2.7L low compression question

My 5 speed manual, 2000 tacoma (195k) with 2.7L started being even doggier than normal, check engine light comes and off. Took to my mechanic and friend, code read engine miss, replaced plugs, wires, no improvement.
Took back and did a compression test, 20psi #1 cyl, 75pi #2 cyl. and 150psi in #3 and 4.
So I need a new engine? right?
Trucks perfect except for it's general weekness.
His quick look found engines for $4600, wow, my look was more like $2100, I think he looked at Jaspers.
Have any of you had this problem?
Any thoughts on where to get the engine, one with more power would be good?
How long do you think I have before it leaves me stranded?
thank you.

 

Yeah you prob will need a motor. 20psi is extremly low. I have never actually had to buy a new motor so I dont really know where to look

 

rebuild would probably be cheaper. might be something as simple as head gasket...

 

Err.. 20psi is VERY low even for head gasket failure... For head gasket check if you have oil in coolant or coolant in oil... If not it can be bad piston ring, scored cylinder wall or something even worse... Pull the head and see what inside looks like. If your cylinder wall is scored from piston ring going bad, you will need new long block...

 

^^ what he said^^

 

no oil in the coolant, no coolant in the oil.
having a tough time finding an engine, is there a difference between the manual and automatic bell housing on the engines.
the top of the engine has this code, E3Rz-N17, what does it mean? or is it just the engine number?

 

I would have them do a leak down test and find out where the cylinder pressure is going. Kinda suspicious that you have two cylinders low that are adjacent to each other and two cylinders that are still good. Still a possibility of a blown headgasket between those two cylinders. There would not have to be issues with oil or coolant in that case.

Another possibility is burned valves. We had an 02 2.4 Taco at work that we were told had a "tuliped" valve that had hammered itself out of shape. We were quoted something like 2200 bucks for a new head. Boss sold the truck broken as is. I guess there were a couple years that had bad valves made of a bad batch of soft steel. 02 was one year.....don't know about the others. Our truck had 125K on it.

Don't give up on that motor yet, especially if it wasn't burning oil or anything.

 

I've had a head gasket leak down to 40psi. It does not have to always have coolant in the oil. You can leak between the cylinder and oil passage. Creates alot of crankcase blow by. Or even between cylinders.

You can never tell without taking it apart. 200k may as well hone the cylinders and replace rings/pistons at least. Lap the valves replace all seals and have a fresh top end

Edit didn't see last post