I am looking at 2 1994 4runners. One of them has a 4cyl and the other has a 6cyl. they are both 5 speed manuals and the 4 cyl cost more.
I was wondering if there was any big difference in the 4cyl vs the 6cyl in performance and gas mileage etc etc and what you guys would recommend for a daily driver/off roader.

I would appreciate anyone's opinions on this.

Thanks

Jp1985

 

There are fewer reliability issues with the 22RE (4 cyl). It is easier to work on and gets good fuel economy if in tune (I got 26mpg in my 4Runner on the hwy).

The V6 is very noticeably more powerful, smoother and a little quieter (not that the 22RE is super noisy).

I got the 22RE, and I'm glad I did. Don't expect to win any races though.

 

The 3.0 (6cyl) has a reputation for blowing head head gaskets and water pumps I believe. Both are good engines, but the general consensus is that the 2.4 (22re) is the more reliable engine. There are a lot of good threads to read about both engines. Here's one for example:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...s-22re-114231/

 

GET THE 22RE 4cyl!!, I have had both, originally the 3vze 6cyl in my old 4runner, the 6cyl is smoother, quieter, and a little more powerful, however you will be lucky to get 16 mpg highway, and it's slow as hell, as well as the head gasket blowing. The 22re has about 20 less horsepower, gets good gas mileage, is almost just as fast, and UNKILLABLE, Get the 22re definetaly, you won't be sorry.

 

Good and bad things about both of them, the 4 is easier to work on and is generally underpowered, but decent on gas. The 6 is known for head gaskets to blow (4 has issues here as well but not as much) and is alot harder to work on as it is crammed in the engine area. Do a search you will find lots of posts on this very topic.

 

Personally, I'd find a blown head gasket miles from home more annoying than an extra second tagged onto your standing 1/4 mile.

 

6cyl offroad
4cyl DD

 

Its a really hard call for me. I really like the 4cyl due to better gas mileage and more reliability, and I very rarely see 2nd gens around here in 4 cyls there all mostly 6ers.
Just not sure what to do
And was 1994 a good year for 2nd gens?

Thanks for all the advice so far.

JP1985

 

22re. You will be thankful when you want to do something under the hood....

 

are all the 4 clys re's?

 

in the 94 yes..unless some tard took off the FI and put a carb on it...

 

4cyl 22RE for life

 

This is so untrue. Unless your mudding.

That is why they invented something called "gears". Get a doubler and a 4.7 in the rear t-case and that will be like 80.1.

 

There are also many many more aftermarket performance parts for the 22re than the 3vze. The ones that are available for the V6 don't even do all that much. For example, the K&N FIPK for the 2.4L will net you 5.13 HP @ 4698 RPM whereas the FIPK for the 3.0L will get you 3.32 HP @ 4405 RPM.

Something to consider if you are going to build up the engine in the future.

 

Hey man whats up?

I'm from Jefferson. We're pretty close. Do you have pics of what the rigs look like? Good luck!

 

Notice how the dude that said that drives a 2WD truck ?

 

I wouldn't say that at all. The Series Land Rovers had 50fwhp and were very capable in stock form. Only very specific instances require high horsepower engines- such as mud bogging with fat tires. Mud with low hp vehicles can be overcome by fitting narrow tires and gearing.

I don't think I've ever used full throttle on my 22RE offroad except under the above circumstances. Never have I felt a lack of power. Just select a lower gear.

If anything, the 22RE might be better off road as its easier to fix on the trail, but we're splitting hairs here.

 

1994 was as good as any. Nothing significant mechanically was changed during the period 1990-1995. More options were added for later years, but that's not really going to change the reliability.

 

get the 22re i have the 3.0 now and i wish i could have found the 22re on the passenger side of the 3.0 you will be lucky to reach one spark plug its so cramed under the hood its crazy how those little tards in japan got all that stuff under the hood of that small truck 22re all the way!!!

 

Notice how a guy with a 3.0 says this, that should say something right there.