V8 vs. V6-what are your thoughts.

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Smokeshow69

New member
I wil be purchasing a 4th gen here in Portland as soon as I find a decent one to buy. I occasionally tow things and really would like to find a V8 model with the tow package. I am wondering what you guys think about the V8's engine reliability versus the V6. I know that V8 has a timing belt which causes some people to cringe and avoid it but I have yet to read something about the V8 failing more often than the V6. I am hoping to compile a list of intelligent replies that can assist others with this same question and hopefully if we are objective this thread can become a sticky?? If you guys have a V8 and love it please post up and tell us why. If you have a V6 and really love it post as well. If you purchased one model but wish you had bought the other model let us know as well. Just trying to gain a general consensus of how reliable the V8 is compared to the V6.
 
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I had a choice of of V8 limited or V6 sport when I bought.....I chose the sport. Now I am not a serious off road guy nor do I tow stuff so I didn't need a V8 nor did I want a timing belt. I had a lexus and a TACO with a belt....just wasn't for me.

My V6 just crossed 100k
with no issues knock on wood

The gen 4 with a 6 is plenty fast and powerful IMO. ..now my.wifes 2013 limited could use a V8. It's not bad but doesn't have the mojo the 2006 has
 
I don't mean to be rude... but these threads are a dime a dozen on this sub-forum and we just went through one recently where things got somewhat heated.

Bottom line, both engines are reliable and have their strengths.

Timing Belt or Chain is more or less of a moot point. I have not personally seen a 2UZ-FE break a belt on its own, even after being neglected past its 9yr/90k required maintenance (though you really shouldn't go more than about 120-ish in my honest opinion.) Timing Chains are NOT invulnerable and do stretch over time which can lead to issues in valve timing and VVTi performance. They are also typically more expensive to repair (the sprockets, guides, chain, and most of the front end need to be replaced where as with the Timing belt you're doing the belt, tensioner, and pulleys)

The V8 makes much better low end torque and was designed as a strong truck based engine, the V6 is also strong with a torque band in the higher RPMs and is also designed for truck use. There are other drivetrain differences between the V6 & V8 (the V8's have a slightly larger front clamshell and do not have an ADD on the front axle), but they are roughly the same (the transfercase is nearly identical between the two save for the V8's missing a shift fork.)

My V8 hasn't given me any issues and its been a great engine for the 4Runner and really works great off-road and on-road.
 
I had the same thoughts, I chose the six. The eight isn't much more powerful, for the fuel consumption trade off. Plus the aftermarket support for the six is greater. That and the reliability of the six vs. the eight is greater. I may do a full urd exhaust, and a trd supercharger in the future if I want more power.
 
birdmann said:
That and the reliability of the six vs. the eight is greater.
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I'm sorry but that is just flat out wrong. I never hear of the V8's blowing head gaskets. The V6's are a great engine, don't get me wrong, but they're starting to go through head gaskets now that mileage and age is starting to add up, especially on the earlier models. The V8 is a tried and true engine, used in Tundras, Land Cruisers, Sequoias, and 4Runners. The cast iron block insures better resistance to heat (less chance of a warped block in an event of overheating. The V6's aluminum block will not resist heat as well and all it could take is one instance of overheating).

OP, you can't really go wrong with either engine. From a reliability standpoint, the V8 gets the nod. As well as power. The V6 has the less maintenance of the two and get slightly better gas mileage.
 
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birdmann said:
I had the same thoughts, I chose the six. The eight isn't much more powerful, for the fuel consumption trade off. Plus the aftermarket support for the six is greater. That and the reliability of the six vs. the eight is greater. I may do a full urd exhaust, and a trd supercharger in the future if I want more power.
Click to expand...


The 6 cyl produces it's max tq at around 4000 rpm, the 8 cyl produces the same number at 1000 rpm. And I disagree on the reliability being greater on the 6 cyl. The 8 is a proven engine.
 
After driving my brother's V6 and towing two jet skis over the continental divide from Denver to Lake Powell, I was plenty impressed with the six. When it came time to buy I was open to either engine, but there were more V6s available with the other options / colors / condition I was looking for.

Wound up with a six, love it.
 
I'm new but I've surely seen a lot of threads on this. From the ones I have read during my search, I can sum up the most important points to me:

V6=truck, V8=car, in regards to how heavy you hit the throttle to maintain speed up steep highway inclines.
V6 gets slightly better mileage, but it's not going to be great, and the difference will be minimized with larger tires. According to one report, the V6 requests premium fuel, which would further negate the mpg/cost advantage.

I went to a lot that had V8s and a V6, with the intent of driving both, but the V8 had the cleanest undercarriage, and the V6 was clearly used to haul wet dog and possibly clean fish in the back, I couldn't stay in it long enough to drive it.

The absolute fact that I know I'm going to run a more aggressive tire than stock told me that I would be happier with the V8. That said, I'm not super-stoked with my V8s mpg, and that is on the stock passenger-type tires. Not through the first tank yet, so pencil and paper (read: phone app) calculations may tell a different story.

Lastly, A recurring theme in these threads is "if you are having second thoughts about if you'll be happy with the V6, go ahead and get the V8". YMMV and don't believe everything you read on the internet I guess.

IBT :lock1: ? :D
 
JB40 said:
I'm new but I've surely seen a lot of threads on this. From the ones I have read during my search, I can sum up the most important points to me:

V6=truck, V8=car, in regards to how heavy you hit the throttle to maintain speed up steep highway inclines.
V6 gets slightly better mileage, but it's not going to be great, and the difference will be minimized with larger tires. According to one report, the V6 requests premium fuel, which would further negate the mpg/cost advantage.

I went to a lot that had V8s and a V6, with the intent of driving both, but the V8 had the cleanest undercarriage, and the V6 was clearly used to haul wet dog and possibly clean fish in the back, I couldn't stay in it long enough to drive it.

The absolute fact that I know I'm going to run a more aggressive tire than stock told me that I would be happier with the V8. That said, I'm not super-stoked with my V8s mpg, and that is on the stock passenger-type tires. Not through the first tank yet, so pencil and paper (read: phone app) calculations may tell a different story.

Lastly, A recurring theme in these threads is "if you are having second thoughts about if you'll be happy with the V6, go ahead and get the V8". YMMV and don't believe everything you read on the internet I guess.

IBT :lock1: ? :D
Click to expand...


The 6 may request premium fuel but a little known fact is that it runs perfectly happily on regular unleaded. Mine has 133k on it, never seen premium in its life, and hasn't had a single issue so far *touch wood*.

As far as a comparison, the 8 is much smoother than the 6, but you won't be wishing for more power from either of them,
 
The V6 in the 4Runner doesn't require premium fuel. Runs just fine on 87, even says so in the owners manual.

ETA: I'm happy with my V6. I would have gotten a V8, but I couldn't find a nice one locally out of 20 or so trucks I looked at. The V6 I bought was very low mileage for it's age and was in great shape, so I bought it.

The heaviest trailer I pull is in the 1500 pound range. Just a little open 5'x10' trailer to haul a couple dirt bikes around. And maybe sometimes a small fishing boat.
 
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Ohcrymore said:
The 6 may request premium fuel but a little known fact is that it runs perfectly happily on regular unleaded. Mine has 133k on it, never seen premium in its life, and hasn't had a single issue so far *touch wood*.

As far as a comparison, the 8 is much smoother than the 6, but you won't be wishing for more power from either of them,
Click to expand...

I agree fully. I don't think it would've been a deal-breaker, and like I said, those were the points that spoke to me.

JBecker said:
The V6 in the 4Runner doesn't require premium fuel. Runs just fine on 87, even says so in the owners manual.
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request=/=require. But I'm glad you clarified for those that are considering.

zopperman said:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/147098-v6-vs-v8-reliability.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/118603-eternal-question-v6-vs-v8.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/89465-v6-vs-v8-guidance.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/57517-performance-v6-vs-v8.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/83576-v6-vs-v8-gas-mileage.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/55223-torque-curve-b-w-v6-vs-v8.html

that is from searching "v8 v6" in the search bar. On another note, do you guys think I can fit 35's on my truck without doing a lift?
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I lol'ed.
 
that is from searching "v8 v6" in the search bar. On another note, do you guys think I can fit 35's on my truck without doing a lift?[/QUOTE]

:lmao: hysterical Zak.

And for the record I love my v6. It has given me 100k trouble free miles and still pulls like the day I bought it.
 
 
[MENTION=99860]Smokeshow69[/MENTION] (great username choice)

Well since I'm here I'm going to try my best to contribute without bias.

*DISCLAIMER*

I own a v6.


That being said, when i was looking, i drove both v6 and v8's, and both were excellent platforms. i liked that the v8 had a 5 speed, but i didn't like that it was 4x4 hi full time. I liked that the v6 was selectable 2wd, but did notice the v8 felt stronger at low rpms, once you run them both to the redline, which is rare, they feel very very similar. I tow quite often with my v6, and the trailer i pull fully loaded is about 4500 lbs, and the v6 never lacks power to pull it. do i think the v8 would tow it better? yeah it probably would, it has two more cylinders and one more gear, but is it a dealbreaker? no. As far as fuel economy goes, just forget it, its not even a noticeable difference.

OP, test drive both, decide what you want based on how you feel, not numbers on paper. For the aftermarket, the v6 has the edge, there are simply more options because the motor has been in toyota vehicles for a while, and is still being produced in slightly different form. You cannot go wrong with either, they both have pros and cons, and to be honest, the 4runner around the motor/trans is going to impress you more than the number of cylinders.

Edit: You'll notice i left out reliability comparisons, that is because it can vary what problems people encounter from vehicle to vehicle, and both platforms have their own issues.
 
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I had an 08 v6 and along with it a constant "drone" i'll call it went 35-40 mph in D. When in 4 it didn't happen. I had it looked at and it was considered normal by multiple dealerships. I drove other v6's around the same model year and indeed they all did it. So accepted it as being normal. But then I read how the v8 was better "mated" to the transmission so I tried one. Not only was there absolutely no drone but I simply loved the way it drove, the power, and how quiet it was. For a $2500 upgrade, I sold the v6, picked up the v8, and could not possibly be happier. Amazing truck that will be in my family for many many years.
 
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