You have done the required maintenance to your current truck. Your suspension & tires are new. You now know exactly where you stand with your current truck. If the HG goes, deal with it at that point. Getting rid of it because of a 'chance' of an issue is unwarranted. Keep your current truck, drive it and be happy.
Trade in my V6 for a V8 or sink $$ into the 6?
- Thread starter hearno
- Start date
gshadow325
New member
To answer your title question.
A v8 will also have its own set of problems that would need to be addressed. I would suggest if you can get a test drive in another v8 with comparable mods to your v6 too see what it's going to be like.
I also drove v6s only after I bought my v8 and I feel the 8 was a better choice.
Like Mike said, drive it then it will come to you.
A v8 will also have its own set of problems that would need to be addressed. I would suggest if you can get a test drive in another v8 with comparable mods to your v6 too see what it's going to be like.
I also drove v6s only after I bought my v8 and I feel the 8 was a better choice.
Like Mike said, drive it then it will come to you.
preacher35
New member
I respectfully disagree. The OP is not asking us to make the decision for him. He's just looking for differing opinions/viewpoints that maybe he has not thought of yet. Why not get the opinion of others who may have experience or ideas that [MENTION=97032]hearno[/MENTION] has not yet considered? In fact, that's the whole reason why T4R.org is here!
preacher35
New member
Hey hearno, I understand your dilemma PERFECTLY. I too, wish I had a V8 (did I just quote a cheesy commercial?). My 2 cents are this: I've had my V6 since the day it was brand spanking new on the Toyota lot. I know every nook, cranny, squeak and click that it makes. I know what has been done to it and I know that I can trust it. That being said, if a presumably well maintained used V8 presented itself, that had all maintenance records and the price was right, yes, I would probably jump on it, and hit it with mods later. That being said, I am currently modding my V6 with the intention of MOVING THOSE MODS OVER to the V8 that I intend to purchase in February. Yes, I will be purchasing a second Runner and will keep the V6. Why not have the best of both worlds?
RAWTAZ
New member
Every Drive train ever made is going to have idiosyncrasies. Many times you are just trading one issue for another. There is nothing inherent in a head gasket failure to the V6, it is a function of poor maintenance and or a failure of a part that has too many miles on it.
The extra weight of the V8 and the hit in the pocket for the gas milage would take it out of the equation for me.
How many miles are on your V6? Start looking for another V6 motor and do a rebuild on it with ported heads and then swap out your old one for the rebuild.
Change out the Radiator at the same time along with a new water pump and you are on your way to another 200K+ miles.
Taz
The extra weight of the V8 and the hit in the pocket for the gas milage would take it out of the equation for me.
How many miles are on your V6? Start looking for another V6 motor and do a rebuild on it with ported heads and then swap out your old one for the rebuild.
Change out the Radiator at the same time along with a new water pump and you are on your way to another 200K+ miles.
Taz
wnelax04sr5
New member
think of your 4runner like your girlfriend.
you know your girlfriend, you understand her various nuances and quirks, you know how to keep her happy, you've put time and money into her.
just because your girlfriend has a history of cancer in her family, doesnt mean you would dump her for another, would it?
i say dance with the girl who brought you here, if you NEED to have the v8 then i guess you need what you need, but like [MENTION=15213]MikeInNH[/MENTION] said, i don't know of anyone whose had a HG issue with the V6 who didn't overheat it. If thats what is scaring you away from it, i wouldn't be too worried. Its easier to pay attention to engine temps and be gentle with it than to start over with a totally new vehicle.
you know your girlfriend, you understand her various nuances and quirks, you know how to keep her happy, you've put time and money into her.
just because your girlfriend has a history of cancer in her family, doesnt mean you would dump her for another, would it?
i say dance with the girl who brought you here, if you NEED to have the v8 then i guess you need what you need, but like [MENTION=15213]MikeInNH[/MENTION] said, i don't know of anyone whose had a HG issue with the V6 who didn't overheat it. If thats what is scaring you away from it, i wouldn't be too worried. Its easier to pay attention to engine temps and be gentle with it than to start over with a totally new vehicle.
nevada
Senior Member
driven the exact same way? theres no way the v6 will get double the v8. they are only off 1-2 mpg as it is.
its really not that bad. my v8 gets almost the same as my previous 4 cyl(22RE) and is a hell of a lot more fun doing it.
Radial GT
New member
I know your dilemma first hand. I recently sold my v6 sr5 for a limited v8 for towing my car to the race track, and my boat long distances and I am loving the extra power! Honestly the v6 feels livelier behind the wheel when not towing, but towing a load forget about it, v8 is awesome. Plus it is a limited, which I didn't think I would need/like. But as it turns out the extra amenities are well received by my wife (dual zone heat). Go for it!
I would respectfully disagree with your assessment. Perhaps you missed his last question.
As you know, this forum is chocked full of threads attempting to answer the age-old question of V6 vs. V8. There doesn't seem to be a consensus either way. Each feels the power plant in their 4R is the best.
Daren
Years ago, we had a '67 390 Mustang and a '68 Volvo with the B-18B 4 cylinder. Both got 16 MPG due to how much pedal was needed to get it going.driven the exact same way? theres no way the v6 will get double the v8. they are only off 1-2 mpg as it is.
its really not that bad. my v8 gets almost the same as my previous 4 cyl(22RE) and is a hell of a lot more fun doing it.
Daren
preacher35
New member
Geez.... Seriously? Look, I don't want to go off on a ridiculous tangent with you, but, no, I did not miss his last question. I do not think...no, I KNOW that [MENTION=97032]hearno[/MENTION] was not asking us to make up his mind for him. Do you really take everything that literally? I am quite confident that, as I stated in my previous post, that he was actually asking for our opinions, with his last question. I know hearno well enough to know that he is not a linguini-spined moron who needs strangers on a forum to make his decisions for him. I mean, really. Have a little more faith in your fellow T4R.org members....
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chompster4runner
New member
Get a V8!!!! Wish I was able to find one. Time was not on my side. But I will get one in the future. Hehe:banana:
gshadow325
New member
am i reading it right.....welcome to the v8 club
preacher35
New member
I do not know who "Sparky" is, but I give up. Can't change rude.
hearno
Senior Member
I meant I'm getting the V6's windows tinted and will be adding the other mods. If the gasket goes, it goes. I don't owe much on it and I do love it so I'll be keeping it. I'll be getting a second; sportier, project car instead. 91ish MR2 or something along those lines.
gshadow325
New member
you want a right hand drive 92ish mr2?
it has a full body kit, two snorkels and some kind of wheels. i forget. its my friends car.
pm coming.
Small detail, I said 50% more, which is not double. Our V8 gets ~14mpg. 50% more is ~21mpg, which I understand is possible by some V6 owners which I consider to be sane & otherwise reasonable people.
Double would be ~28mpg. Only car-based or diesel SUVs are going to stand a chance at approaching this.
Now, if you consider ~14 to be way too low, I'd like to know about it, because quite frankly I wasn't really prepared for the amount of fuel this thing drinks.
