Engine Removal Questions for 2003 Tacoma 3.4L 4x4

Hello Everyone,

I'm new here, but have read this forum for years. I have to replace my 3.4L as right at 200k I blew a head gasket and was also given the lovely surprise of low oil pressure (oil light won't go off). Planning on swapping the motor for a used 3.4L. I didn't notice any engine removal / replace threads when I searched today. I was curious if there are any links that I missed or is it pretty strait forward and no overview needed? Any recommendations or hints before I get started? I have swapped out other motors before in other vehicles so I know the basics. Just looking for anything Tacoma related that might ease the pain.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me,

Matt

 

Man it's pretty straight forward. The biggest choice is to remove the trans or pull the trans with it. If it's 2wd, no brainer, pull the trans with it. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the quick reply Vasinvictor. Its a 4WD so I am contemplating which way to go with this. . .

 

So thought I would share something interesting as I go about preparing the motor for removal. I really have never experienced this one before. Never. . . The dipstick for the oil reads full. Maybe even a little over full. I remove the drain plug and out comes . . . nothing. Well maybe a drop or 2, but that's it, just a drop or 2. Dip stick still reads full. How is this possible? Now I am sure I will figure it out once I yank the motor out, but I am very curious. Anyone ever ran into something like this?

 

That would certainly account for your low oil pressure! I don't see how that is possible if the stick is actually wet but there is no oil in the pan.

 

Shove a zip tie or something in the hole.

 

Thanks for the idea 10MGM. I poked it with a stick and out came about a gallon of coolant and then all the oil. . . I guess my blown head gasket was really bad and leaked into the motor. The combination of oil, coolant, and overheating must have created a lot of sludge at the bottom of the pan, enough to block the drain. I think any remote idea I had of just replacing the head gaskets and doing a quick once over on the bottom end has been crushed. Replacement motor here I come. Just need to find the right one now. . .

 

That soup probably plugged the oil pump pickup screen, which would explain the oil pressure light. Exchange engine a very good idea.