engine life

[doncorleone]

i am looking into purchasing a 1995 4runner. i just had a quick question. i know these things are animals and their engines last forever, but how many miles is too many when i purchase a used 4runner? there are a couple i am looking at around 115,000- 125,000 miles. would i be having a lot of engine problems soon down the road, or will i be safe? any help would be great. thanks guys.

 

[Paul2660]

Things to look for

I don't have a 4-runner with that much mileage, but do have a 1992 Landcruiser with 225K.

Toyota does make excellent engines, but IMO what more important is how well were they cared for.

1. Do the 4-runners you are looking at have any kind of M/A record, if so how often did they change the oil and did they use Synthetic or any type of blend. It makes a difference in wear and life.

2. Did they change the transfer and tranny, as many times people seem to overlook these and I believe Toyota on the year models you are looking are required every 30K.

3. Does the raditor leak hold full or does it lose fuild. If you are losing fluid and can't find where this points to a head gasket and that can cost a bunch. Of all the engine issues that the year model you are looking at seems to have, the water pump failing and or head gasket creaking a slow leak, seem to be very common issues. I know of 2 people who had the slow leak of fluid and let it go too long and lost the head.

Besides this, just normal checks of the hoses and belts etc. I believe you should consider checking the timing chain also.

Most important is a good M/A record.

Paul C.

 

[doncorleone]

when you say change the transfer and tranny every 30,000miles, are you talking about changing the fluid?

 

[jharris2]

when you say change the transfer and tranny every 30,000miles, are you talking about changing the fluid?

Yep.

 

[Paul2660]

Yes, I believe the Toyota Manual will have required the tranny fluid to be changed every 30K miles.

I made it a point to go ahead and also do the diffs and the transfer case. On the 4 runner you will only have the read diff to worry about as you have a independent front.

Paul c.

 

[Uneek]

If it's a 3.0 V6, which is the 3VZ make sure the head gasket has been done by Toyota. There was a service campaign out for those.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

What's your price range? All 4Runners live up to Toyota quality but by the 3rd gen they got a much better 3.4 as opposed to the 3.0 which is kind of a weak engine.

 

[doncorleone]

my price range is around 6-7000. i am selling my ford truck, and that's about all i will get for that. i have been looking at 95's because that was the last year before the new model and bigger engine, and the price goes up for the bigger engine

 

[digital0ne]

I have 1994 and I am at around 164,400 miles


I am just now for the first time expierencing mechanical troubles with my engine, although I do not think them to be anything major (but by no means do I expect it to be cheap, as I am drawn towards quality work.)

The problems I am having are basically loss of power across the board, espishally at lower revs and stress causes the engine to sputter. I am taking it into the shop tomorrow, and will advise you of the diagnosis.


Other then that, the biggest problems I have had are a leaky power stearing pump, and a pinhole leak in the highest possible location on the radiatior. The rest of the work done on my car has all been maint. work, belts and fluids, etc

My dream car is a 95 4Runner with a Diesel V6 so even without the diesel, I think you will be happy. I have run my car long hiway miles and rough off roading both recreationaly and with my search and rescue, and i have NEVER had any reliablity issues. Even now, my car will run, just doesn't feel very happy when it does.

-Elliott

 

[elemint]

Re: Things to look for

Wheather or not they used synthetic makes no difference UNLESS they did not change the oil every 10k miles or more. A great portion of what makes oil changes important is to remove particles from the engine. Hence stardard oil that is changed every 5k miles is as good as synthetic. Those who have synthetic changes and change the oil every 3k-5kmiles are doing nothing but wasting $.

... did they use Synthetic or any type of blend. It makes a difference in wear and life.

paul C. [/B]