I have an 88 Runner with a rebuilt 3vze that has onky 30k on it since rebuilt. This truck has nice acceleration, or at lease I find it accelerates quite nicely for me, but when it comes to climing a big hill on the highway, it doesnt want to do anything. I mean, it'll slow down to around 45, but it won't accelerate to save my life. I'm running Chevron 91, if that's useful information. Is there anything I could do to improve my situation?

 

Maybe put in 87, since the motor was made to run on that grade.

Other than that, don't be too surprised. The 3.0 doesn't have too much power (150HP MAX)

Mine's a gutless wonder on hills too.

 

And it is a 5-speed? All 3.0s have issues going up big hills, but if you've downshifted and are still losing acceleration, I would recommend a tune-up and if all else fails, headers. Also... clean the throttle body, if it hasn't already been done, and change the air & fuel filter.

 

Can I advance the ignition timing? I've been reading up on this alot, yet it still confuses me as to the possible damage I could do. I know it will increase power and mpg, but I don't wanna damage anything.

 

I doubt a little advance would hurt any, but you might have trouble with pinging if you go too far.

 

From what I've read, most people that have done so hav only advanced a couple degrees, if i recall correctly. So that's probably what I'll do and see how it goes.

 

If it's the truck in the picture, looks like the tires r 2 big. did you re-gear it?

 

i'm jealous you live in yosemite.

sorry for the totally unhelpful post.

 

Me, re-gear it? Ha! Your funny. How much to you think that would cost though?

Well, I said Yosemite to not be too specific. I'm actually in Ahwahnee, 5 miles outta Oakhurts. Still not a bad drive into the park though.

 

See below...

 

FYI- I have a 94runner with a 3.slow automatic and it went from "slower than dog poo" to "can almost get out of its own way" via the following:

1. Plugs
2.Wires
3.Dist. Cap+Rotor
4.New fuel filter
5.Timing Advance
6.Seafoam Cleaner

My cat is toast and I'm tempted to do the "screw the environment" mod and punch it out...

 

^^^^ I said screw the environment and thieves... I made it so my straight pipe and catalytic converter are completely inner changeable... I wanna see a thief look under only to find just a pipe. lol

 

MaK92- Just saw your exhaust thread and wondered how much you paid for the system and what did it do for your mileage?

 

Duh...just read your first page, thanks for the detailed post.

 

I think you may have encountered a serious problem common with many toyotas. That problem being you have a 3.0L. Honestly though, these engines just arent that great. Yes they are still reliable engines that you can get alot of mileage out of, but they dont go fast, they dont have power, and they suck on gas. Take it for what it is. But you'll never go fast, especially uphill, and you'll never get good gas mileage. If you really cant stand it, get a 3.4, world of difference. I dont have one but my giflfriends parents had a 2000 and it felt like it had twice the power that mine does, and it probably got better gas mileage too.

 

My vote goes for the timing advance. after my rebuild, i put t to the factory 10 ( didnt notice what it was when it came apart) so after the rebuild it felt slugish and didnt have any power. after reading up on yt ( can i gt a "hell yeah" for yota tech?!) i tried the timing advance. i put it up to 15 and it made a world of difference. my power was back! so its free (assuming you can get your hands on a timing gun) and if you dont like it you can just set it back.

 

I drove a 98 T100 last week and was very impressed with the 3.4, so the next question is who has done the conversion?

 

there have been a S-ton of people who have 3.4 swaped.... https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f160/