I have a 1997 4runner with the 3.4/auto trans 4wd. It currently has 253k on and is running fine. However I was going to change the oil on it and noticed dried coolant on the bell housing. It looks like it is coming from the driver side head. I also need to replace the rear axle seals and bearings as well as an o2 sensor. It travels from Colorado to Georgia and back every year. I have had no issues with it. I keep the oil changed regularly and watch my fluid levels. It has never overheated and no weird vibrations or noises. I'd really like to not have a car payment. I hear of these engines reaching even higher mileage. Any opinions? I think for around or less than 2,000 I can repair everything myself.

 

What ya gonna replace it with that won't cost 4 or 5 times what it will to repair what you got??

 

I would replace it with another 3rd gen 4runner or tacoma with lower miles.

 

Not so easy to find. If yours has no rust issues, I think I'd fix it.

 

That's what I'm starting to lean towards. I've kept up on the oil changes but thats about it. Other than the water pump and timing belt. I haven't done much else. Engine doesn't eat oil just a little bit of coolant. The only real rust on it is on the frame mounted hitch everything else looks fairly sound. I averaged 24-20 mpg on my trip back to Georgia. I guess I'm just afraid of doing all of this work and something goes wrong after I put this money into it. Mostly worried about the auto trans just because I've neglected it.

 

I guess you've already ruled out the heater hoses that run back there, as well as the little hoses that go to the IAC?

 

As far as I can tell yes. When I noticed the leak I had it pulled into the oil change pit at my work. It was on the driver side, looked like it was coming from between the head and block. I did a compression test a few years back and it showed low pressure on the drivers side cylinder closest to the firewall. I have no evidence of oil in coolant, exhaust or transmission fluid. Is it possible just to have an external head gasket leak? Like I mentioned above it has never overheated even when loaded going up steep mountain passes.

 

I'd repair and keep driving it.

I'm tearing into mine next weekend and doing a full timing belt, etc. job. My truck currently has 353,000+ miles and I fully intend to pass 400,000 miles. I bought it new, so I want to get my money's worth.



Andreas

 

It's obviously not eating coolant if you can visually SEE the leak. My guess is that it's leaking either at the heater hoses or the tube that runs through the two heads...you'd have to take the manifold off in order to see. I doubt it's the head. If it blows white smoke out the exhaust, then it's a coolant leak into the combustion chamber. But I think it's leaking past a clamp on one of the heater hoses.

 

Gotta keep it. You kinda know what you got it sounds like. Could just be need gaskets. Water pump etc. Which is nothing if you do it yourself. I know a good friend who just got a 98. It had 345000. He paid 2 grand for it. Wait till it's worth more in the hand than in the Bush. GL.

 

I say sell it !!

Payments are good $1000.00 a month payment helps the people charging the interest .

It is a vehicle anything mechanical wears out or breaks at the worst time.

Be in the wrong place and get run into by a drunk driver and the amount you get is book value even if you just put $10,000.00 into the engine.

The decision what you do is really yours

 

Drivers side bell housing leak is the freeze out plugs on the back of the block behind the transmission.
Every 2 years i throw an egg in the radiator with pepper in it.
Seals the sucka right up. Been like that for about 5 yrs.
My 3rd gen v6 has 250,000
Replacing sounds great until you realize 12-15grand is needed to replace your 4,500 runner.

Ps----green antifreeze is a freeze out olug killer.
Switch to import antifreeze.

 

Lol....people near me in phx are trying to get 7-8 grand for
250,000 mile 3rd gens.
Whacko's !!

 

Where abouts in Phoenix?

 

Just look on craigslist

 

Fix it.

Got 328,000 on mine and just now doing what needs to be done to make it new again.

I haven't put 400.00 into yet but it'll end up at around 5,000.00, still way below what a new truck would cost.

 

i currently have 277k miles on my 3rd gen, i say keep it and fix it.

 

I'd say just keep your eye out for an upgrade 3rd gen while you continue to drive yours. I don't know about the market in your area but here in Arkansas you can pick one up with less than 200K on it for around $5000 or so. I bought an 02 SR5 4WD with 139K on it for $4000 last year. I'm in the market for another one right now. Down here the Tacomas go for upwards of $12,000 but the 4Runners sell for a bargain. Just build you up a fund for either a replacement or a rebuild and see what you find. The key to buying one right is to have the money in your pocket and move quickly on a good one when it comes available.