Newbie Tech Section Often asked technical questions can be asked here

3VZE horsepower advice

Old 03-12-2008, 09:16 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
bigisletoyota's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
3VZE horsepower advice

I have a 1991 4x4 pickup (3vze). yes i know its not the greatest motor. but i was wondering if anyone has any tips on more horsepower gains. any parts? gearing?
Old 03-12-2008, 09:19 PM
  #2  
Contributing Member
 
stormin94's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake County, CA/Sacramento
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by bigisletoyota
I have a 1991 4x4 pickup (3vze). yes i know its not the greatest motor. but i was wondering if anyone has any tips on more horsepower gains. any parts? gearing?
Stick, or Auto?

Do at least a catback exhaust, and do the ISR mod. Those mods will likely cost you the least, and you will definitely gain something.
Old 03-12-2008, 09:21 PM
  #3  
Registered User
 
nix4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: I'm an Ohio boy!
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
The 3.0 is the worst engine ever made. All they do is blow headgaskets.
They claim 150hp but its more like 115hp tops. They're complete junk
and no one should ever own one. If you just ought one, you screwed up.
Chances are, it'll take a crap on you within a years time unless you change
oil every 1200 miles, and even then its iffy. Sorry about your luck.


There have been half a dozen threads asking this same question this week.
Search.......

PS the answer is "Not a whole lot you can do."
Old 03-12-2008, 09:23 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
infiltrator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Valencia, California
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Dude, this is Yotatech. NO one would be online if they had nothing to talk about/ search for. And that is exactly what you need to search for.

Look for ISR mod
(here's my thread on it) https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...please-133026/
Check out the "deckplate mod"
And if I were you, just keep her tuned up (good oils, filters, plugs, wires,... the best you know?)
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-12-2008, 09:45 PM
  #5  
Contributing Member
 
stormin94's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake County, CA/Sacramento
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Be thankful, you own the best engine ever made, hands down. Not even a Diesel holds a candle to the 3VZE. It is far superior to todays engines, with it's fuel injection, and 150 horsepower from just 3 liters. And the Fuel efficiency is mind blowing. That kind of power, and yet it still delivers 18MPG on the highway. Not to mention how quick it is...









































It's not so bad, though. It is very reliable.
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-12-2008, 10:12 PM
  #6  
Contributing Member
 
Elvota's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Phx, AZ
Posts: 3,415
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Originally Posted by nix4x4
The 3.0 is the worst engine ever made. All they do is blow headgaskets. They claim 150hp but its more like 115hp tops. They're complete junk and no one should ever own one. If you just ought one, you screwed up. Chances are, it'll take a crap on you within a years time unless you change oil every 1200 miles, and even then its iffy. Sorry about your luck.
I feel your pain... but I think some exaggeration has peppered your post here and there.

The 3.0 never let me down except in terms of HP. As others have stated, search YT. The question you are asking has been asked many, many times before.

Last edited by Elvota; 03-12-2008 at 11:24 PM.
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-12-2008, 10:21 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
infiltrator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Valencia, California
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Eh, my 3.0 has been good to me. It can get up and go pretty well for my needs.
Never blown a HG
Never broke down (overheated once...)
Took me, 3 people, and the back full of supplies, and 31's camping at 8,500 ft. and still got 11.5 MPG.

In the end, take care of your truck, and it will take care of you.
I don't think all 3.0's that are crap. Every engine has problems. Some have more than others. But I would take my 3.0 over any Ford engine any day (maybbe you could convince me with the diesel... but thats it )
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-07-2022)
Old 03-23-2011, 08:30 AM
  #8  
Registered User
 
Dillon T4R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Salt Lake City,UT
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by nix4x4
The 3.0 is the worst engine ever made. All they do is blow headgaskets.
They claim 150hp but its more like 115hp tops. They're complete junk
and no one should ever own one. If you just ought one, you screwed up.
Chances are, it'll take a crap on you within a years time unless you change
oil every 1200 miles, and even then its iffy. Sorry about your luck.


There have been half a dozen threads asking this same question this week.
Search.......

PS the answer is "Not a whole lot you can do."




whoa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dont take shots at the poor 3.0 like that it has Toyota written across the head. end of story................ we are all a big family here

Last edited by Dillon T4R; 03-23-2011 at 08:34 AM.
The following 2 users liked this post by Dillon T4R:
PaulieWalnuts (09-19-2023), rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-23-2011, 08:42 AM
  #9  
Registered User
 
rattlewagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Northfield, Vermont
Posts: 4,735
Received 301 Likes on 207 Posts
You can advance the timing a little, up to about 13-15 for some free HP. Id put money into gears before the motor.

Its not a fast motor. And go fast parts are very expensive and dont do a whole lot. Just keep it running good and youll be fine.

Also, do you have enough stickers on your truck? Could try adding a few more. Everyone knows stickers=hp

Last edited by rattlewagon; 03-23-2011 at 08:43 AM.
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-23-2011, 11:55 AM
  #10  
Registered User
 
blake.nemitz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: castle rock
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
afm tweak, timing advance, egr blockoff, headers, the best thing you Can do is gears just stepping down a ratio will help alot! also if you have a lot of miles and never cleaned the inside of your intake plenum and sea foamed the motor now would be a good time to do that. the crap from the egr can cake in there after a hundered thousand miles or so
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-23-2011, 12:18 PM
  #11  
Registered User
 
MTyoda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Bozeman MT
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
you can do a camry afm internals swap for more air flow and a bigger intake hose and they make an adaptor for a cone for it, i did one with a supra for my 22re cost about 30$ for the afm at a yard and 40$ in parts at oreillys
Old 03-23-2011, 12:30 PM
  #12  
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
Swimmerboy2112's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Walnutport, PA
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Everyone who complains about the 3.0 speed should go drive a 22re.

I'd do headers, intake, to help her breathe better and to free up some "power".
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-23-2011, 12:43 PM
  #13  
Registered User
 
MaK92-4RnR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 6,059
Received 101 Likes on 79 Posts
Headers, ISR, whatever everyone comes up with to "gain horsepower" are all wrong. Take my advice, Ive done it all to the 3.0 and I regret every minute of it. Sure, my 3.0 sounds amazing, but it has no go. Save your money and put it towards tires, suspension upgrades, or maybe a 3.4 swap.

Also, to say the 3.0 is the WORST motor ever made. Is just ignorant. With a little TLC ( which every motor needs ) it will go 300k easily with no issues. Leave the motor stock. Religiously change the oil every 3k, tune it up when required, Timing belt/water pump checks, keep toyota red in the radiator, and dont beat on it like its a PoS and it will not disappoint you.
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-23-2011, 12:57 PM
  #14  
Registered User
iTrader: (5)
 
ChefYota4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lake Havasu, AZ
Posts: 19,281
Received 18 Likes on 13 Posts
Originally Posted by MaK92-4RnR
Headers, ISR, whatever everyone comes up with to "gain horsepower" are all wrong. Take my advice, Ive done it all to the 3.0 and I regret every minute of it. Sure, my 3.0 sounds amazing, but it has no go. Save your money and put it towards tires, suspension upgrades, or maybe a 3.4 swap.

Also, to say the 3.0 is the WORST motor ever made. Is just ignorant. With a little TLC ( which every motor needs ) it will go 300k easily with no issues. Leave the motor stock. Religiously change the oil every 3k, tune it up when required, Timing belt/water pump checks, keep toyota red in the radiator, and dont beat on it like its a PoS and it will not disappoint you.
....

Man, well said, Mak! I've got no personal experience, ...but my buddy who is VERY meticulous and religiously maintains his, ....it's got 387K on it and only had one rebuild and a couple timing belt jobs. To this day, it runs VERY nicely, and without any mods(just upgrades on things to IMPROVE, not enhance), he's got pretty decent power, and ok mileage(17-20HWY). Same block, same heads, etc.
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-23-2011, 04:35 PM
  #15  
Registered User
 
rattlewagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Northfield, Vermont
Posts: 4,735
Received 301 Likes on 207 Posts
Originally Posted by Swimmerboy2112
Everyone who complains about the 3.0 speed should go drive a 22re.
Thats funny.
Old 03-23-2011, 04:45 PM
  #16  
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Black_1985_SR5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Fed-La, Washington
Posts: 866
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Swimmerboy2112
Everyone who complains about the 3.0 speed should go drive a 22re. .
Sigged
Old 03-24-2011, 07:19 AM
  #17  
Registered User
 
blake.nemitz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: castle rock
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
gears will give you the best bang for your buck in the pants dyno
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-24-2011, 08:08 AM
  #18  
Registered User
 
Dillon T4R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Salt Lake City,UT
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
[QUOTE=Swimmerboy2112;51687608]Everyone who complains about the 3.0 speed should go drive a 22re.

are you suggesting that the 22re is slow!!??!?!?!?!!
The following users liked this post:
rojogrande (12-10-2022)
Old 03-24-2011, 09:08 AM
  #19  
Registered User
 
blake.nemitz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: castle rock
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
ha ha i bet your 22re is slower than my 3vz!!
Old 03-24-2011, 09:29 AM
  #20  
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Black_1985_SR5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Fed-La, Washington
Posts: 866
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
I know my 22re is quicker than some 3.0's but I'm not sure about faster

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: 3VZE horsepower advice



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:28 PM.