them to overheat. It is essential to ensure that regular servicing has included valve clearance checks to reduce the risk of getting stung for the cost of replacing valves. Compression testing can help show up faults.

Don't go with thick oil no matter how many miles have. There have been some reports of failures in the balance shaft bearings.

Balance Shaft Removal Kit - 3RZ

3RZ has been used in many race applications and has proved its durability with continued abuse.

Cheers

 

[Bishard]

Thanks. I'm considering replacing leaky valve cover gasket this weekend. I'll post pics if the cams look like smores.

 

[Doc2012]

Here's some abuse for ya.....

 

[Bishard]

aw man how did that turn out for you?

 

[ironhippy]

A while back I took a nap at a rest stop off 95 and left it running with A/C on. Woke up an hour and half later and realized it was boiling. Heat gauge above red pointed almost due north. Let it sit for a bit and it was fine like nothing happened. Sits idle at boiling point for an hour then gets me back on 95 at 80 mph. Definitely close to bulletproof. And just as much if not more juice than the 3.0 v6.

I busted the rear heating lines on my 98 on top of a mountain in the summer time.

My runner overheated 3 times before I was able to find enough water to fill the radiator back up.

I then drove 7 hours home (normally a 4 hour drive) stopping every 15 minutes (or when the temp gauge started rising again) to fill the radiator up with water.

Truck drove problem free for another 50,000 kms afterwards and is still running strong for the current owner.

 

[Doc2012]

aw man how did that turn out for you?

Haha. Pulled the plugs, got the water out of it. Rinsed the ECU off, ad she started right up. Still running.

Had to replace the MAF & starter.

Had the pink milkshake. Flushed it and it drove fine until Monday. (Honestly think that trans was about to go out anyway. It whined like a MFer.)

Replaced the trans. She's still running great.