99 2.7 high mileage

I have 324,000 miles on my tacoma, I'd like to keep it going as long as possible, I hear a rattle from the engine when the rpm goes over 2,000. Looks like the oil pan is leaking, before I start tossing money into it, looking for advice on what to look for or just replace on this high mileage engine.

 

First, I’d do a compression check.

Then I’d pull the valve cover, check the valve clearance and see if they are within spec. If not, re-shim, or if they got down to zero clearance you may need a head.
Once everything is good, replace the valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seals.

Oil pan gasket and rear main seal are probably roached as well.

 

Check and adjust the valve clearance for the rattle issue, it fixed mine. As for the oil leak, there are a few things down there that can leak and appear to be an oil pan gasket leak so Do some investigating to be sure before digging in to do an oil pan gasket. A common one on the front of the engine is the oil pump cover. Just did mine a few months ago. My 3rz has 350k on her.

 

Just noticed a few drips under my 3rz with 301k miles the other day. Following this thread..

 

Awesome thank you for the responses, I'll post what I find and doesn't seem to bad as far as work parts.

 

Your rear main seal can look like an oil pan leak as well but that’s a much bigger job and also easy to tell if you stick your fingers in the area between your engine and tranny. No oil there means it’s probably not your rear main seal and it is in fact the oil pan or something else.

I recently replaced my oil pan and that cost me about $150 from Rock Auto I think. Just make sure you use the black RTV and clean everything up really well. If you follow the directions to the letter it should last you a long time.

I’d probably try an auto stethoscope and a helper to try to find that noise before I fixed the oil leak however just in case it’s a symptom of a bigger problem. You might save yourself some time and money by doing so.

 

Good information shared above. I wouldn't be too hesitant to throw a little $ into it as these Trucks/2.7 engines last a LONG TIME.
My 96 2.7 has 415,000 trouble-free miles on it.

 

297k here on the 2000 2x4 Auto, do all the maintenance myself because i don't have any shops around here i can trust. Those upper b/j were a pain to figure out, super easy once you have done a few, second round on all the other b/j's...went with moog (w/grease fitting) replace v/c last year, fuel injectors, full tune (obviously) dam lower pan is leaking now...that is going to be super easy...hopefully, do it with next oil change...

OP... that rattle sounds like the valve clearance needs adjusting (solid lifters), plenty of videos on that, they will have to be shimmed. Mine actually looked perfect when i went in there to do the v/c, so i left them alone.

No teasing w/o photo so

 

the 4 cylinders are know to crack heads at high mileage so be prepared for that additional expense. Some people have had good luck with aftermarket (Chineesium) heads, others have not.