shilohloki
New member
About 3 years ago, I bought a 1990 4Runner 3.0L V6 manual. After new sparkplugs, wires, etc, it ran GREAT, getting a lot of power on hills and 20-22 mpg. At the time, I had no idea this was very uncharacteristic of these engines.
So early this year the mechanic told me the engine would soon need replacing (sucking a valve or something like that). I used my tax refund to have the engine rebuilt and a multitude of other parts replaced including the clutch, timing belt, axle, brakes, and MANY others. I put lots of money into it because I love it and intended to drive it a long time. It had 194,000 miles on the engine when it was rebuilt.
After the rebuild, I get 16 mpg if I'm lucky and the power is non-existent. It was rebuilt to factory specs, but the guy doing the rebuild told us someone had tried to do their own work on the engine in the past. So now I suspect they had somehow made modifications to the engine that gave it the great MPGs and power, and when I rebuilt it to factory speces, I took that away.
My question is, is there a way to get it back? I have a long commute and can't afford 16 mpgs. Also lots of hills, and the power issue is making me crazy, especially since I know how it drove before.
I've had it at may mechanics before I came to the realization that it had probably been modified somehow by the pevious owner. I kept telling them, I know this car and it ISN'T driving right, and they kept telling me there was nothing wrong. Now I know there technically isn't - it's running just like it's supposed to. But I want my old engine back!!
Is there anything I can do?
So early this year the mechanic told me the engine would soon need replacing (sucking a valve or something like that). I used my tax refund to have the engine rebuilt and a multitude of other parts replaced including the clutch, timing belt, axle, brakes, and MANY others. I put lots of money into it because I love it and intended to drive it a long time. It had 194,000 miles on the engine when it was rebuilt.
After the rebuild, I get 16 mpg if I'm lucky and the power is non-existent. It was rebuilt to factory specs, but the guy doing the rebuild told us someone had tried to do their own work on the engine in the past. So now I suspect they had somehow made modifications to the engine that gave it the great MPGs and power, and when I rebuilt it to factory speces, I took that away.
My question is, is there a way to get it back? I have a long commute and can't afford 16 mpgs. Also lots of hills, and the power issue is making me crazy, especially since I know how it drove before.
I've had it at may mechanics before I came to the realization that it had probably been modified somehow by the pevious owner. I kept telling them, I know this car and it ISN'T driving right, and they kept telling me there was nothing wrong. Now I know there technically isn't - it's running just like it's supposed to. But I want my old engine back!!
Is there anything I can do?
