is lacking and struggling up the hill.


It's also a gasaholic in town. I feel like I am driving a tank.


Yours like that too?

 

yes...

 

no....

 

not really...just loves the gas like always. I saw a post on here somewhere that stated 15 MPG city for the 3.0. I can believe it, but then again I drive the shiznit out of mine.

 

Mine's not

 

dont believe it is....3eeeeeeee veeeeeeeee zeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeee is a pile though

 

Other than the 15mpg I get (was 20mpg till the oversized tires), my 3.0 is a pretty decent motor. I'm running 35's on stock gearing, with a 5sp and it does fine. It starts out kinda slow but runs faster than a friends stock 4runner 3.0. Just recently I had to rescue my father-in-laws old f150 and towed it home just over 100miles, maintaining 60-65 with over 6k lbs of weight behind me while maintaining 12-13mpg. I had some issues a couple years ago with the injectors, but that was at 175k miles and since then it has given me very little problems. Its now about to trip over 230k so I'm pretty happy with it.

I think the main problems with the 3.0 being sluggish is when it is coupled with an automatic, like my friends 4runner. Also remember a 4runner/truck is not a sports car, you cant expect it to accelerate like one.

Oh yeah only other thing that I can think of that I really dislike about the 3.0 is that it is a pain in the butt to work on. That is the main reason I am semi-restoring an 88 4runner with the 22re/5sp combo. Comparatively it a dream to work on, I just know that it will not be able to tow as well as my old trusty 3.0.

 

My 93 V6 Auto 4X4 gets about 14-15 without the A/C on. It's not fast up the hills either. It gets about 19 out on the road. But yes the stop and go really hits you in the wallet.

I know some here will say I'm crazy, but I gained a good mpg or 2 when I installed manual hubs up front.

I tried platinum plugs once and lost power and mileage. Went back to NKG's and runs like a charm.

 

not mine, my 3.0 gives me tons of power besides for the automatic, and gives me great gas mileage.....

 

not sure i only had my for a week seemed to do ok and the truck my moms got does good to

 

My '91 was the most anemic vehicle I had ever owned.
Part of was:
1. automatic
2. 31" tires, rig was geared for 225 size tires

Manual hubs helped a tad, but not much.
Finally the engine started to go out from bad valves, and I had enough of that.
MPG was down to around 13 city/freeway.

My 90 Xtracab 5 sp with the 22RE had more power and torque.

 

My 3.0 is no speed demon for sure but, it doesn't "struggle" uphill since I installed a Flowmaster muffler and larger tailpipe.
It has slightly improved my gas mileage (about 2-3mpg), I don't have to tach the hell out of it to get going from a standstill anymore, and I don't have to downshift going uphill anymore.
My truck is a '93 extra-cab 4x4, it has manual hubs and is a 5spd, which probably helps.
I bought it from the original owner earlier this year with 69,500 original verified miles on it and he took very good care of it, so shes not beat.
Keeping in mind that I did swap out for 31" BFG a/t's and Warn's winch bumper which probably killed whatever aerodynamics I did have and I have a heavy right foot, I still get 15-17mpg in mixed town/highway driving.

 

mines very NONE 3.slow, more like a 3.4, probably heps with a manual and a WELL looke after engine

 

Mine has a hard time on the passes, but most naturally aspirated cars do.

When was the last time you did cap/rotor/plugs/wires and checked the timing? You need to be AT LEAST 10*BTDC, I run 12* with no issues (but, again, I'm at altitude)

I also saw a considerable difference after changing the O2 sensor (despite not having a CEL)

Lastly - it is getting cold now, check your tire pressures!

 

yeah, i would say so, on steeper hills, it shifts down and will rev on me.

cant do much about it, but if theres something lacking/ needing to get fixed, check on it. maybe your pistons arent all firing?

 

So far I'm getting about 0 MPG, had a 1/4 tank in it about a month ago, and STILL have a 1/4 tank in it! This saves me lots and lots of money, I know this for a fact.

I don't know yet, I've never driven mine. HAHA.

 

I think the problems I perceived with the 3.0 at first were all mental. It is definitely a 3.slow compared to the v8 Dakota I had but the longer I drive it the better it gets. It'll get up and go, except from a dead stop but picks up around 2000 rpm's, and with an auto and 32's I get about 17-18 mpg around town.

 

i drove my freinds 3.slow with the auto my god was it brutal