V6 vs V8

[Larry]

Hey, Pitbull, have you had your rear end rotated at the dealer yet, or your mufflers backflushed? Those services go along with flushing a near new 4.7 engine. Oh, and get the distributer cap rotated, too (and if your dealer finds the cap, be sure and take a picture).

I did ask a Toyota parts guy, that used to be a mechanic for about 20 years, what he knew about the engine and he said the damn 4.7 engine is bullet proof. They have had Tundras that have missed so many oil changes that it takes a very long time to drain the oil, that it comes out looking like tar, and they still see no problems. They have seen engines that get the oil changed about once a year and about 15 to 25k miles on regular oil and easly go past 200k miles of hard work, owned by contractors, construction workers and other people that really use up their vehicles.

I told him about the dealer saying that the engine needed a flush and he laughed. He said the biggest reason that people buy a second, third and forth Tunda with the V8 is that the drive line is really bullet proof.

Your comment about getting it in writing is a good one. I hope we get a posting of what happens.

 

[starflt]

Thanks guys. Actually, I've run into this kind of BS before from other dealers and other makes of vehicles. It always amazed me how the service departments can be so critical of the very product they sell. Boggles the mind. Actually, the dealership I go to is very good overall, and is very close. Most likely, if I complained, the most that would happen is the idiot kid who tried to feed me this line would get reprimanded, or fired (maybe promoted?). Anyway, I've been monitoring the 4Runner forum since I got mine in April 2003. All you guys do a great job of separating fact from fiction, and I've told other Runner owners about this forum so all can be as educated and not be subjected to the BS. I can also say without reservation that my Runner is the best damn vehicle I've ever owned. Hands down. Thanks again!

 

[Br1ck]

I've got the V8 and I'm thrilled with it. I didn't have the chance to test drive the V6, but for me, I was leaving a I6 Jeep GC and I wanted a change.

True story: because of my stereo install I removed my double decker and I offered it (for free) to a guy who had a V6 SR5...he declined then proceeded to start bad mouthing my rig because he was convinced he got the better deal. I can't speak for the V6 version, but I get up to 105 MPH on the Autobahn (I can go much higher but then my MPG drops too far) and my RPMs just touch 3000 revs. At that speed, I'd imagine the V6 would be working much harder than my V8 :dunno: and that doesn't take into account the hill climbing.

My take is "to each his own"...me, I just didn't want another 6 cylinder SUV.

Good wheelin to all whether V8 or V6...Cheers!!!

 

[starflt]

Well, I guess that would be me, but my intentions were good. Honest!:bonk:

 

[peter78]

Well, I guess that would be me, but my intentions were good. Honest!:bonk:

Actually you brought up some good points. "toybox" is right, there was some concern over sludge in the 3.0 V6 and the 4 cyl. found in the Camry. It should be noted only a small percentage of vehicles were affected. Consumer Reports still gives the Sienna good marks for the engine. Toyota eventually gave a extended warranty to those vehicle. Some reason I have read for the sludge are as follows:

1.) Oners were not changing their oil properly. (Something that Toyota first claimed.)

2.) The V6 in the Sienna had one bank of of the V6 engine buried by the fire way, making cooling harder.

3.) The oil holes through the engine and head were too small and could not cool properly.

4.) New engine that have variable valve timing and high revving putting more demand on the oil, making it break down faster.

None of these items affect you with the V8 & your 3,000 mile oil change.

I agree with some others, they are trying to get money out of you. I would write a letter to Toyota, I seriously doubt that is considered a valid practice for a V8 with 15,000 miles on it. One thing about the V8 is that it is proven to be reliable.

 

[EDGE]

If the service writer said my engine had sludge in it at 15k and wanted me to get it powerflushed I would answer like this, OK fine but lets make a deal before it is powerflushed the tech is gonna pull the heads and pan and where gonna take a look inside, now if their is no sludge your paying the whole bill but if like you say and sludge is a common problem then I will pay for everything and give you an extra $5000, oddly they never take me up on their offer they always look like they just sat insomething sticky

The parts guys at Lexus told me they where 100% confident in the GX470 having a complete aluminum engine, I made a bet with them but they backed down:

 

[starflt]

I decided to call Toyota's customer service number this morning, if nothing else, just to see if they truly do recommend an engine flush, and to let them know what the dealer said about sludge in Toyota engines being "common". In short, the person I spoke with said the maintenance guide does not call for an engine flush at 15,000 miles. Period. Then I asked if Toyota wanted their dealers to dispense such mis-information about their engines to Toyota's customers. The person said "no, they do not", but wasn't interested enough to ask questions like "who?" or "what dealership?".