yamagirl

Hubby is thinking of a economical truck to commute to work with. We have no knowledge of the 2.7`s with an auto. Weve had some 22r powered stuff and were happy but hows the 2.7? in particular we wondered about...
1.Timing belt or chain?
2.Screw type valve adjusters or shim/bucket?
3. Power and economy? 25+ mpg in a 2wd and how about going up say a 6% five mile long grade.
Any opinions geatly appricated.

mmayotaman

I have a 97' with the 2.7 i love it, i got great mpg until i put bigger tires on it, it still gets good mpg, has a good amount of power as well. Have had no probs so i have no complaints.

tacoma728

The engine with stock tires does great if mated to a five speed. I have a four wheel drive SR5, and I found that stock, the engine did great with get up and go speed and torque. Hauls plenty and is a good engine. Will climb hills with stock tires well.

yamagirl

We were looking at new ones but they said 4x4/2.7 combo is not made. But we looked at a used one, 05 xtra cab,4x4,2.7,auto. Is the dealeer blowing smoke up our .......backsides?

tacoma728

Speaking from my experience, the 2.7 liter is a great engine, but I regret not getting the V6, now I am stuck with no larger than 33" tires, and wondering if I will ever make it up that long hill on the highway. Regearing at this time is not an option, so go for the V6

tacoma728

The 2.7/4x4 combo is made, at least it was. I don't know about the new ones, but the fuel economy even with the 4x4 is quite acceptable.

spaugh

I don't own a 2.7 but I have a friend with at 97 4runner with 2wd, 2.7L engine, and a stick shift. Seems like he gets good milage and can still haul ass. I think the stick would make more sense than an auto with a 4 banger.

Toyota Mike

I have a manual 2.7 and love it. I get very good gas mileage out of it.

Nic

I have a 2.7L 4X4. It's manual and not an auto though.

I can easily get in the upper 20s in MPG in if I drive right. It is not a speed machine, but I have no problems getting it up to 80 or 90 on the interstate if I have to-not that I drive that fast.

I can't power up long (steep) grades, but I expected that when I bought it.

I would think a 2WD 2.7L should have plenty of power for the hwy.

They have timing chains. Never messed with the valves. If you have had the 22R, I think you will like the 2.7L as much or probably better. I have.

TACOKRAWL

If you get a 2.7 litre, grt a 5spd. Trust me, you won't regret it. It is in my opinion one of the best plants Toyota ever made, and has great potential for build-up. The 2.7 mated to an automatic would be downright sluggish, esp. with larger than stock tires. The valves are shim and bucket, as are most late model toyota truck engines, much like the BMW Motorsport engines of the late 1980's and early 1990's. They require periodic adjustment, but I just pull the valvecover and check mine on every 3rd oil change. I have 67,000 miles on my rig and mine have always been within spec. I would prefer a 3RZ to a 5VZ anyday, but that is simply my personal opinion based on gas mileage and service needs i.e. timingbelt.

tom_mag

I have a 2.7 auto 2wd 4runner and I think the power is fine, and judging from what my other car is, thats saying a lot. It is the torqueiest non-turbo 4cyl I have ever driven. It has enough midrange torque to accelerate from 60-70 without downshifting from overdrive. I always leave ECT power on. The engine is quiet and the shifting is smooth so the tranny doesn't have to jerk the car into 2nd just to speed up 5mph on the freeway. It can be sluggish at certain rpms or with a full load, but if you put the pedal down it will get the job done. Their is a 2 mile long 7% grade on the freeway near where I live. I can accelerate up to 80mph on that grade. I drive hard and fast and I get 20-24mpg.
I would recommend that you test drive one. I test drove 4 and 6 cyl 4runners and I would say the acceleration is similar between the two at full throttle. The biggest difference in the 6 is that it has much better acceleration below 4000rpm.

blakjak

I can go on Toyota's website right now and find regular and access cabs with 2.7 4x4. However, you just can't get a 2.7 with the auto. It only comes as an option with the V6.

http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2007/...ccess_cab.html

I have an 03 access cab with the 2.7 4x4 and I think it's just fine. Granted I have the 5 speed and I don't think I'd go with an auto with the 4 cylinder myself but I don't know that it would make much of a difference performance-wise. The 2.7 will do just fine on whatever you throw at it, but you just have to remember that it's a 4 cylinder and not to expect V8 performance out of it. If you think your situation warrants a larger engine, (i.e. you may be towing something or hauling a load regularly) then go for the V6. Otherwise, I'd bet the 2.7 will be just fine for you.

Skrillah

I own a '97 4x4 auto 4runner. Best vehicle I have ever owned, it currently has 132000 miles on her and is running better than new.

The 2.7 does have a chain, and is a non-interference engine. Because of this, maintenance on this engine is a breeze compared to the 3.4.

I get about 18 mpg with a mix of highway and city. I also engage 4wd once a week or so,so that may bog me down as well. I am running about 32" tires (265x75rx16) and I do have a 1 inch lift also.

I think they are screw type valve adjusters, I'm not 100% on this but I find it hard to believe they are the shim-bucket type.

Unless you're looking for a vehicle to tow, you won't be dissapointed with the 2.7L. It is a simply one of the best engines toyota made,the only real problem that I've heard with these and was a problem for me too was the exhaust manifold was cracked and had to be replaced. Took me a bout 3 hrs, those bolts are a $#%@# to get off. Anyhow, again, I have found plenty of power out of the 4x4 auto for my needs. I do tow a 3000lb boat a short distance as well so it can be done. I think you get my point, you can't go wrong with the 2.7!

sauer

I have a 1997 4 runner with a 2.7L 5speed. It's like a tank. Seriously it's funny how much I like my 4 runner even though I need to whip it up hill. I wish it had more power, but you cant win them all I guess.

JLSpeed

I have a `97 Tacoma 2.7L 5spd with 144,xxx on it. I've had it for two years, and it's one of my favorite vehicles thus far. I just drove it on a 900mile+ round trip from baltimore to north carolina. It performed the task flawlessly and maintained 23-24mpg. This is, might I ad, through the mountains of western Virginia. I love this truck, my only complaint is lack of midrange power. Would I buy another 2.7L? Probably not. I'm opting for the 3.4 in my next Toyota; but do I regret the purchase of my truck? Absolutely not. Damn good vehicle.

Pozi

This is not meant to hi-jack the thread but is there a source for these engines? I am looking to swap the engine/trans combo into a early model Volvo.

vrrodri

My 1999 Taco 2.7L 4X4 is auto, so they are available.
I am not getting good mpg now but this is due to a slight misfire I am trying to diagnose and also the 33" tires on it. Other than that, it is a good truck. I am now getting around 15mpg mixed.

tacoma728

I like the 2.7 liter in my 2000 tacoma, but the gears are way too high stock and would do better with 4.10s. Tangent.

Tacoclimber

Get the 2.7. Seriously. It's the next best thing to a 22R as far as reliability goes. Owned a 99 Tacoma 4x4, 2.7 5spd for almost 3 years, and it never let me down once. I love the extra power of the 3.4 I have now, but the difference in mpg is noticeable.

Good luck!

bktaco

the 2.7L engine is a great choice for your hubby's commuter. i have been commuting in mine for seven years. substantially more and smoother power than the 22rs. with 115000 miles my truck runs like new, or better since i have a good header and other minor modifications (toyota limited the aspiration of this engine, it can certainly benefit from a little more air than factory setup allows).

its already been said, but it might be wise to get the truck with manual transmission. if you're looking for 2wd, auto is probably fine too. also been said already, but the 2.7 is not well suited for regular hauling. for a commuter and occasional city hauling, that truck will do great and last forever.