2GR-FKS failure at 150K, looking for input/some questions

I'm happy with how she's running now. Worst case scenario the mf pops off again and I'll know for sure I need something else, but I'm keeping an eye on it for sure. I have a couple side daily's I've been thinking about selling in the case she goes again for a turnkey hemi from Cleveland PAP. Wanted to stick OEM for convenience for now, though.

Besides, I sell the truck and buy what? Dealers are out of their mind right now, it'd be like selling a house to try and get a better deal on a new one.

 

Sounds like a wise choice with the warranty/miles and background of the rebuilder you used.

 

We’re you running 0w20 the entire time?

 

So with these blown third gens popping up one thing I noticed not 100% positive, but I'm sure these were all on stock tunes . Haven't heard one of these guys go my tuned 3rd gen blew up. Soooooooo its best to tune ? Is Toyota making stock tunes ticking time bombs ???? I dunno but food for thought ..............

 

i honestly was just thinking this..

 

Yeah 0w-20 always with filter as well.

 

Almost all tacomas are not tuned, so if you have a few engine blow ups there is a high chance they won't be tuned. Doesn't mean youre wrong though

 

hi, this is my first post.

only to show you an other 2gr-fks issue with cyl 5-6. (150 000km engine)
but with a lot more damage.

ive rebuilt the engine with a new oem short bloc. +- 5000$CDN , 15k with all the labor and parts.

ive found alot of silicone every where in the front cover and lower pan... maybe a rejob from toyota on warranty...

 

So basically, the consensus of this thread is: Drive and maintain my new Tacoma until the factory powertrain warranty expires, then trade it in on something better.

 

So I've come to understand that a big reason so many of these newer V6 tacos are dying has to do with the same oiling issues that the 2gr family has had for a while.

Oil cavitation and pickup tube starvation from lateral angles and oil sloshing causes a drop in oil pressure that allows parts to be unlubed and stress from heat. Over time this causes failure of cylinders 5+6 because they're the furthest from the oil feed and feel the worst strain. So folks who wheel into steep angles or people who take corners at speed have a worse risk of the failure. I think the reason my truck failed was that I would regularly park on an uneven driveway with a 10 degree lateral height difference (between passenger and driver side). So I would basically be dry starting the engine over a few months which caused progressive damage until failure.

The risk could be lessened with an oil accumulator for surge protection and pressure gauge for peace of mind. There are some folks out there that sell oil pan baffles for people who track their 2gr equipped cars which might be worthwhile for the folks who wheel.

A dedicated oil pressure gauge is probably a fair recommendation, though.

I'm happy with my truck again post rebuild and investing in oiling system upgrades because I'm irresponsible with money.

 

@defensio That is some gnarly damage. And $15K is suuuper gnarly. Have you finished with the rebuild? If not, I'd recommend checking out parts for the 2gr-fks in the lexus models. Valves, springs, retainers, etc are stainless and are the same dimensions and roughly same price compared to steel parts in the tacoma 2gr-fks.

Never-mind, just realized you wrote "I rebuilt"

 

It just seems crazy to me that a Tacoma, which is supposedly designed to do truck things, can't safely do truck things without adding pan baffles and oil accumulators etc. So based on what you are saying, is the pickup tube at the front of the engine? Obviously, this engine was designed to be put into a transverse type of drivetrain, and Toyota said "F it, we have thousands of these laying around, throw em' in the 3rd gen Tacoma".

I want to spend some money on this truck- lift, tires, camping stuff etc. but shit, if the thing won't even survive a few steep inclines, I'm thinking otherwise.

My last Toyota was a 2007 Sequoia. I absolutely beat the piss out of that vehicle, and after 220,000 miles it never once let me down. The 2UZ-FE might just be the best engine ever made.

 

The first time I took my truck offroading and went on a steep incline truck shut off on me which was weird. I was assuming it was to stop oil starvation. Scared the shit out of me, this motor is not as bulletproof as the 4.0 and 2uz-fe but hopefully, it will last the long run.

That motor above is ****ed haha I believe that price tag tho. Did a bottom-end rebuild on a 4.0 and it was 12k all said and done replacing various other items.

 

Yeah, it is a major oversite to have the pickup tube at the front of the motor. Any time you accelerate, or go up an incline where acceleration/engine speed is required, the oil moves away from the pickup tube at the most critical moment. But hey, at least the transmission is terrible, the engine is underpowered and inefficient, the infotainment/screen/camera's are a joke, the seats are uncomfortable and positioned incorrectly, and the differential's gearing is completely wrong. Once you get past these minor details, it's a great truck.

 

But yet you just bought a brand new one.
Doesn't make much sense.

 

You're absolutely right. A quick test drive wasn't enough. I thought that the Tacoma was the king of midsized trucks, but after having it for a few weeks, its shortcomings really shine. I test drove a GMC Canyon AT4 yesterday- it is superior in every way. Im sure the new Tacoma's will be great but Im not sure I can drive this turd long enough to wait for the 4th gen to be available at dealerships.

 

Buddy I geared mine with 4.88's and it took care of the Transmission and Diff problems. I absolutely love my truck now. Buy a Canyon for 40+ thousand and sell it in 3 years you'll lose 40% resale value. Toyota maybe 15%.

 

Yeah, one of the reasons I chose the Tacoma was resale potential. I have considered re-gearing it. Estimates around here are $3-4k. My concern is that even with a re-gear, this wimpy 3.5 at this altitude won't perform all that well, and then I will have sunk that cash into a truck I would still get rid of. I do have an OTT tune on it, but that really didn't make much difference, perhaps because the 23's had updated factory calibrations. . Probably should have just waited for the 24's to come out, but local dealerships had good deals on these 23's since they were trying to clear out inventory.

 

Life's too short to be unhappy. Cut your losses and move on.