3.0 V6 in older Toyotas

Some get longevity out of these but some say the 3.0 v6 is problematic.

I'm looking at an older Toyota truck (92) and it does have high miles but a somewhat rebuilt motor. Head gaskets replaced recently.

what's the deal? Would you stay away from a 3.0 or just be cautious

 

Former 3.0 owner in an "88" t4r.
Heads are a huge problem, yes. Sometimes new head gaskets work, sometimes they need machining because they warp easily.

I loved the truck, but constant troubles with the motor. I would never own one again.

 

And the lack of obd2. There not hard to work on and dont have a lot of power hence the nickname 3.slow. I almost just bought a 4 runner with a 3.0 and a blown head gasket for a potential 1uz or 5vz swap.

 

A month ago I was posting about how this was my ideal looking truck.

Then I saw this listed on Craigslist:

https://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/5933175031.html

The owner said he'll take 4K. That's within my budget and it's literally the same finish that I was looking for. He replaced the head gaskets. It's either this truck or the 01 Tacoma FS listed in marketplace

 

I don't need power, I'm not towing or hauling anything heavy. This will be my daily driver

 

I personally would take the tacoma im not a big fan of the steering or suspension on the older trucks

 

They are about 150 hp.
Same as the 3rz.

 

Less than my 02 Acura haha

 

This is my other option:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2001-sr5-extra-cab-4wd-5spd-nc-340k-completely-refreshed.465361/

High miles but the owner has taken excellent care of the truck. Interior is amazing. Price is good deal.

 

But your acura doesnt have 33in mud terrains on it. Its a nice truck probably I used to have on with 33X12.5's and it was regeared so it wasnt to bad and I drove it everyday but I worked on it every weekend to keep it on the road but the body was perfect, it was a very deceiving truck

 

Dude get the tacoma way better choice and the price is good

 

I drove my '93 for 20 years. It had the head gaskets replaced under recall when it had 50K miles on it. After that the engine was solid.

Stock radiators are known to leak. Since it's brass I just kept getting it fixed. Over the years I replaced a lot of parts on it, but nothing I would consider particularly excessive or unusual for an older truck. Be sure to change the timing belt every 60K.

It was slow but bullet proof. Many times I had it floored pulling a long hill on a hot day at altitude and the temp needle barely budged. Oh, it has an oil pressure gauge. Remember those? Watch that it will tell you a lot about what the engine's feeling.

 

Never owned the 3.0 but heard bad things. I do own a first gen and have heard almost all good things about them. if the 01 you're looking at has a good frame, snag it.

 

Mileage makes me nervous on the tacoma

 

If i was over there rightnow id buy that truck. You cant find those around where im from for that price regardless of the miles

 

340K miles doesn't scare you?

 

I have 282k

 

Any vehicle with 340K miles would make me nervous, regardless of how well the owner maintained it

 

Ive had the 2rz 5vz 2uz 1gr 2az and the 3vz, the 3vz was the only one that gave me constant problems and all of the had alot of miles on them.

 

I would take the new frame, maintenance workup, non-3.0, and the clean interior for +20k miles.