V6 or V8

[ben550]

While searching for my perfect ride I have come across both. I know the v6 uses the timing chain versus the belt in the V8. And then I read a post the other day about an air system the v8 uses that if it breaks is ungodly expensive. (?).
So should I just rule out a V8? I am not pulling anything nor care about gas mileage or power.

I have had V8s and 4wds but found i really did not need them,today i have a V6 and just rear wheel drive. Less weight and less problems to worry about.

Can someone explain the secondary air injection pump? Is this something I need to replace to prevent future problems? The timing belt I get. But the injection pump is worrisome to me for some reason

I didnt know about the air injection pump issue. Link to bypass?

I have owned two v6's and currently own a v8. Both are great engines. If you are concerned about a V8 and that air induction pump acting up just buy a bypass kit, plug it in, and nothing to worry about ever again.

Toyota 4 7L Air Induction Pump Bypass Kit Exhaust Port Plates No Cutting | eBay

There are a few members on here that also make these kits... this one is just too easy. Its a plug and play. Nothing else needed.

 

[m85476585]

I've driven both, and I currently have a V8. That's just what happened to be available when I was looking. I might have slightly preferred a V6 at that time, and I think I slightly prefer a V8 now that I have one, but I'd be happy driving either.

The V6 is a bit more efficient, which doesn't matter much with gas being so cheap, but getting 450 miles on a tank is really nice. If you're driving 85mph you won't get that much range though. You'll be down to around 360-380 miles with a V6 or 320-340 miles with a V8 (assuming 20 gallons useable capacity until the empty light comes on and 18-19 or 16-17mpg based on what I've seen for the 2007-2008 V6 and V8 4runners I've driven at 80-85mph cruising speed)

The extra power of the V8 is nice. It's great in the mountains in Colorado where the lack of oxygen reduces power of all NA engines. It's about 3% less for every 1000 feet, so at 10,000 feet that's a significant reduction. I'd say go for the V8 if you plan on driving in the mountains, towing stuff, carrying 4 adults often, or adding lots of weight like steel bumpers, rock sliders, and skid plates. The V6 is not slow though.

 

[Phlem]

I have the V8 4runner and a V6 Tacoma. The power is great, and I do prefer the V8 but the manifold sound is painfully annoying now. I don't need the power, so if I had my time back I would have went with the 6 in the runner too. Thorley headers would probably fix it but $$$ for a secondary rig isn't always available so not for me for now.

 

[chitown40]

Can someone explain the secondary air injection pump? Is this something I need to replace to prevent future problems? The timing belt I get. But the injection pump is worrisome to me for some reason

Correct me if I am wrong, but the secondary air pump is only in the later model V8s, correct?

I've had a Land Cruiser with the 2UZ-FE and it was a solid, solid motor.
I've had a V6 4Runner and it too was a solid motor, but not nearly as smooth or powerful. The fuel economy difference between the V6 and V8 in combined city/highway use in the midwest (flatlands) was about 2mpg in the V6 favor.

I currently have a 2009 GX470 with the V8 and the secondary air pump. I'm not fretting over a pump failure. The VVT-i motor in the later year GX470 is very smooth and IMOP one of the best motor's that Toyota ever produced.

 

[tysauce]

Ahh yes the Secondary Air Injection Pump is only on the V8s with vvti - totally forgot about that. So 2005+ V8s I believe. For anyone wanting to purchase a bypass kit contact [MENTION=8828]slyfox75[/MENTION] . He sells them for around $40 or something. Very easy install and seems professionally made. [MENTION=87687]LTDSC[/MENTION] if yours is pre vvti you should not even have the pump!

 

[GatorGreg]

You are bugging out man, putting way too much thought into this.

Both the V6 and V8 are great engines - both contribute to the reputation we know the 4Runners carry as being incredibly reliable.

If you search thru the forums, you'll see both engines have their particular "issues", but at the end of the day both are fantastic motors.

I prefer the V8 and drive one myself. Drive both... In the end, I think you'll be happy with whatever motor you get.

This. I've had both engines (although the V8 was in a GX470) and currently I have the V6 in an '05 SR5 4WD. They are both excellent! Since the OP says he doesn't care about towing or power, than I would probably not worry about which engine it has and just get the T4R that matches your preferences with regard to all the myriad of other choices to be made like 4WD v 2WD, paint, leather v cloth, moonroof v no moonroof, etc. One nice thing about the V6 IMO is that the vehicle is a bit lighter and the 4WD system gives you the option of driving in 2WD Hi, 4WD Hi, and 4WD Lo, whereas the V8 only gives you the choice of 4WD Hi or 4WD Lo, so the V6 will give you better fuel economy (especially the '05+ that has the 5spd auto). Eventually gas prices will go up I'm sure. The V8 on the other hand has buttery smooth torque although the V6 is no slouch in this department either.

For me I was mainly concerned about finding one with 4WD and a sunroof and an excellent maintenance history in a color I liked. From there I knew I would like at least an '05 since that was the year the V8 got more powerful and also the year the V6 got the extra cog in the tranny. I always really liked the Pacific Blue T4R, for some reason that color really does it for me, so I was extremely happy to find one with 4WD

 

[RunnerAK]

Just do like we did and get one of each, that way you'll never have any engine related regrets.

 

[srs034runner]

I think the v8 is the more reliable motor in my opinion.

 

[Inv4drZm]

I've said this before I think, if you have to ask this question, chances are you will be happy with either motor. For me, there was no question; V8 or bust.

 

[hikenbike]

While searching for my perfect ride I have come across both. I know the v6 uses the timing chain versus the belt in the V8. And then I read a post the other day about an air system the v8 uses that if it breaks is ungodly expensive. (?).

So should I just rule out a V8? I am not pulling anything nor care about gas mileage or power.

You need to drive them. Then the choice will crazy obvious. The V8 is amazing.

If by air system you mean the Sport that has XREAS, then it can be replaced when the time comes with Bilsteins or other shocks and perform as well if not better. It's exactly what I did.

The 4th gen V8 is the best SUV ever built......it take it over my 5th gen any day.

 

[grantprior13]

v8.. easy choice.. arty:

 

[Utopia]

Thanks for all the responses. I have been looking for a while now and actually am getting a bit sick of not finding one. I killed the service history on this one and it's not bad. Toyota dealership up until about 40k. And then in and out for some regular maintenance. Not the best I have seen but not the worst either. I wanted leather but cloth was fine too. Leather is hard to find around here. I will keep posted. They said there were done scratches on it's so the they were going to work on those. It's got 94k on it do I misspoke earlier. I have looked at a lot and it's hard to keep the straight.

 

[elvislives]

I have had V8s and 4wds but found i really did not need them,today i have a V6 and just rear wheel drive. Less weight and less problems to worry about.

Dude you need a camry station wagon.

 

[GeorgeFF]

I hope they do!

 

[GeorgeFF]

I have to agree

 

[Utopia]

Well they apparently got the bumper scratches out and I am just waiting on a video from them before I head over. The sales person emailed me today that it needed tires after they inspected and they wanted to raise the price $400. But since they already have me one price they were going to honor it. I asked them to hold off on the tires as I was going to put asset of TRD pro tims on it anyway and we're going to change the tires anyway. So they agreed but said I need to let them know if I want it or not by tomorrow even though I have not seen it yet. Which irritated me. So basically I am just waiting on them to finish getting it cleaned up.

 

[colorado4wheeler]

While searching for my perfect ride I have come across both. I know the v6 uses the timing chain versus the belt in the V8. And then I read a post the other day about an air system the v8 uses that if it breaks is ungodly expensive. (?).
So should I just rule out a V8? I am not pulling anything nor care about gas mileage or power.

V8. In a Lexus GX. I think it's 04 and earlier that does not have the secondary air injection. V8 is just so smooth in the Lexus. Even the way it shifts is better. Look at a GX for sure.

 

[GrassFed]

It is hard to call the 6 a great engine. The 8 on the other hand is a monster. There tends to be a lot of hype around the 4runner v6 through the years, the 8 is better in performance and durability. The 6 beats it in fuel economy of course. The Toyota UZ(V8s) engines to date have been very impressive.

For what it is worth,

Matt

 

[knowhutimean]

I was specifically searching out a V8 a couple months ago when I picked up my 05 Sport, however I love the engine and the difference in gas mileage isn't that much

 

[DirtyD61]

I chose the v6 cause of mpg and because I didnt want a full time 4x4 vehicle and liked the timing chain better than the timing belt. Just my .02.