Any options other than replacing engine for $11k?

Driving it “like a race car” likely has little to 0 effect on engine longevity. Typically engines ran harder are in better shape than ones driven by grandma. Good evidence of that are the Nissan and Honda 4 bangers that spend their entire life at 4200 rpm at 80 mph that still last way beyond 300K miles easy. Revs don’t kill things unless they go beyond redline - if revs hurt anything in any meaningful manner, problems would come up a lot sooner than 70K miles. Another good example is the fella here who has like 330K on his manual 2018. He said he takes it up to 5-6K pretty much at least daily.

My guess is it probably is/was a defective part that gave up, but other than a very vague dealer ‘diagnosis’ of the engine needing replacement, we have next to nothing to go off of. We need more info or the thread is practically worthless for anyone but the OP. It would be nice to hear why an engine replacement is needed (exactly how they came to that conclusion) and once and for all clarify if codes were present or not. I have a hard time believing the motor just completely gave up with no codes, but I suppose it can happen.

 

I drive the same rpm as you….x2

 

OP - Stevinson Toyota West has always taken good care of my 3 vehicles. Prices there are competitively priced. Which dealer did you take it too - Groove?

Did you call Toy Doctor & ask how much they would charge? They have a good reputation.

Try to sell it for what you owe or just a little less perhaps! GL OP!

 

I think I must have been confused about the total mileage on the truck, thus my comment about Carvana.

I'd keep trying corporate to see what they will do.

If you can find an independent that will look at it, that would also be a good idea.

 

Upset at carvana? He drove it over 70k miles. Carvana has nothing to do with this

 

You must be getting the west coast feed on three hour delay.

 

I am on the west coast.

 

I still say dump it for whatever you can get and roll negative equity if any into a new vehicle.

 

Hate these stories. No one really expects to have to do a (in this situation) a possible engine replacement at 73k. Sorry this happened to you. I always think what would I do?

It’s disappointing to hear a seemingly reoccurring theme with the cost of replacing a 3.5 these days. Yikes! I’m sure Labour shortages, continuing supply constraints and lack of interest from shops is not helping.

I’m really interested to hear how your engine possibly failed as well. I suspect a engine component failure of some sort.

I do believe these engines are fine with revving. I will not hesitate to use whatever RPM that is required while driving, city, highway or steep mountains. Also utilizing higher RPM engine breaking. I do find cruising logging/RR/forestry roads in 4h to be lower RPM scenarios for me.

Our previous 2003 Pathfinder with its 3.5 V6 was a hearty and durable engine. Again, I wouldn’t hesitate to utilize the RPMs at all. Many Redline applications over the 14 years of ownership. But well maintained!

From Nissan USA…

“The 2003 Pathfinder is again powered by a 3.5-liter VQ35DE DOHC 24-valve V6. Rated at 240 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque and mated to a standard 4-speed automatic transmission, Pathfinder has ample horsepower and low-end torque for both on- and off-road excursions.”

It was an awesome V6. No issues during ownership.

So, luck of the draw I guess. There is like close to 2 million 3rd gens now and this engine is used in other Toyota vehicles too. I’m sure there are bound to be a few that fail here and there.

OP, I really hope you find a resolution to this soon. These are not cheap trucks to have to pile 10k+ on a replacement engine so soon. Best of luck!

 

Haha!

 

What was left to part out, Lol. Good luck with the truck. As before find a good shop to swap out the engine, I’d either get one from a rear ender or the shop who is swapping out. BUT get a warranty for the work. They usually offer one. Negotiate a year maybe.

 

Any updates? If the motor is actually blown, and you're sticking with keeping the truck, I'd look for a low mileage used motor out of a wrecked truck, preferably rear wrecked as I've looked at 3 motors from front end wrecks, and all have head/block damage.
If you find one and have space to swap the motor, fly me out for a weekend the next coming months and I'll swap it for you. Figured I'd throw it out there! Pulled the motor out of my truck twice so far, took me around ~5 hours today to pull it.

 

Bump for updates

 

How many are too many? There are over 1 million 3rd gens sold... On this forum you will find page of engine failures that is like 4 pages, add whatever is not reported there. Something like less than 100 engines out of 1 million trucks sold.

from what we see this is 2017, first two years of new generation. The original 4.0 also had same issues first years, so did Tundra's legendary V8, all new generations are same.

0.1 % of Tacomas have these issues, and its mostly caused by owners not maintaining them well. Crazy to call 3.5 not reliable when there are over million of these trucks out there and such a low number is having issues.

 

Less than 100 engines you say? LMAO! I guarantee likely thousands of 3.5L engines have failed. A very small percentage of 3.5L owners have a Tacomaworld account. You are delusional.

 

Even if it was thousands, it still is a very low percentage of failures. And out of those, how many were abused, neglected, or fleet use? The 3.5 is just as good as any other currently available engine. Exceptional? Maybe, maybe not. I have no doubt it will probably go 200,000 miles mostly trouble free. 300,000? kinda roll of the dice with any noncommercial gas engine. Too many variables. And I have no intentions of driving the same vehicle to 300,000 anyways.Been there, done that, no thanks.

 

But thousand of 1 million is still 1-4%. Btw, why someone who doesn't even have Tacoma or 3rd gen is on this forum, in 3rd gens? Ohh let me guess, your Lexus has no forum so you come here to troll.