4 cyl issues?

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I love mine, more reliable than the v6 because of the lack of a timing belt. Mine had a couple small leaks but that's it. I'd say the biggest issue is the cast exhaust manifold loves to crack right between cyl 2 and 3. There is an oem upgraded header that's a welded tube style from 2001+ tacomas.
 
I've got a 2000 4cyl with 135K and it can barely get out of its own way! of course, YMMV!
soon to inherit a 97 6cyl 4WD, feels like driving a hotrod!
 
Not, able to really comment as mines got the 5vz. But Kryptoroxx has the 4banger and hasn't had any major problems with it. I know he put headers on it so he doesn't have to worry about the exhaust manifold cracking. I can say though, helping him do anything under the hood makes me jealous as we can actually reach in there unlike the v6 which requires the hands of a small child to even get into.
 
Nope nothing major, Valve Adjustment, cracked exhaust manifold and a leaking oil 'cooler' assembly, are the only problems I can think of on it.
LCE headers will really bump up the power as well.

Its a GREAT engine in front of a 5speed. Fuel efficient and decent power in a 3rd gen.
 
Lots of advantages to the 3rz if you ask me. BattleWagonActual is right. I have gobs of room to work and add custom stuff but that isn't the end all be all either. If the 3rz is attached to an automatic......it does not have my vote at least in a 4runner. I have a 5spd 4wd and I do just fine up hill. As long as you aren't heavy on the skinny pedal it will sip gas and maintenance is easy. 250k and I have had to do the headers, valves (once), and currently I'm chasing a small leak on the oil filter housing.

The exhaust manifold is the only weak link imo. At 230k a 3rz is just getting it's second wind! They will go for 500k properly maintained.
 
Lots of advantages to the 3rz if you ask me. BattleWagonActual is right. I have gobs of room to work and add custom stuff but that isn't the end all be all either. If the 3rz is attached to an automatic......it does not have my vote at least in a 4runner. I have a 5spd 4wd and I do just fine up hill. As long as you aren't heavy on the skinny pedal it will sip gas and maintenance is easy. 250k and I have had to do the headers, valves (once), and currently I'm chasing a small leak on the oil filter housing.

The exhaust manifold is the only weak link imo. At 230k a 3rz is just getting it's second wind! They will go for 500k properly maintained.

I JUST did my oil filter housing. It's a formed o ring with a standard o ring on the oil tube from the pump, this one is important to change too, as you don't want oil bypassing the filter ;). Maybe 15 bucks in parts, and takes only about 20 mins to do as its only 3 bolts.
 
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I JUST did my oil filter housing. It's a formed o ring with a standard o ring inside. Maybe 15 bucks in parts, and takes only about 20 mins to do.
I would have already done mine but I guessed it was the oil pan first so I dropped the diff and everything.....to not fix it lol.

Did you take your header off and do you have to drain all the oil. I changed it when I did the oil pan.
 
My 96 Tacoma TRD Sport had the 2.7l and it did just fine. It n had no issues and was more motor than i expected from a 4 cyl. It was a 5spd though which helps. The 4runner is also heavier. The 3vz is a goid little motor and i woukd nit thunk twice abiut having another rig with the 2.7l in it. :guitar3:
 
I would have already done mine but I guessed it was the oil pan first so I dropped the diff and everything.....to not fix it lol.

Did you take your header off and do you have to drain all the oil. I changed it when I did the oil pan.

I didn't take off the header, but I have the oem shorty header on there so it's a little less crowded. I also did it during an oil change, but you won't have to dump the oil to do it, you will loose the small amount in the filter though. Just top it off after, also go to the car wash and wash all that oil off there after to make sure it doesent continue to leak.

My oil pan is also weeping a little bit. It's not serious enough to do yet, but it will be in my future.
 
All the pros and cons of the 3RZ have been gone over pretty well I think, I love mine, sure it's slow, but what can you expect from a 2.7 turning 35's.
 
I think that is the only subject that has not been discussed. The 3rz responds very well to tuning period. Even keeping the engine na can be built to match and surpass the 5vz without doing anything more than bolt on parts.
 
When I drive my wife's Tacoma, I wish I had a 3.4, but when I fill up, I loves me my 2.7. OK, it does have a problem moving the auto 4runner, but I loves it anyway. 180K, no problems.

:drum:
 
The nice thing about the shorty is there is no need to re design the exhaust. It just bolts right in factory fit. I just ordered mine thru the dealer for an 01+ tacoma.

A little more power is always nice though!
 
The nice thing about the shorty is there is no need to re design the exhaust. It just bolts right in factory fit. I just ordered mine thru the dealer for an 01+ tacoma.

A little more power is always nice though!

The LCE is not CA legal for my 2000, is what you got CARB approved?
 

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