85GT-79FJ40

I'm selling my 05 Tacoma and I plan on replacing it with an 89-95 extended cab. I've had a bunch of older Toyota trucks but they have always been 22RE's. I even contemplated just fixing up my 89 but it's a regular cab and that doesn't work with a kid. So I've been looking at the slim pickings of trucks for sale and it seems like all the nice ones within a few hours drive of me are 3.0's. I had a friend who had one with 260k on it that ran fine. And it had a bit more power than a 22RE. I'm just looking for a winter driver/parts hauler that I might put a plow on. I'll probably put 31's on it but that's about it. I realize it's going to be a lot slower than my 4.0 double cab but how are these bone stock with 31's as far as mileage and power are concerned? I have a 90 mile/day commute. My last 22re powered truck with a header 4.88's and 33's got 22-23 mpg on the highway. Would a healthy 3.0 with 31's manage 18 or so highway?

MaK92-4RnR

yes, they're bad.

I wouldn't buy another 3.0 unless it was blown and i had the money for an immediate 3.4 swap.

22re or bust in 88-95 vehicles.

MudHippy

A 3VZ-E has a 22R-E beat hands down in every aspect except fuel consumption. And I'm willing to pay more in gas for a more powerful and more reliable engine. So it'd be a cold day in hell when you'd see me choosing a 22R-E over a 3VZ-E.

And yes, you can easily get 18 mpg highway out of a 3VZ-E. In fact that's quite typical. Toyota's mileage(MPG) estimates for an 89-95 Xtracab with a 3VZ-E and a 5 speed transmission are 17(city)/20(highway), and 15/18 with an automatic transmission. Same truck with a 22R-E and a 5 speed gets 19/22, and 18/20 with an automatic.

BTW, my 88 long bed 4x4 with a 3VZ-E and a 5 speed gets better than 20 MPG highway any day of the week. More like 22-23, but I also have my engine tuned to run leaner than stock, and I run it on 92 octane fuel. Both of those factors contribute to better fuel efficiency. And I should also mention that I run 35" tires with 4.30 gears, which contributes to better fuel economy.

BeMiceElf

iTrader: (1)

I have not had any major problems with my 3.0. Just regular tune-ups and maintenance.

After advancing the timing I am getting 18-20 MPG.

I can't complain.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

3.0 is not a bad motor in the grand scheme but certainly not Toyota's best effort.

I dd an 88 3.0 auto and it's a slug, leaks like Exxon Valdez but it does have 250k on it too.
When it dies it will get replaced with a 3.4.

I got a 92 4Runner 5 spd we just finished a 3.4 swap in and it will smoke the doors off a 3.0 5 spd and still get 18-20 mpg in the much lighter vehicle.

Nothing for a 22RE to run for 250k, rebuild run another 250k. Power king, no, but I'd choose a 22RE over a 3.0 if I was driving it "as is".

:wabbit2:

93Xtra-Cab

They're underpowered, generally get bad fuel economy, and they're designed poorly. I'd get one if it were the last resort and/or if the price is right. That being said...I really can't complain about mine. Driving like a granny on 32s and 4.30 gears I can get 20 mpg.

sechott

The 3vze is a good engine if it is healthy. Take a vacuum gauge with you and ask to hook it up. It tells a lot about the health of an engine's internals. Now it wont indicate how long a a head gasket is going to last or if the engine has been overheated. Here is a link with info http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/F...auge/index.htm

Redneckstarterkit

Just got my 3zve in tip top shape and I get about 20mpg hwy driving conservatively.

I love my 3.0 and is more than enough power for what I use it for.

250000_yota

Having owned one of each, and driven many, many of each, I would really prefer the 22re over a 3vz any day of the week. Even with every little thing I did to my 3.0, it still drank gas like an alcoholic on a binge, no matter how I drove it. It always kind of left me disappointed. Once I got a truck powered by a 3.4, I realized what was missing, and why so many took the time, effort and expense to swap it. On the other side, I grew up learning how to drive in a 22re powered 2wd truck. Aside from a needing a clutch from teaching two boys how to drive, and a timing chain, this truck has never given my family or I a lick of trouble. In comparisson, my 3vz truck seemed to need monthly attention in some form. Granted, there was a considerable mileage difference (230k on the 3vz compared to the 170k currently on the 22re) but over the life of the truck, I feel that the 22re has more than surpassed the 3vz.

Alaska90

i'm the original owner of my 90 ext 4wd 3.0 5speed

i've had ZERO problems with the engine in 22 years and a klick or two shy of 200,000 miles.

there was a recall on head gaskets a long time ago, dealer did that job. other than that and a few timing belts along with the "while you are in there" stuff like water pumps, pulley's, seals, etc.

i get 20 mpg, mix of highway (under 60mph) and city. on pure highway i'll normally get 21 or 22.

but, for me its just a driver---no rock crawling, snow plowing, trailer hauling, etc.

bone collector

I love my 3.0. I have it "tuned" much like Mudhippy does cuz I followed his advise in many threads. i get 18-20 mpg and can pass anybody i choose on the highway. When i had my 22r highway driving was scary and i felt in fear on being run over cuz it was so slow, especially on hills.
As far as speed goes.... your in a 4x4 truck with aerodynamics of a barn door..... But that being said i have done 95 mph on a long stretch of open empty highway. I could have gone faster but I didnt need THAT big of speeding ticket. 3vze is a good motor

85GT-79FJ40

Thanks for the replies. I've had a few 22RE trucks bone stock with 31's and they were pretty gutless. But I liked them a lot. One of my favorite trucks was a 93 extracab all stock with 31's. And I loved my 89 I have now when I had it on the road. Now all I do is plow my driveway with it. The original plan was to buy a 22RE extracab and pull the driveline from the 89, rebuild the engine, add a cam, header, etc. and then swap it along with the 35k mile tranny from the 89 into an extracab. But I can't seem to find a clean one with a 22RE. And honestly I don't have the energy for a project as I am just now wrapping up a full restoration on a fox body Capri. But I have found a few 3.0 trucks that look really nice without a bazillion miles on them so I'll probably wind up buying one of them once I sell the Tacoma. Of course if I do wind up with a really nice one I probably won't want to put a plow on it. But I don't think my 89 will ever die. It's beat and so ugly I hide it under my deck but the thing just keeps on ticking.

kornhuskerwizard

id take a 22re over a 3.0 any day of the week. now a 3.4?? way more power but also drinks more fuel. ive owned toyotas with all of them. but best bang for the buck and dependability and simplicity goes to the 22re.

Redneckstarterkit

I've had a Tacoma and 4runner with 22re's and they were great and reliable but I love the "power and torque" of the 3vze.

I think it just comes down to preference.

Red Wagon

My 3VZE has 265,000km on it and it runs fine. I do regular maintenance on it. I will not dump mod money into it other than the TG power steering pump as I want more power. I'm just wrapping up a 5 week road trip so learnt how sluggish it is.

Empty and just wheeling its fine but after all the steel on her and loaded for camping it lacks power. Plus after market support is not as strong for it. You can get stuff but I see better prices on 3.4 and 22RE goodies.

I like mine but a swap will be in my rigs future.

5runner

i agree with 250000 yota! i regeared mine and it feels like a race car now but it dose get some crappy fuel mileage and give u problems every once and a while

Red Wagon

Regearing helped but once armour and camping gear are applied it shows its lack of horses.

bob200587

I wouldn't get a truck with one unless I was ready for the swap.

Red Wagon

The 2nd gens look the best though. Especially the 4Runner.

Pat8942

If you wanna go fast and get good mileage just buy a car, I bought my Yota because of it's reliability, ruggedness and it's right out of the box off road capabilities, not for speed or fuel economy, I have yet to hear of any corvette owners complaining how bad their cars are off road, because they realize it's just not in the nature of the beast. Be realistic and you'll be much happier.