How long will a well maintained 5VZ-FE Tacoma last?

As my profile indicates, I’m the original owner of a 1998 V6 Tacoma with manual transmission. The truck has always had it oil changed at 5000 mile intervals with fully synthetic Mobil one, and coolant replaced every 60K with genuine Toyota fluid. The truck still runs absolutely fine and burns no oil that I can detect.

Realistically, how many miles can I expect to go before something catastrophic happens, like a blown head gasket? Assuming everything is being maintained properly, how do these engines start breaking down?

It hasn’t escaped my notice that the resale value on these trucks is pretty crazy right now. Before deciding to sell it, it’d be nice to know how far along into its useful life it is. I am still on the original clutch, wheel bearings, catalytic converter, etc.

 

I’ve seen some with 300k on them.
Not at all uncommon to see 250k.
The 3.4 is a great engine. The manual transmission is just as good.

I live in Tennessee. So the rust doesn’t usually get to them first.
If it’s a northern truck, it’s usually rust that kills them first.
I have family members in Va. and W.V. they can’t find a good Tacoma that isn’t rusted out.

With you doing maintenance like you say, I’d think you’ll be closer to 300k before you need to start looking at major repairs.

 

I've seen plenty 3.4 trucks with 350k+, albeit like tnshooter said that's probably with some decent repairs, around 300 is when you need those kinds of things. In a "drive it till it dies" scenario, a well maintained truck will probably run 400 or even 500k with no fatal issues. There's even a handful on here with that many miles, last I checked!

 

Check the various odometer posts on here, e.g., the 500k posts.

I've 682k on the clock now, original 2002 5vz and tranny. Doesn't burn oil, a/c still blows cold, I drove to work this am at 85mph.

 

My 5-lug v6 has gone through multiple owners and various forms of abuse and still runs great with close to 1/2 a million miles.

 

Check those valve clearances at 200K miles. Heads are a big taker from the population.

 

based off my buddies 4 banger in his 01, as long as you do routine love , those engines are good until auxiliary hoses/headers start peeling away/rusting and need to get replaced. I have seen a 4 banger with 500k on it, and ever header had rust holes, things ran a little putty, but for the 9k original truck, a couple of oil changes/spark plug changes and some tires, my buddy has put 200,000 miles on a vehicle he got with 300 on it.

 

385,000 on my 2.4 before I had the motor rebuilt. My 3.4's are ~ 175k ish

 

Our 3.4, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is a very well-balanced, internally over-built (maybe to accept an optional supercharger?) 206 cubic inch die-hard. One of Toyota's finest engines that doesn't beat itself up with normal running. IOW you really cannot kill these things unless you really try.

 

I’m still getting good oil analysis results from Blackstone at 225k. Plan to have my valve clearances checked this summer to keep it that way.

Lots of other stuff on my truck has been replaced, but the motor still seems to be in good shape. I actually just drove it from NY to MT in a few days without any hiccups.

 

It's why the N/A 1JZ/2JZ's are so good. Overbuilt.

 

It depends on the value of the truck.

Everything is replaceable or repairable. If the vehicles hold the value that is currently still going up, it makes sense to rebuild the engine and repair various other parts and keeping it running smooth.

If you keep it from rusting, replace the little things as they break, don't crash it, do oil changes, maintenance, belts, etc you can look at 600k miles but some will be well under and some will be well over. Then you get it rebuilt and keep going.

 

Forever it you NEVER let it over heat,
Once overheated a leaking head gasket will come your way sooner or later

 

My ‘97 4Runner with the same engine has gone 370,000 so far. I sold it to my friends son and it’s still running trouble free. Had a front seal leak. I also did the timing belt every 90k miles. Nothing internal has broke and it doesn’t burn oil. I changed the oil every 4,000 miles religiously.

 

5vz-fe is an amazing engine. I had a 1996 blow a headgasket at 185k miles. Also a 1999 that made it to 320k miles, then headgasket failed. Replaced both with low mileage used engines. Change the timing belt/water pump every 75-100k miles.