What is the better engine. The 2.4, 2.7 or 3.4

Just curious what everyone's favorite engine is. The 2.4, 2.7, or 3.4. Mine is the 2.7

 

4.0

 

Of the 3?
The 3.4 is my pick.

 

For sheer mpg purposes, the 2.4 with a manual trans. 25 mpg @ 50 ish was routine.
For everyday daily driver, the 3.4.

But for my favorite ever motor, Nissan's NAPZ 2.4 in D21 Hardbody, much more torque.

 

4.0 was the best.

 

I have the 2.7 3rz in mine, I don't have any real complaints.... but the 3.4 would be nice to have.

 

3.4 all day

 

3.4 with a 5spd behind it scratches the itch for me on the weekends, after driving my slushbox daily all week long (necessary evil to fit car seats comfortably)

 

The best engine between the 2.4L, 2.7L, and 3.4L depends on individual needs and priorities, but the 2.7L is generally considered the most reliable and durable, while the 3.4L offers more power. The 2.4L is also a solid choice, particularly for fuel efficiency.

 

This thread is in the 1st gen section, so you mean a 1UZ swap?

 

I see that sentiment echoed in this forum quite a bit, but have never fully bought that the 2.7 is significantly more reliable than the 3.4.

Over the years I've seen what seems like far more threads on here about 2.7's experiencing head gasket issues, cracked heads, and burnt valves, than the occasional thread about a 3.4 popping a head gasket or cracking a head.

And anecdotally, I have 3 close friends (plus myself) that have high mileage 1st Gen Tacomas all with the 3.4.

1 has 630k miles, 1 has 385k miles, mine has 295k miles, and another has 282k miles (this one got a junkyard motor last year at around 280k miles - due to a blown head gasket).

All of the others have their entirely original drivetrains. And all of these trucks get absolutely beat on as hunting trucks, and just keep on trucking.

Edit: also @Speedytech7 has been rolling around with north of 400whp/400wtq on a stock block 5vz for a while now, which just further reinforces that the 3.4 is an absolute unit.

 

I have 262K well maintained miles on my 3.4 and still running strong.

I’m just saying they are all good engines when used for the purpose they were engineered for.

 

630k miles, wow.

 

Yup the guy trapped small game all winter here in AZ and then would drive the truck to Alaska to do road construction all summer. So most of those miles were actually offroad checking his traps.

 

Got a buddy in Precott AZ area, Javalina are a HUGE problem. Between the yard damage and the trash can rummaging.

 

That is almost two trips to the moon and back. Damn.

 

Chevy 5.3L but I’ve got a 2.7 in the 1st gen.

 

Yup they also kill small dogs, or even big dogs foolish enough to chase them. My neighbor's big German shepherd narrowly survived a javelina tusk through her chest