Which 4th Gen is considered the most reliable?

[bamma]

When I bought my wife's(now mine) v6 in 2006 I toyed with the v8 and the timing belt issue came up, along with the full-time vs part-time 4wd. I had a 2000 Landcruiser with the v8. The horsepower difference was minimal but the v8 was soooo smooth. In the end, it came down to, and I know this sounds silly but, the oil filter. That v6 had the oild filter right there on top. My v8 Landcruiser had it underneath and I had to remove a skid plate access panel to get to it. The v6 also had more room to get to everything too. Do I sometimes wish that I had the v8? Maybe, especially since it is now mine, but more times than not I am more than happy with the v6, especially when I pull up to a gas pump.

I used to have that philosophy, but now I prefer the filter on bottom. It gives me a reason to pull the plate and make sure everything looks good underneath. Regular inspections are the key to finding issues before they become problems.

That said, I have had the V6 on a tacoma, and it had plenty of power and is a great engine. I would not hesitate to buy either.

 

[NeilC]

My biggest concern with the v6 was the aluminum block which might be what makes the head gasket such a big deal. It is the way of the future though. I remember when people were nervous about an aluminum head on and iron block. Disimilar metals, blah, blah, blah. Now that is standard so why would going back to similar metals be the end of the world?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Others may disagree with me, but a recent experience has me strongly favoring the V6. My Brother's girlfriend just had her timing belt fail after only 30k miles... it didn't break completely, but was shredded for about half of its width. This allowed the crank to slip about 180 degrees out of time, and we're now looking a TON of bent valves, if not more. I verified this by putting it back in time and checking compression... the needle didn't even move.

Don't get me wrong - the V8 is an awesome engine, and it's solidly built. All engines are susceptible to manufacturing defects in parts, too... but i think this sort of catastrophic failure is much less likely on an engine with a timing chain like the V6 has.

I am more interested in the story of this... 30k after a new belt or from the factory? Because there's two big differences there. I'm not even going to go into my usual cost negation between long term ownership of the 2UZ-FE 4.7L V8 vs. the 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 right now out of sheer interest of your story (this is the second timing belt failure I have heard/seen with the 2UZ-FE, the other a co-worker had years before.)

My biggest concern with the v6 was the aluminum block which might be what makes the head gasket such a big deal. It is the way of the future though. I remember when people were nervous about an aluminum head on and iron block. Dissimilar metals, blah, blah, blah. Now that is standard so why would going back to similar metals be the end of the world?

I'm not sure it really matters that much anymore? I mean there's still dissimilar metals in the aluminum engine just like the cast iron block/aluminum head; just different proportions.

 

[NeilC]

I am more interested in the story of this... 30k after a new belt or from the factory? Because there's two big differences there. I'm not even going to go into my usual cost negation between long term ownership of the 2UZ-FE 4.7L V8 vs. the 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 right now out of sheer interest of your story (this is the second timing belt failure I have heard/seen with the 2UZ-FE, the other a co-worker had years before.)



I'm not sure it really matters that much anymore? I mean there's still dissimilar metals in the aluminum engine just like the cast iron block/aluminum head; just different proportions.

That was my point. Back when the 4.0 came out, there was talk that an aluminum block wouldn't hold up. Looks like it worked for Porsche. They started using aluminum blocks in the 70s I think and they are known for their durability.

 

[w210210]

Today I talk with Toyota tech and he told me that 1GR FE doesn't have head gasket problems ...???? I dont want to argue with him..but it's not just true ... you must admit that there is many engines 1GR that had head gasket problems.... He also recommend buy 4runner with 1GR instead 2UZ
Well 2 UZ far more reliable and durable one one best engines that Toyota produced ....
Have no clue why he said that 1GR don't have problem with gasket
he also said that any aluminum engine if overheat will have gasket problems ...
And he said that it was 3L V6 engine with that problem not 4.0L v6
Any thoughts ????

 

[AuSeeker]

Today I talk with Toyota tech and he told me that 1GR FE doesn't have head gasket problems ...???? I dont want to argue with him..but it's not just true ... you must admit that there is many engines 1GR that had head gasket problems.... He also recommend buy 4runner with 1GR instead 2UZ
Well 2 UZ far more reliable and durable one one best engines that Toyota produced ....
Have no clue why he said that 1GR don't have problem with gasket
he also said that any aluminum engine if overheat will have gasket problems ...
And he said that it was 3L V6 engine with that problem not 4.0L v6
Any thoughts ????

Maybe he was referring too the 2006 and onwards, it was the 2003 to 2005 that were the V6s that had the older designed head gaskets and failures, in 12/05 Toyota redsigned the head gaskets and the issue seems to have been resolved.

Don't know if he's an older Tech or a younger Tech, but if younger then he may have not that much experience on the older 4th Gens to know what he's talking about.

Anway both engines are great powerplants, so I don't think you can go wrong with either, especially if you get an earlier V6 that has had the gaskets replaced

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I have not visited the 4th gen section in a long time so I will give my experience. The reason I now have a 5th gen is because my transfer case actuator started leaking bad and the speedometer quit working on my 03 V8 4runner at 80k miles. I ended up trading it in on my then new 2014 Limited 4runner. Th dealer made me a deal I could not turn down. Still miss the V8 though.