I had the timing belt replaced @ 156k miles.

Overheat 1 was caused by a water pump gone bad.

Overheat 2 was caused by a leak in a hose (that small one that runs to the oil cooler under the driver side of the engine) that eventually blew out enough water to overheat.


Stupid, I know! That's what happens when you commute 100 miles/day and never have time to get under the truck & take a look...

 

Your poll lacks multiple HGs replaced under recall.

It took them 10+ years to get them so they wouldn't blow.

My '91 had it done 3 times under recall and was leaking when I sold it. My '94 had it done twice under recall.

 

Toyota replaced your HG more than once under the recall? I thought they would only do it once.

 

Totally get that....

 

92. Original owner had it done at 70000. No problems so far and I am at 176000 now.

 

264,000 miles and the hg recall was done at 72,000 miles. Since then she has been running like a champ. knock on wood...

 

I haven't had to do the HG on mine yet! Oh, wait I have a 22re!

 

Iv'e done regular oil changes and coolant changes and the usual stuff - plugs and timing belt when needed. I'm at 210K miles with no HG issues. Hoping to go another 90K before a rebuild!

 

if it counts as one replaced outside the recall, my mom's 93' runner, had it done with the recall with 19K on motor, and blew it again at 166K.. it needed to be replaced, but she just sold it to the dealer..

 

your poll doesn't address head gasket replacement under recall, then engine replacement. mine was replaced by the original owner under recall around 90,000. when it blew again on me at 140,000, part of the gasket got inside the cylinder ruined the cylinder wall, piston, head, and one valve. getting a used engine was my best option.

 

Both of my 4runners were purchased with blown headgaskets. Both failures were at 200kmiles. This was the second set for both runners per service history, and both were not covered by Toyota.

I fixed the problem the correct way with the 5vz swap.

 

Mine is a 95, so supposedly the recall didn't include it. I had the valves done along with a timing belt by the dealership at 133K miles. 30K later, both left and right HG blew, valves were burnt, valve covers leaked, etc., but the HG failure could have been from the AC not working properly. The 3.4 swap is too much money for too little gained (might as well use the whole donor vehicle!). I did headers, re-ground cam, engnbldr's head bolts, Ishino gasket set, oversized valves, heads professionally machine. Runs great!

 

Don't listen to the people who don't have the 3.4l. They don't know what they are missing. Lots of power gained, better fuel economy, the good looks of the 2nd gens. All the money you guys "save" doing a rebuild, I put into a good engine.

 

I agree, the 96+ 4Runners just don't have the look that I like. But if I was going to spend $4-5000 that others on YT have quoted for the 3.4l swap, I'd just spend it on the whole vehicle. And I'd skip the 3.4l tacos/runners and go with the new 4.0l ones. I test drove one of the 3rd gen 3.4l 4Runners years ago, and I just was not impressed enough with it to trade up. But they're all great vehicles, to each his own.

 

mine has never had a problem. havent got anything about the recall either. musta been done i unno. i regularly beat the piss outta my truck. all ive had problems was with the starter. that thing was a beast to get out. i had to remove a motor mount to get that sucker back in... i got small hands which helps.

 

WOW, at that price I could see the drawbacks. I purchased my last 3.4l for $1200 and that was with the donor vehicle, it was rolled about 6 times over. I only purchased the ORS wiring harness and did everything else on my own. Im only into the swap for $2300, though the first swap was 3 years ago and alot more money, $3500 with the supercahrger without the fuel mods.

Sorry for the thread jack

 

My 1990 now has over 232,000 miles and never needed a head gasket. I replaced the heads at 192,000 miles because of a burnt valve and replaced the head gasket anyway, but it was still in perfect shape. Whenever I would ask the dealer about the recall, they ran my VIN and always said that mine was made before the recall started. Mine was actually mfg in June of 1989, before the US-based company in California started supplying Toyota with the faulty head gaskets that initiated the recall!

 

i'm at 193,xxx with original HG and still no problems...on the other hand here is a list of stuff that was replaced....
front rotors+cailpers
cat.+ cat. back (great price thanks to summit)
water pump
timing belt
timing belt idoler bearing
starter
and a few small things
my turck is still strong and i see it very reliable

 

My 92 blew like a champ at around 40,000. It was repaired at the dealer under warrenty. 204,000 now and still good.

Now...is the power there like when new....

 

My 95 wasn't covered under the recall and blew a few months ago at 156,000 miles. I replaced the head gaskets along with new head bolts and almost 3k miles later no problems. I'm hoping it makes it another 100k before blowing again but we'll see....