Question about replacing blown motor

Hey guys, I am a new member but I've always been a lurker on Tacomaworld and now I have two qustions to ask.

I have a 2002 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 v6 manual tranny with 85k miles. The maintenence that i've done recently before the motor blew up are:

-Replaced all fluids like Radiator, transfer-case, tranny gear fluid, and regular oil.
-New timing-belt
-All drive belts
-Thermostat
-spark plugs
-water-pump

All with Toyota OEM parts.

Long story short... I was merging into the freeway and I brought the RPM up to 4.5k before shifting out of 3rd gear into 4th gear. As soon as I shifted (I did not mis-shift) into 4th, I hear clinking sound and that was when the check engine light and oil light came on. The car started to vibrate but did not die and I pulled over to shut her down. I got out of the truck and noticed a trail of oil about 50-100 feet back and a pile of oil underneath the truck. Had a guy check it out the other day and he found a hold in my block next to the passenger side motor-mount. My questions are, what could have caused it, and how could I have prevented it from happening (especially after I've done all the maintenence on it). Also, does that mean that the motor was on it's last leg?

My other question is, I will have to replace the motor.... do I go with a low miles (approx. 45k) used motor imported from Japan, or a rebuilt one? From the information that I've gathered, most rebuilts comes with aftermarket internals? Please help and thanks in advance.

 

Have to decide by tomorrow if anyone can suggest anything.

 

^^ Wow, man. I've yet to hear of that coming from a Tacoma.

I really hope you get this issue settled. I can't help you much as I've never looked into the issue. Have you checked junk yards at all? What caused the hole?

Free bump for the needy.

 

Addicted to my name I see? (suprattaddict).... Sorry about the truck... Probably was a lemon idk.

 

Did it over rev? I have only read of like two 3.4's blowing on such low miles. These motors are tanks and hardly have any problems at all. Sorry to hear about the truck. My advice is to look at junkyards and try to find one locally if you can.

 

if the motor with 45k on it is alot less money i would buy that one. i have 265k on mine and still sounds great.

 

I'd probably go with the low miles Japanese motor.

sub'd because I want to know what caused this, how it could have been prevented and if Toyota CS has anything to say about it.

Best of luck and please let us know how it turns out!

 

I hate to hear that about your truck! Sounds like it threw a rod through your block maybe??? But idk

And as far as replacing the motor that's a tough call because idk how tight you are with money. One option would be just buy a block from a salvage yard and put all you old components in this "new" block, but idk how much cheaper if any this would be compared to just buying the motor you are looking at.

Good luck

 

Thank you guys for your replies, I really appreciate it. The cost between a rebuilt motor and a low miles used one is only a few hundreds different. My only concern about a rebuilt motor is that a lot companies use very weak aftermarket internals.

Supra TT- I am a supra addict and I am on 3rd MKIV TT.

Everyone is telling me that the 3.4 motors are built like tanks, and that is where I am confused on how mine blew on me with such low miles and all maintenence already done?

I was thinking that I over-reved as well but I only brought it to a max of 4.5k rpm (very few times that I've brought it this high).

 

Could you buy a new block use your old internals besides new oem Toyota pistons and rods? And maybe replace your crank also? But keep your top end from your old motor? Im shocked yours blew so soon? Most 3.4 (5VZ-FE) engines make it to 250k+ easy with ZERO problems. And they are NOT driven easy. I have hit the rev limiter in mine a few times on accident when I first bought it and never had one problem with it. (knock on wood) And I have 145k and the only thing I know of that was replaced was a fuel pump. Everything else stock. But my alternator is going out now lol. But Im running alot of accesories.

 

I've hit rev limited at least 5000 times on my 2.7l.No problems on the truck yet. And i've swamped the motor at least 4 times. 2.7l's are stronger than 3.4s IMO... However it'd suck to jump from a v6 to the i4 lol..

 

Even revving it occasionally all the way to 5k RPMs, that's no excuse to throw a rod (or blow your motor in any way, really).

 

wow...its sad to see a low milages motor go out. i suggested to get a japanese used motor instead of rebuilt motor. better to have oem than aftermarket parts you don't know what they put in there.

 

Sorry to hear about this, that sucks! I doubt you could have done anything to prevent it, if it never ran low on oil then it should have lasted. One of those things in life I guess.

If it were me I would do one of two things: either find another block and have it rebuilt by a local machine shop who will warranty their work, or get a low mileage used engine from Japan or otherwise. Hopefully, the used one will come with a decent warranty.

I sold auto parts for several years for both NAPA and Kragen. Mass produced rebuilt engines are a real crapshoot. Just when I would think we found a good rebuilder that we could trust, I would get a warranty claim. And they were always a pain in the ass and tried to get off cheap instead of doing the right thing. In my town, the local machine shops are a crapshoot too. I wouldn't trust the one in your town unless you have multiple positive references to rely on.

I would trust another low mileage, all factory, never been messed with engine. I see plenty of first gen trucks with tons of miles on them. I think you just got a bad one.

 

Ten years ago I had an 86 truck with a 22r that I had to replace. At the time, toyota would sell a shortblock 22r for 2,000 bucks. That's the block, crank, rods, pistons all assembled. No head or timing components. I have no idea what a 3.4 shortblock would cost if they offer it. You might check it out considering you probably have a good set of heads still. But my vote is still for a low mileage engine that hasn't been opened up or tampered with.

 

First off I am so sorry to hear about your engine... sad to say it's actually happened to a couple 4runners. Here is the link

 

LC Engineering www.lcengineering.com has long and short blocks. Also remanufactured engines. Give them a look as they are highly regarded.

 

Get there 1,400 HP engine