Replacement Engines Sourced From Japan

Has anyone had any experience, good or bad, with replacement engines sourced form Japan. My 2002 Tacoma with the 5VZ-FE 3.4L seized from a connecting rod failure with only 125K miles.

For example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/96-02-TOYOT...-V6-ENGINE-JDM-5VZ-FE-5VZFE-5VZ-/271941755974

Thanks,

Mike

 

Mike use the search bar and search JDM. A lot of members here have discussed the use of jdm motors. I've read that emission components, throttle body and the oil filter location is different from the U.S. motors but the parts can be swapped over from the old engine. I never personally used one nor do i have any expeirence with a jdm engine. I purchased my 3.4 off of eBay but mine was out of a Arizona salvage yard from a totaled tacoma. Be careful with those motors from Japan because of water damage from that tsunami.

 

why not rebuild, or just find a used motor locally? i see them all the time around here for $3-600. Are you gonna do the swap yourself?

 

Www.car-part.Com

 

I think the jdm engines are just as good as any salvage yard engine but you have to understand the mileages on jdm engines are a lie.

this is for two reasons, unlike here, the japan engines spend 90% of there time idling in traffic and stop and go so they don't get high mileage on them but are getting engine wear just the same so lets say a 50k mile jdm engine there is the same equivalent of a 150k mile engine here so don't get pulled into thinking these engines are "like new".

another thing is the way the engine was treated is a large unknown issue and it could have not been well maintained with regular oil changes or possibly driven aggressively and abused so even thought they aren't dirty, have low miles, and "appear" new, they are the equivalent of going buy a 100k used engine at the salvage yard in that you just don't ever know for sure what you are getting.

that said, I would have no reservations in using a salvage yard engine or a jdm engine over rebuilding one simply for the cost and time savings involved.

most who don't like the jdm engines just have sour grapes over thinking it was a true "like new" motor because of the claimed mileage it had only to find out later the mileages are not all that accurate since after the engine leaves the car, there is no proof of how many miles that engine "really" has.

 

Hours idling is worse than hours moving, that's for sure. And if I KNEW I had to replace my engine at 50k miles, I probably wouldn't change the oil and would beat the tar out of it. No point in trying for longevity when by law, you can't have it.

There are some sensors that the overseas engines don't have, or different parts. I looked into them a few years ago, ended up passing just because it was simpler to source one locally then to get a jdm, track down what parts had to be changed or added etc.

 

Dave thanks for the feedback. Did you do the swap yourself? If so, did you run into any problems? Thanks.

 

Rebuilding is not an option. One of the connecting rod caps came out the side of the block. I'd like to do it myself, I just need to determine if I can find the time to do it.

 

Karl, thanks for the feedback. I agree with all your points which makes the decision between JDM and domestic salvage difficult. To me it is a gamble either way with the real wildcard being how the engine was maintained and if it was abused. I'm very anal retentive about preventative maintenance, but despite that had a connecting rod failure with no warning signs. See my original post where I added a picture.

 

Yea i did the swap myself. No issues. I found a 69k mile engine out of a totaled 2003 prerunner for $1400 shipped from Az. to my door here in Md. I did replace all the maintance items, tb, wp, clutch, tune up, valve cover & oil pan gaskets ect... while the engine was on the engine stand then dropped it in. It was a easy swap.

 

The problem I've found (at least with nissans) with these imported motors is some of the internal & external parts like timing belt pulleys for one, are different than those used on the very cars imported from japan, my moms sentra had one of those engines & when I went to change timing belt I found that the only place that had the correct one had to be imported from japan because of the rounded toothed crank pulley they use there as opposed to the square toothed gear used for cars imported into the U.S..... really odd

 

Why would they change engines at 50k?

 

Too many cars/trucks/people in a small area (japan) It's emissions related & it used to be a requirement at around 35k to R&R the engines in japan

 

That's insane!

 

ya that's incredibly wasteful, why even buy a vehicle if that's the case?

not to self: never move to japan

 

Interesting to find out about engines from Japan, I see on eBay there are Hilux diesel engines available. Who will be the 1st to drop one into a Tacoma?

 

im not a fan of diesel engines and the cost of diesel is way too high to be practical in my book

to be honest, if I ever had the balls to do an engine swap I would look into a v8 engine like the 1UZ-FE engine swap or maybe a small LS crate engine because, to me, these trucks would do much better, run smoother, have more power, and get much better mpg with small v8's in them but you would have to regear the rear ends to handle the power conversion.

this is an interesting engine swap read: http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/07/v8-swapping-choose-your-weapon/

if not going v8 then I see no point in not dropping in an exact replacement

 

I'd always heard those engines are beat to shit from Japan, they know they have to pull them at low miles so they never bother to change the oil or do proper maintenece

 

I think you were misinformed, like I said earlier , Too many vehicles/people in use in too small of a geographical area, in addition to Japan being so industrial with manufacturing, & really, I don't see how they would be any worse(japanese) than the way we maintain (or lack of) vehicles here... It's all about the emissions/pollution standards they have there..