Is the 4 Cyl. more reliable?

"High speed cruising, get the six. Towing, get the six. Lots of hills, get the six."

I have an idea I will get flamed for this comment but I'll do it anyway.

In response to the quote all I can say is get a Super Duty with the diesel.

It only took a 15min test drive and I bought one. I still have my 2004 RC 4X4 2.7 Tacoma though and won't ever sell it.

I'll have something to drive when the FURD is in the shop.

 

Reliability is variable with use. Towing a trailer and heavy loads, the four will be worked harder. its not rocket science imo. Get the motor that matches your needs. if there is little to no difference in mileage....get the bigger engine then.

 

My question is really about testing the assumption that the 4 cyl. is more reliable than the 6 cyl. because its a simpler engine with fewer frills, so there's less stuff that can break. We can't find any statistics that would lend support to either prove or disprove this assumption.

 

Personally, I suspect they both will last almost forever with proper maintenance. The 6's get a whole lot of miles on them just as the 4's do. I'd say either one will outlast the rest of the vehicle by a huge margin. However, the 4's do seem to get the most attention when it comes to ridiculously high mileages.

 

I’ve has both over the years. Three six cylinder Toyota trucks and two fours. The fours were a pain, the sixes were awesome. Neither gave me any trouble. I liked the safety being able to merge and not having to look for 1/2 mile of open road.

 

There are none...trust me. The Toyota six is well worth the money over a pissy ass four. Forget this stuff about one being more reliable because it has fewer moving parts. A V8 in many cars last the longest cause they aren’t working as hard. A Toyota six will out last any four other then a Honda perhaps. Plus, you always get your money back come trade in time.

 

The previous truck I owned for 18 years had a V6 engine and I loved it, but after owning the 2.7L 4 cylinder engine with its lower maintenance and being easier to work on for 13 years, would make me choose the 2.7L over the V6.

 

i get it, more displacement is a nice luxury to have.

you strike me as the kind of guy that also needs to have power seats, a push button start, LED taillights, and rear disc brakes too... i probably wouldn't mind that stuff if i had it, but i honestly couldn't care less about not having it. i certainly wouldn't go on an internet forum to disparage others who may have different needs or tastes than my own. but hey, different strokes for different folks, i guess...

p.s. — i want to note for anyone else reading along that i've personally never struggled with merging onto an interstate in the three years i've owned my truck, although that topic seems more driver ability than engine reliability.

 

The reliability of an engine is determined by the maintenance through out it's life when you buy a vechile look for service records if the previous owners have done the maintenance then you should be fine

 

The reason fleet vehicles last so long is because the company pays for regular maintenance most companies get oil chances for there vechiles every 3000 miles

 

Put a supercharger , header and CAI on a 4 cyl and make the same hp as a V6 !!!!

 

That may be true for individual trucks, but in this case, reliability equates to build quality. Is it built to last or not?

We know that many vehicles have "manufactured obsolescence." Similarly, we also know that some mechanics can predict when specific parts will fail. Of course, Toyota, in general, is known for good build quality, and Tacomas, in particular, are assumed to be more reliable than other mid-sized trucks. The problem is that this mystique surrounding Tacoma's reliability is merely an assumption. Where's the hard data to prove it? We have some ideas about why that data isn't made accessible to the general public. I'll bet the automobile insurance industry has it.

 

It's like in the mid 90s Ford made good engine but there transmissions were crap

 

I had a '94 Mustang and had to rebuild the trans haha

 

My theory is if your gonna drive a sports car gotta be a stick shift

 

Same. I think the 5spd helps because you can get in the proper gear ahead of time.

People seem to forget that 30+ years ago a 10sec 0-60 was actually decent. Even today the 4cyl taco isn't the slowest thing you can buy.

 

Ha ha
You’d be wrong. Why do you think I’m on a taco forum to begin with, as the owner of a 2015 taco OR.
I previously owned a 4 Runner 2004 with nearly all those pussywillow features. I liked that stuff, but I’m just as happy without as long as I have a motor that’s safe enough to get out of its own way. I tow boats occasionally, that’s a factor., but im freakin tired of trying to enter a heavy traveled 55 mph road with logging trucks going 60 in both directions. Most have similar dilemmas but more time in their hands if they like a four.

My wife has a v6 venza. 0-60 in under seven seconds......I consider it a safer car. Seriously my good friend, Wtf would I as a gun owner prefer a 9mm over a .380, then not prefer a v6 over a four for safety too. It’s a no brainer. Fours are for pizza delivery. They are great work trucks where you’re lettin* someone else drive a vehicle you paid for in a business or you live in the woods and only travel dirt roads. In a four, you can push the pedal all the way or half way to the flour. There’s no difference other then the additional calf exercise. Now the six, feels good, like you’re not driving a lawn mower.

Be safe and drive a fast(Er) truck.

 

I go to work and back every day on the freeway and I rarely have an issue merging onto the interstate. The only time my 4 cyl. Taco has a problem is when the on-ramp has an uphill slope and I'm entering the ramp after a dead stop. But do I fear for my safety? Ummm….nope.

 

Ain't no lawn mower bombing thru 10" of snow with 1000lbs of lumber on top, but 4 banger loves it.

Sorry to break it to you, but if you need fast acceleration to drive safely, you are in need of some driving lessons.

 

Haha
I have kubota for the slow slugging. The six is just better in every way. I get it if it was a the gen one short cab. I had three Toyota fours in the standard cab. Great off road, durable and respectable performance. But the motor is the same and the truck is heavier. You drive what floats your boat. I want the power driving in and around horrendous Boston traffic then taking I-95 north at 75 plus into the back woods of Maine. Been there, done that, no comparison. Even the six is a marginal performer compared to what’s offered. The only four I’ll buy in a truck again, is one that’s charged. Have a safe week...
Yup, it has a lawn mower....motor
btw, is that a taco or a toro....I see the rotating blades underneath.