2001 model question

I drove an '85 Hi-Lux for several years back in the 90's and it was a tough little truck. I worked with a guy who had an '83 with over 400k miles and I just had to have one. I've been driving full size trucks for about the last 13 years, but I totalled my last one. So I'm in the process of purchasing a 2001 Tacoma standard cab 2.4 5 speed. Doing a little reading I've discovered that they redesigned the 4 cylinder engines from the 20R and 22R I was familiar with. On those the nylon timing chain guides would break up and fall into the oil pan, allowing the chain to rub the aluminum housing where the water jacket went through to the water pump. That's actually what killed my friend's around 430K, it started leaking water into the oil and he thought it was a head gasket and in the end he let it run hot. My 22R had 100k when I changed the timing chain and the guides were crumbled. Aside from that it seemed like all you had to do was adjust the valves every so often and do a tuneup and it would run and run. What do I need to look out for on the newer 2.4 engine? This truck is spotless with only 42k miles so I want to keep it in good shape. Thanks.

 

The 2.4L 2RZ has earned a reputation for reliability and durability similar to its 22R* ancestor.

I'm not aware of the timing chain guide issue being a problem on the 2RZ's.

 

Maybe it was an issue of not replacing the timing chain / guides as frequently as recommended. As a rule of thumb I changed chains on any engine every 100k. With a belt I actually look at the manual for the interval. I didn't see my friend's engine, he described it to me. So I was on the lookout for it when I changed out my chain. If you were facing the engine from the front of the truck, the guide on the right hand side was the one that was beat up the most and you could see where the back side of the chain had slapped the aluminum housing there. I could easily see where, left unattended, the chain could work through into the water jacket going to the water pump. I don't have a lot of experience with Toyota trucks, I just assumed it was a common issue.