While I was at work today, my wife called me and told me that her car was making "funny noises". She pulled over and got a ride home. I checked the car when I got home. It was two quarts low on oil (which seems to have recently leaked out of the drain plug area), and once I got it topped off and started, sounded like it either spun a bearing or broke something inside. She said that there was significant loss of power.

Considering that I purchased the car for $2500, and that it is a '92 automatic with a 3vze in it, I wasn't expecting that it would be worth my time to put it back on the road. A Toyota mechanic friend of mine offered me $1k for it. He will build a new engine for it and resell it.

I now need to get a car- quickly so my wife and daughter have transportation. My '86 is a bit rough for them to use for a daily driver yet.

I'm not sure if I will go for another 'runner or not. I'd like to stay away from the 3.0 if I do, and I don't think that she wants to deal with a 2 door. That makes things a bit more expensive.

The money and time simply aren't in the picture for me to do a 3.4 swap in the truck.

BUT.... on craigslist I found a '74 Dart for a good price. I wouldn't have to deal with smog any more, they get pretty good mileage, and my wife likes the look of it. If it has A/C, then it might be a winner. I will see about looking at it tomorrow and go from there.

Don't worry- I'm still a Toyota guy. The '86 isn't going anywhere.

 

So that's the 3VZ's fault?

 

^^^Good point. I do hate the 3VZE but come on!

 

Sorry to hear about your 4Runner, man. If I come across any good deals, I'll give you a call.

We picked up the wife's Tacoma for $1.000. The deals are out there if you look hard enough......and have luck on your side.

 

of course.. 3.slow is always at fault..

 

Hey now......

 

Never had a problem with mine

 

The Craigslist deals are out there. I got my 90 22re with 95K miles for 2 grand last summer. I thought it was a good deal anyways.

 

guilty by association...

Now dudes gonna fix it for the same $300 you coulda fixed it for...

But if it's worth all the trouble of selling and finding a new and in what condition vehicle to run low on oil... gohperit!

 

See quote in my sig

 

Nobody ever said that it was the 3VZE's FAULT, just that I didn't ever like that particular engine much. I don't know where the oil leak originated, other than that there is an oil slick under the engine where it never existed before, and that it never lost any oil that I could tell until today.

Something will come up.

 

Nare did I... And I drive Toyota's for a very good reason... I beat the wee outta my trucks every time I drive them.

Any way I want to, and time I want to... And they just keep on going...

 

The 3VZE does suck, I can't disagree with you there. Too bad it's not salvageable at all.
Maybe look into getting the wife a old Corolla, my ex had one of those and they are really reliable.

 

It's a Toyota, it's supposed to be like that!

 

Fixing an "extra" car for 300.00 plus my time is one thing. Leaving my wife and three month old baby stranded at the house while I do it is another. My work doesn't allow for much time off. It may only cost 300.00 if you have the tools to do it. I don't.

 

No, it doesn't

 

^^^Yes it does!!

 

^^^ Its not that bad!

 

^^^ That is true!

 

no comment....YET (on the 3.0 being a turd)

from what i've heard, it's a great motor as long as you treat it good...and kiss it goodnight EVERY night