Engine problem 1994 3.0 V6 small pick up.

Hi, my name is Peter, Jessup Maryland.
I have 1994 Toyota Pick-Up, it has over 200,000 miles and now it needs headgasket. I don't know if I should go with another engine or just head gasket replacement. But if I go with the engine I'm planning to go with the used engine but as of right now, I don't know what to do... I need some advice.

 

What do you want to know besides expensive. I have a 91' 3.0 and it is a lot of work to re do. If you are going to do it do it right because that engine is sensitive.

 

I'd try to find a lower mileage replacement engine. There should be some out of '03's and '04's in wrecking yards with half the mileage you have on yours.

 

The 3.0's always blow head gaskets, I would find a wrecked 3.4 and swap it out.

 

if i were you.....i'd do as others have said and find a good used 3.4 and swap it in.

 

If you go with the 3.4 then there will be some modification. I think you will need a body lift. Guess the engine sits higher than the 3.0. I saw a guys build plus there will be some wiring issues you will have to deal with. Also heard 3.4's have somehead gasket issues too.

 

Curious where you heard that. I have never heard of the 3.4L v6 having head gasket problems. In fact, compared with the 3.0L, the v6 in the Tacoma's is pretty much bulletproof.

 

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/3-4-head-gasket-recall-23329/


This is the closest I could find, but I read it somewhere else too

 

http://www.aa1car.com/library/2005/ic010532.htm

Heres one more. Think this is where I read it originally.

 

Yeah. The 3.0 was the king of the head gaskets, but there was the small recall on the 3.4. Just something to be aware of for the OP.

 

The 3.0 had a huge recall years ago to the point of Toyota doing complete engine R&R, my friend has an 88' 4 runner (pretty sure its an 1988) & even though he wasn't original owner Toyota did complete engine exchange with the recall at no expense to him, showing once again that Toyota did the right thing & it was due to a design flaw in cooling system,pretty sure it had something to do with small water jackets or lack of, Hey Chris 4x4 chime in here buddy I'm sure you know the skinny on this.... Anyway the 3.4 has proven itself to be a superior engine in reliability & performance. kinda like the difference between the 1985 Ford 2.8 v6 & the 1986 2.9 v6 where the 2.8 was a carburated POS & the 2.9 injected motor was much better performer & reliable.....

 

Yes that is true about the water jackets. When the 3.0 was introduced it was the first time they used a graphite head gasket. There was also the exhaust cross over pipe between the heads that didnt help either. Pretty sure that the 3.4 has the same exhaust set up. The fact that the block is steel with the use of aluminum heads is a possible issue too. There was just some design flaws along the way. The 3.4 also has a Multi-Layered head gasket offered too and the 3.0 doesnt. (believe me I've looked. lol)
I do agree with the 3.4 being a better engine because of the head changes and the hard lesson learned from the 3.0. There was still that couple year head gasket recall that I was telling the OP about. Hopefully he wont pick up one of those engines.

 

X2, yep theres still a few of those heat prone 3.0's out there & like you said hopefully he won't pick one of the earlier 3.0'

Also I'm not sure what differences and/or mods he'd have to do with a 3.0 to 3.4 swap, probably worth checking into

 

http://lkqpowertrain.reachlocal.com/ try these guys out ull be satisfied. trust me.

 

I have the 3.0 in my '91. I've learned a lot about that engine over time. lol. I rebuilt it when I first got it. It ran like a champ. Then it got an intake leak that I was unaware of and it burned up a piston. I rebuilt it a second time and had a some guys do it. They did a terrible job. It ran like crap. The 3rd time I did all the work my self. Took my heads to a shop where I know the owner. He did all the work on the heads. I put the engine back together. Now its turn key. Pulled a 1,000 lbs of junk on a trailer plus the trailer the other day and it ran like a champ. I personally wouldnt trust a junk yard 3.0 without a rebuild so if I were the OP just go through the engine he has now and save a buck.

 

ok so im about to buy a used 96 tacoma reg cab with the 3.4. should i look out for the head gasket cause its an early model??

 

I would get the vin and call toyota. One of those links I posted said something about '96 & '97 having a recall.