4 cylinder-- 2nd vs 3rd generation

I think the engine is basically the same as I think they went to VVT in 2012 and the new ones seem to have the same specs. I am really happy with my 2.7 and gets great mileage and performance is more than adequate with the 5 speed manual. If I wanted a lot of power, I would have bought a Hemi or another V-8 truck but certainly not a Tacoma even with V6 as they are not much faster than the 4. Like you I wanted reliability and ease of maintenance with the cast iron blocked 2.7. Enjoy your truck for many years.

 

Thanks Jemm63. My thoughts exactly.

 

This is the reason I was asking. I wasn't being a dick. I really didn't know why anyone would want to buy the 4 banger that has 100+ less HP.

This is what I'm getting in my 22 v6.

 

One day I swear I’m gonna post a thread as to why my 4cyl access cab with a 6 ft bed and 1500 lb cargo capacity is superior for use as an actual by god reliable truck for carrying stuff in the bed compared to say a V6 DCSB OR.

 

You know what at 20+ mpg that's pretty good and I do miss power when I'm trying to merge in front of an 18 wheeler on the highway.

My little 4 banger used to get me around 22-23 mpg (wish I kept a spreadsheet like you I just did the math on my phone as a check of the computer) with a 50/50 mixed driving. It's closer to yours now with bigger tires but I can still average 23mpg on mostly highway trips which isn't bad for AT tires.

The dealer had the same truck as mine with the V6 for 2k more when I was buying but one of the main reasons I got a newer truck was my old ranger only got 17mpg 2wd V6 on a good day, downhill so when I saw 18s I was determined to get as much of a mpg improvement as I could when I changed. Wished that Ford Maverick had dropped in 2019 when I bought my truck I'd get that thing with 31mpg!

 

I’m having fun too but if you look the dragy I posted on page one even 0-10 the 4 is behind. And that’s an access cab vs double cab.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise the 6 is faster. The ratio is an attempt to make up the power difference but clearly it doesn’t.

 

That’s one data point, the video I posted is another. Do you have a DCSB OR? Id run ya lol. See my post above about weight. I’m gonna beat ya off the line for at least 50 feet. It’s torque and weight and ratio that matters off the line.

 

When I see people daily driving these trucks and getting 16-17 mpg I wonder if they are driving them like the sports car they are not. I get hauling can nuke it but just scooting around town... Its a slow stupid truck. Drive it like one and you can get some decent mileage out of out. The last one noted that got 22mpg was a 500 mile trip I took over 2, 200 mile highway stints. When I was on that I was getting closer to 25mpg. I was pleasantly surprised by it. I think I would have gotten better if I wasn't driving up and down mountains the entire time.

 

You fn tell em

 

Cast iron block, extremely reliable. With all the shit I read on here about how fucked up the V6 is, I dont want the V6

 

Hey, my V6 has a 4.30 diff too! I ain't going to abuse my clutch just to win any drag races though, so you'll probably beat me off the line no problem.

I also have a 2000 Prerunner AC with the 2.7 and automatic, with the lighter weight of an AC 1st gen it gets down the road just fine, it ain't fast but it ain't slow either, know what I mean? Haven't driven a 2nd or 3rd gen with the 4 cyl to compare.

 

Right, the manual V6 has the 4.3 as well, ya got me there!

 

What issues do the V6 have?

 

You’re obviously fairly new here if you have to ask that. Most folks have no problems with their V6 but more than a few do. Here are things to keep a lookout for.

Timing change cover leaks. An expensive fix unless you just live with it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/16589768/?q=timing+leaks&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=186

Miscellaneous problems:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2gr-fks-engine-problem-failure.774579/

I think some of these problems were mostly early years 3rd gen (like timing chain cover leaks).
The V6 is definitely harder to work on than the 2TR-FE 4 cyl., just replacing the spark plugs is a lot more work in the V6.

All in all though I think the V6 2GR-FKS is a good engine for recent years, but nothing touches the time proven 2TR-FE in reliability.

 

Reliability. That simple.

 

Since we’re bench racing the dragy is repeatable consistent data; it takes reaction time out of it. It’s a much better metric than some video showing one car leave on another.

If you were close I’d be happy to race you for fun. I made the same offer to any second gen but nobody took me up on it. I’ve been drag racing for 20 years; I know what it takes to get out of the hole.

 

I wanted a reliable 4wd truck for less than 29k.

 

2.7 love you long time

 

Haha a race would be fun. What do you have, a DCSB V6 4wd OR? That heavy pigs gonna lose to my lightest weight access cab in a 50 ft dash, I don’t care if you’re Don Garlits.