Theefreedom

Hi everyone. This is probably common question but I am new to this type of thing. I just bought a used 1994 toyota sr5 v6 3.0 pickup. It has 155k miles. It rode fine when I bought it but I didn't test drive it on any hills. I drive the truck from bishop to mammoth mtn here in CA. When I start up the Sherwin grade it can only reach a top speed of 50 mph. Some say that's normal. But I'm not sure. It runs at 4,500 rpm and self shuts down the cruise controll if i have that on. I have heard of getting ignition timing done clean cat converter but I really have no idea. I was just wondering if there was a way it could at least go 65mph up the hill. What types of things should I check? Wires headers? Thanks in advance for everyone. I'm not familiar with trucks but trying to learn.

lvwilly

I really don't know anything about the 3.0 but I recently bought a pickup with a 22r that was having problems keeping speed. I replaced plugs, wires, fuel filter, distributor cap and rotor and cleaned the carb. This made a huge difference in drive ability. I have yet to check the timing but I need to. When I buy a new vehicle I usually go through all that stuff so I know what's been done.

From what I understand the 3.0 is only marginally faster than the 4 cyl so 50 mph may very well be normal up hills. It sure is for mine. I have to turn off the a/c up hills and a strong enough head wind seems to slow me down. Old trucks and all that. Certainly wouldn't hurt to do the maintenance items though.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Sounds about right unless this is considered just a small hill where you live ??

Never having a 3.0 my 22re needed to drop to 4th gear sometimes 3rd gear to get up any hill

You don`t say what size tires that can effect this as well

Some love the 3.0 others seem to have nothing but bad luck

Black_1985_SR5

iTrader: (1)

2nd gen 4 runner stock with 31's 3rd gear 4200 RPMS 59 MPH up a 10% grade 22re 5 speed

Theefreedom

Ya I can tell my truck definitley stays in fourth gear. But I read on some other Internet talks that there trucks are not speed racers but their 3.0 sr5 . And the grade is a decent grade. But any uphill defi b it let challenges my pickup. I just would like to be able to go 65 mph up hill.

Theefreedom

Hey so that typical for you then huh? You don't want or know how to increase ur speed? I've honestly just never had a truck that struggled uphill. But I was tiered of making payments on newer trucks and decided to just own a used one.

Black_1985_SR5

iTrader: (1)

there are ways they cost money and my runner is my daily beater no need to go any faster 10% is steep and its a 3500lb truck with less than 100hp to the wheels. I dont know much about the 3.0 aside from not being as reliable as a 22re from what ive learned the best way to increase power of a 3.0 is replace it with a 3.4

oilcooler

50mph sounds about right on my 2nd gen 3.0 automatic 4runner. i've owned it for over 12 years, and was also surprised at the lack of power/speed on hills. oh well, i just try to avoid hills.

tj884Rdlx

50 mph is not shocking, but it's possible that improvements can be made.

1. Tune up needed? Maybe renew some parts... Improve air and fuel flow...
2. Timing right? Maybe advance it a little..
3. Intake leaks? None allowed!
4. Tire to gear ratio correct? Maybe you need smaller tires, or taller gears... You want to be driving between 2800-3800 rpm for peak power (with a stock cam)
5. Weight too heavy? Air pressure correct?
6. Finally, Expectations realistic?

RJR

Sherwin Hill is a 6% grade, which is like most of the grades on I-70 west of Denver in Colorado. I can hold 55-60mph on those with my V6 manual in 3rd gear at 4000 rpm, and that's at a significantly higher altitude than you're talking about. (6000-11000 feet)

Sounds like, if you're running 4500 rpm at 50mph, you're in 2nd gear on a manual with maybe 4.10 or 4.30 gears. That may be about all you can expect if that's the gearing you have. A gear ratio like 4.56 would allow you to split the gears better and run in 3rd up that hill with a bit more speed.

Theefreedom

Ya I suppose I can do all these small changes or add one as time goes on. But everyone seems to be saying it is typical, which is all I was wondering. In case it was really unheard of. The tires are definitley larger than any stock tires.

Theefreedom

HA thanks for replying. Not sure if you have been here or looked up the grade but thank you. Ya my truck is an automatic. I wish I would have gotten a manual but I got what was a good deal. So would changing gear ratio be more realistic rather than changing ignition timing? Thanks again

RJR

Tell us what size tires you're running and what gear ratio you have. That'll help in making suggestions. If you have significantly over-sized tires, your speedometer is likely off and you're probably going up that hill faster than you think, anyway.

tj884Rdlx

Knowing the tire size and gear ratio might help, but it's really all relative. I'll explain: when i went up to 33s, i remember my truck bring pretty slow. So i got the 4.88s put in, and i was wondering why it didn't seem like as quick as a stock truck with 4.1s and 235s.

Well it turned out i had a huge vacuum leak from a hole in the back of the intake manifold. Advancing the timing was not helping. Once the leak was welded shut, what a difference! Then the timing was corrected, and the truck seemed "fast enough", vs unusually sluggish.

So don't just write it off as slow, confirm you're confident with how it's running too.
Good luck

Theefreedom

Hey so I just checked tire size and it appears to be the basic largerules tore size that is equipped with the v6 94 sr5's. 31x10.50R15 LT's. I looked at my sticker in the hood to find the gear ratio sticker. But I haven't been able to understand the code yet and my ignition timing is at the stock 10 degrees so it appears. So any suggestions? I posted the sticker assuming gear ratio has never been changed..thanks again

Theefreedom

Hey thanks for the reaponse. Ya my truck is for sure going sluggish up hill. 45 to 50 mph and all kinds of old people passing me lol. I'm not trying to have a race truck. Thanks for the heads up.
I just had it smogged and passed. Would it still pass if it had a vacuum leak or exhaust leak? Thank you.

RJR

You need to look at the sticker in the driver's side door jamb. In the lower right corner you'll find a code, something like "G254". That's the code for a 4.56 rear end. G=8", 25=4.56, and the last 4 means "4 pinion". The following link will give you all the possible codes and interpretations.(Scroll down to the table under the section called "gearing".)

http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/t...ion-18588.html

4.56 is the standard ratio with a V6, manual, and 31 inch tires. I think for an automatic it's either 4.10 or 4:30. Those would have gear codes of G294 or G284, respectively.

Theefreedom

I can't seem to find my gear ratio sticker anywhere just a little vin number sticker.. any thoughts? Thank you. I would assume it's the normal gearing from factory.

dromomaniac