Mid 90's 4Runner issues I'm seeing while shopping

wahoowad · 09-23-2009, 05:08 PM

I'm shopping for a 1st or 2nd gen 4Runner. Seeing mostly 92-95 era trucks right now and have checked out 2 closely. I noticed some common concerns from 2 different trucks.

Both had an oil leak, seemingly coming from the rear of the V6 engine (rear seal?) - not major, but not minor, hard to tell. Is this normal fr this engine and is this acceptable? These engines had 100,000 and 175,000 respectively. OIl was not dripping off, but had several full drops on various low spots ready to drip.

Both had low looking readings on the factory oil pressure gauge. Seeing it on both made me wonder if these era 4Runners just did that? I don't have an oil pressure gauge and hooking one up while vehicle shopping is more than I am probably prepared to do.

Both were automatics, and both seemed to require a little more throttle/rpm to start the vehicle moving. For all I know this is just a matter of adjusting to a different vehicle. Then again worried it could mean transmission or axle issues.

Thanks for input on these items!

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bigt · 09-23-2009, 05:14 PM

my toyota 22re 4 bangers and now my diesel always show like a quater to 3/4 max on oil pressure.. mostly around half...
auto trannys do sucks the HP if it was me and i WAS LOOKING for a decent truck id search hiu and low and get the 4 banger 5 spd just cause of reliability..unless your from canada then id GO DIESEL!

wahoowad · 09-23-2009, 05:23 PM

I'm looking for a 5 speed but seeing 20 autos for every 5 speed

bigt · 09-23-2009, 06:10 PM

yea but a good toyota is worth the hunt and catch...

unless its a total cream puff i wouldnt go with a 3.0 / auto

my diesel auto with 130 000kms on it runs good but still sometimes from a stop i notice a slight sloppyness.. but ive never had any issues with a toyota 5 spd never even had to rebuild and i had 3 trucks over 200 k...

depending on how much you have to spend.. sometimes buying off a toyota guy is worth the extra few hundred. or waiting for what you want.. cause its happened to me every time i buy a truck then a few weeks i see something better for a little less

wahoowad · 09-24-2009, 06:45 AM

How available are interior parts for '90's era 4Runners? One I looked at was really clean, except for a large crack in the dash and a fogged/scratched up speedo screen. Are these things readibly available from toyota or aftermarket?

vandert · 09-24-2009, 08:37 AM

Yeah, the oil leak is normal honestly, these engines run hot and the point where they usually leak is at the oil cooler, there are two large o-rings, for both it cost me 11 bucks at the toyota dealership and a little tiem to fix it, no biggie.

Power on these is down, but I dropped my cat - was clogged, and did a little freshing on the engine as well as a dynomax catback and it helped

Oil pressure always reads low on Toyota's in my opion, so no different on the 4Runners, in my experience, Chevy's and toyota's have the lowest oil pressure at idle.

Ron Helmuth · 10-29-2009, 08:16 PM

too many horror stories of the 3slow, I would avoid at all cost unless it was just rebuilt and had a transferable warranty.

Oil pressure always reads low on this era of motors do not concern yourself with it. Lubrication is fine.

Oil drips are quite common but rarely of any real concern. A rear main seal-that is a big deal-so if overly concerned have the area cleaned and narrow down where it is coming from.

Oil pan seals alone tend to expand quite a bit on the 22re's for example. Watch the oil level religously-check it each fuel fillup and keep it topped off. Some suggest synthetics speed up leaks but I feel that is another level of lubrication that can't be beat.

I recently found yard out here with more 2nd gens than I have ever seen. Even saw a 2 door Runner in there. Quite plentiful depending on location.

Good luck with your purchase. Hold out for what you want. Be willing to travel to get it.

Someone on here I believe has a low mile 22RE 1st gen with 5 speed for reasonable dollars and you may want to consider a primo 1st gen over a so so 2nd gen to find the 5 speed.

Stay in touch if interested and I will put the two of you together . That's what this is all about people helping people.

99ncxj · 10-30-2009, 10:37 AM

Thanks Ron.

Pm sent Wahoo

09-23-2009, 05:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: chippawa niagara falls ontario Posts: 3,201	my toyota 22re 4 bangers and now my diesel always show like a quater to 3/4 max on oil pressure.. mostly around half... auto trannys do sucks the HP if it was me and i WAS LOOKING for a decent truck id search hiu and low and get the 4 banger 5 spd just cause of reliability..unless your from canada then id GO DIESEL! __________________ 1991 HILUX SURF SSR-X turbo diesel right hand drive toyota imported in 2005 from japan, 130,000 km 31 bfg a/t auto current build 1987 LWB suzuki samurai. turning 2 into one.. yota axles welded front to back, yota springs , ifs steering box,, this bad boy will not only eat jeeps but toyotas aswell \m/

09-23-2009, 06:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
bigt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: chippawa niagara falls ontario Posts: 3,201	yea but a good toyota is worth the hunt and catch... unless its a total cream puff i wouldnt go with a 3.0 / auto my diesel auto with 130 000kms on it runs good but still sometimes from a stop i notice a slight sloppyness.. but ive never had any issues with a toyota 5 spd never even had to rebuild and i had 3 trucks over 200 k... depending on how much you have to spend.. sometimes buying off a toyota guy is worth the extra few hundred. or waiting for what you want.. cause its happened to me every time i buy a truck then a few weeks i see something better for a little less __________________ 1991 HILUX SURF SSR-X turbo diesel right hand drive toyota imported in 2005 from japan, 130,000 km 31 bfg a/t auto current build 1987 LWB suzuki samurai. turning 2 into one.. yota axles welded front to back, yota springs , ifs steering box,, this bad boy will not only eat jeeps but toyotas aswell \m/

09-24-2009, 08:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
vandert Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne/Cocoa Beach, Florida Posts: 139	Yeah, the oil leak is normal honestly, these engines run hot and the point where they usually leak is at the oil cooler, there are two large o-rings, for both it cost me 11 bucks at the toyota dealership and a little tiem to fix it, no biggie. Power on these is down, but I dropped my cat - was clogged, and did a little freshing on the engine as well as a dynomax catback and it helped Oil pressure always reads low on Toyota's in my opion, so no different on the 4Runners, in my experience, Chevy's and toyota's have the lowest oil pressure at idle. __________________ 04 4Runner - Sold 97 T100 - Sold 86 Runner - Project - Sold 02 Mustang GT Vert - Stuff done, 181 GPS confirmed miles per hour on Autobahn A-5 between Stuttgart and Hockenhiem:) For Sale 92 4Runner 3.slow - little lift, ISR, Dynomax catback, manual hubs conversion, Downey rear springs, more coming count on it...

10-29-2009, 08:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ron Helmuth Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Denver metro area-CO Posts: 1,339	too many horror stories of the 3slow, I would avoid at all cost unless it was just rebuilt and had a transferable warranty. Oil pressure always reads low on this era of motors do not concern yourself with it. Lubrication is fine. Oil drips are quite common but rarely of any real concern. A rear main seal-that is a big deal-so if overly concerned have the area cleaned and narrow down where it is coming from. Oil pan seals alone tend to expand quite a bit on the 22re's for example. Watch the oil level religously-check it each fuel fillup and keep it topped off. Some suggest synthetics speed up leaks but I feel that is another level of lubrication that can't be beat. I recently found yard out here with more 2nd gens than I have ever seen. Even saw a 2 door Runner in there. Quite plentiful depending on location. Good luck with your purchase. Hold out for what you want. Be willing to travel to get it. Someone on here I believe has a low mile 22RE 1st gen with 5 speed for reasonable dollars and you may want to consider a primo 1st gen over a so so 2nd gen to find the 5 speed. Stay in touch if interested and I will put the two of you together . That's what this is all about people helping people. __________________ 99 4Runner SR5 4wd 3.4/5 spd- Fact. Rr. Locker/Diff Breather Ext. Old Man Emu lift springs- 881 fronts/890 rears O/M/E shocks- N91s fr./N86 rr. All Pro Off Road welded sliders-prevent body damage! ARB"Taco"bumper/Gamiviti clear lenses/Hella 500s Redline Tuning hood struts/Bushwacker Extend a Fenders all my photos are over on Facebook now-I gave up on photo hosting sorry.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...5&l=5795132731

10-30-2009, 10:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
99ncxj Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Belmont, NC Posts: 91	Thanks Ron. Pm sent Wahoo __________________ www.4x4grace.com

09-23-2009, 05:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
wahoowad Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 13	I'm looking for a 5 speed but seeing 20 autos for every 5 speed

09-24-2009, 06:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
wahoowad Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 13	How available are interior parts for '90's era 4Runners? One I looked at was really clean, except for a large crack in the dash and a fogged/scratched up speedo screen. Are these things readibly available from toyota or aftermarket?

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