V6 or V8

[Tego]

Another question I have, I plan on lifting the vehicle...what do I check for if it has the OEM rear air suspension. I'm trying to avoid that, to make my life easier when lifting the truck.

 

[jharris2]

Thanks for all the replies!

I tried using the search but it said the words were to small use. ie. V6 vs. V8.

That's why there are wildcards for you to use. The page says:


"Advanced query: Join words with AND, OR and NOT to control your search in more detail.
Add asterisks (*) to use wild cards in your search (*bullet* matches vBulletin etc.)"

 

[Koz]

I disagree....I would pick the V8 over the V6 even if I never towed anything.

Drive both and see if the differences are noticeable/justifiable to you. Anything short of that is a waste of keyboard strokes.

I agree with you 100%. I love the V8 and highly recommend it but the fact is; if the deciding factor is performance, both engines are close in the numbers. The non-VVTi V8 (03-04) was dead even with the V6. I would think that there is approx 2/3 tenths of a second (0-60) between the current engines. The only way to get real performance is some type of forced induction (turbo/supercharger). TRD will never offer a supercharger for the V8 again (especially with the new 5.7). There is a good possibility there will be one for the 4.0 because it is (and will be) available in most Toyota trucks and there has been development by TRD. What I'm saying is there is a potential chance of making some real HP with the V6. When I bought the V8 (in 05) there was a TRD supercharger available for the V8 (which was shortly taken off the market) and not the V6.

Now thinking about it, I've lost a lot of faith (and respect) for TRD and doubt there will ever be any real performance products available for the 4Runner (and other Toyota trucks). They seem to be more interested in making clothing!

Koz

 

[Koz]

I'd have to agree with what others said with regards to towing tho. If you're going to tow a lot - get the V8, otherwise, you're not missing much. Sorry v8 guys, but in my honest opinion, the v8 in the 4R just isn't as impressive as it was in the Jeep - and that's also a 7yr difference. I'll save the rest for another thread, but there's my .02

I have to disagree; I have raced several Jeep 4.7s and I killed them everywhere (From the dig, roll-ons and top speed).

Koz

 

[Koz]

That's :bs: - the magnaflow on the V6 sounds very good.. The only exhaust that sounds bad on the V6 is the Gibson, but that sounds bad on any engine...

I agree, the MagnaFlow sound GREAT on both engines.

Koz

 

[Koz]

I think the "ticking noise" they are referring to is the timing chain. Unless you stand in front of the engine with the hood open, most people would never hear it. Since the V8's have a belt, you'll never hear this noise.

I'd rather have the "Ticking" then have to replace the timing belt at 90K miles!

Koz

 

[boston_kevin]

Another question I have, I plan on lifting the vehicle...what do I check for if it has the OEM rear air suspension. I'm trying to avoid that, to make my life easier when lifting the truck.

First, unless you are going after a Limited, you won't see it. Secondly, you can look inside the springs on the back and see if there are air bags there. If you can't see it there, look inside for a button with a picture of the back of the truck on it with arrows pointing up or down.

If you plan to lift, SR5 or non-X-REAS equipped vehicles are the easiest to lift. X-REAS equipped can be lifted with space technology (Cornfed, Revtek, Daystar), but the ride will be a little less compliant (i.e. more stiff). If you have air leveling, you can lift the front, and use the air leveling to lift the rear of the vehicle, but you cannot add new springs/spacers to an air leveling suspension.

 

[Northof49]

I think the "ticking noise" they are referring to is the timing chain. Unless you stand in front of the engine with the hood open, most people would never hear it. Since the V8's have a belt, you'll never hear this noise.

Nope, you can notice it when the vehicle is driving by and when you're driving it. Most apparent in automatic Tacomas, but it's there in all 4.0 4R's and Tacos. Sounds like a cracked exhaust manifold or a sticky lifter, but it's just the exhaust design or resonance in the aluminum block. I wouldn't think a timing chain should "tick," could be wrong tho....either way the noise is there, and you definetly don't have to go through any procedure to hear it.

Anyways, I've driven many dozens of V6's and they all do it. Some people notice it, others don't, and some examples are louder than others....it's noticeable enough we would get the odd customer worried they had a noisy lifter.

 

[boston_kevin]

Nope, you can notice it when the vehicle is driving by and when you're driving it. Most apparent in automatic Tacomas, but it's there in all 4.0 4R's and Tacos. Sounds like a cracked exhaust manifold or a sticky lifter, but it's just the exhaust design or resonance in the aluminum block. I wouldn't think a timing chain should "tick," could be wrong tho....either way the noise is there, and you definetly don't have to go through any procedure to hear it.

Anyways, I've driven many dozens of V6's and they all do it. Some people notice it, others don't, and some examples are louder than others....it's noticeable enough we would get the odd customer worried they had a noisy lifter.

I guess I'm too used to the tick of solid lifters in my '67 GT500 to notice...

 

[03 Limited]

I agree with you 100%. I love the V8 and highly recommend it but the fact is; if the deciding factor is performance, both engines are close in the numbers. The non-VVTi V8 (03-04) was dead even with the V6. I would think that there is approx 2/3 tenths of a second (0-60) between the current engines. The only way to get real performance is some type of forced induction (turbo/supercharger). TRD will never offer a supercharger for the V8 again (especially with the new 5.7). There is a good possibility there will be one for the 4.0 because it is (and will be) available in most Toyota trucks and there has been development by TRD. What I'm saying is there is a potential chance of making some real HP with the V6. When I bought the V8 (in 05) there was a TRD supercharger available for the V8 (which was shortly taken off the market) and not the V6.

Now thinking about it, I've lost a lot of faith (and respect) for TRD and doubt there will ever be any real performance products available for the 4Runner (and other Toyota trucks). They seem to be more interested in making clothing!

Koz

I dont know how accurate this is but this is what MSN autos says:

Toyota 4Runner SR5 - V8 4.7L (235 hp) 0-60 7.13 1/4 mile [email protected]

Toyota 4Runner SR5 Sport - V6 4.0L (245 hp) 0-60 8.28 1/4 mile [email protected]

It sounds like more then a few tenths faster according to that data.

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Spec_Glance.aspx?year=2003&make=Toyota&model=4Runner&trimid=

 

[the dutch man]

V8 has the "grab you by the seat of pants" feel to it. I have the 03 SR5 with the V8. A rare car but I wouldn't trade it for the world! You won't hate anything about the V8 other than the price of gas!

 

[Tego]

First, unless you are going after a Limited, you won't see it. Secondly, you can look inside the springs on the back and see if there are air bags there. If you can't see it there, look inside for a button with a picture of the back of the truck on it with arrows pointing up or down.

If you plan to lift, SR5 or non-X-REAS equipped vehicles are the easiest to lift. X-REAS equipped can be lifted with space technology (Cornfed, Revtek, Daystar), but the ride will be a little less compliant (i.e. more stiff). If you have air leveling, you can lift the front, and use the air leveling to lift the rear of the vehicle, but you cannot add new springs/spacers to an air leveling suspension.

I do plan on getting the Limited, but if I can find a fully loaded V8 Sport package that would be awesome.

Where is the air leveling button located?

 

[JungleJim]

I think the "ticking noise" they are referring to is the timing chain. Unless you stand in front of the engine with the hood open, most people would never hear it. Since the V8's have a belt, you'll never hear this noise.

I've never noticed it on the 4Runner, but I have on Honda engines. On Hondas, there are magnets that are part of the fuel injection that make a ticking noise as they move.

 

[JungleJim]

I test drove a V8 and a V6 back to back. While driving a V8 4Runner, I didn't like the hesitation from a dead stop, especially when on a hill. It was unnerving to me to have the 1-1.5 second delay before the truck moved. There also seemed to be a slight (but lesser) delay when I went to pass on the highway. The V6 has no hesitation at all.

 

[juneau92]

Zero hesitation on my V8 4Runner.

 

[scott78945]

Zero hesitation on my V8 4Runner.

Agreed. My V8 is off right from the start. I don't regret the V8 at all...

 

[Even Steven]

I dont know how accurate this is but this is what MSN autos says:

Toyota 4Runner SR5 - V8 4.7L (235 hp) 0-60 7.13 1/4 mile [email protected]

Toyota 4Runner SR5 Sport - V6 4.0L (245 hp) 0-60 8.28 1/4 mile [email protected]

It sounds like more then a few tenths faster according to that data.

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Spec_Glance.aspx?year=2003&make=Toyota&model=4Runner&trimid=

There were two guys on here with 2003 4Runners (one V6 and the other V8) who went to their local drag strip and ran against each other. If I remember correctly, they were both running in the 15.7 - 15.8 range in the quarter mile. They both reported that they were within a tenth of a second on each race.

I'll have to see if I can find the thread, but it is very old.

 

[Northof49]

^I remember that too....but it was the pre-2005 V8 with less hp, such as those figures above

 

[Even Steven]

... It is my hunch that the V8 would bring a better resale value on a Limited that is already decked out everywhere else...

With today's gas prices, I think even a V6 Limited would be easily to sell and may even get a higher resale value.

The other day I went to a Ford dealer with a friend of mine who is looking for a new Explorer (yes, I tried to talk him out of it!) and every damn Explorer on the lot was a V6. I'm guessing that Ford has a much easier time selling V6 Explorers because of the high price of gas. The salesman told us that V8 Explorers had to be special ordered by customers who want them.

I wonder if Toyota is seeing the same thing with the 4Runner?

 

[Even Steven]

^I remember that too....but it was the pre-2005 V8 with less hp, such as those figures above

Right. He quoted the HP figures for the early V8 engine (235 HP) versus the V6 of the same year (245 HP)