Which is a stronger, 3.4 or 4.0?

Both are great motors. But if we're talking about which one is stronger, which is what the OP asks, the 4.0 wins out. It shouldn't be a slap in the face to 1st gen. owners, it's just a fact that the 4.0 puts out more horsepower and torque. Somehow that question got twisted into which one lasts longer. It's kind of a biased question, because obviously the 1st gens have been around longer, which allows them to show how they hold up to the test of time. And a lot of 1st gens have held up well to the test of time and lots of miles. A few 2nd gens have shown that they can go 300,000+ miles, but the majority of them haven't even had the chance to get near that far. So at this time it's not really completely reasonable to compare the longevity of the two different motors so soon. Along with that, the amount of miles you get out of a Tacoma is going to have a little more to do with how well you take care of it, not the size of the motor. Both are great trucks and should last a long time if we're good to them; I just happen to have a 2nd gen.

Let the 1st gen vs. 2nd gen argument continue.

 

^ nice post!

 

Ive never heard that about the 3.4
Only 3.0

 

I've heard that for the early 3.4s in like 96 and maybe 97 otherwise the 3.4 isn't know for head gasket problems. The 3.slow in the pickups is notorious for the head gasket issues.

Which is "stronger" isn't really clear. Does it mean horsepower and torque because the 4.0 wins hands down. Durability they're probably similar but it's hard to tell since the 4.0 is relatively new compared to the 3.4, 22r, etc.

 

I have head gasket problems? I don't see why a 96 would differ since it is the same engine all the way to 2004.

 

4.0 all the way

 

I didn't say all 96 5VZFEs had head gasket problems, I've just heard some of the early ones had issues but not all do. Yes it's the same engine but that doesn't mean they didn't have some issues that weren't worked out on the years after. Here's a link to a head gasket "service campaign."

Here's a on TTORA if that helps.

 

I was about to get excited and think I had a chance to get my head gaskets replaced free. Should I go ahead and get it done when I get the timing belt replaced at 90,000 along with a water pump?

 

The service campaign appears to be up according to the TTORA thread. It's worth a try though lol.

 

3.4 is mo betta only because they came in 1st gen tacos and we all know that 1st gen tacos > 2nd gen.

 

Correct. Timing chain/belt failure in an interference engine means valves usually meet pistons in a catastrophic way. They wont meet in a non-interference engine.

 

Now if we are talking which engine is better Toyotas four bangers beat the crap out of both v6 engines I mean the 2.4 liter 4 cylinder in my old Camry could haul pretty well for its size plus it had 109k when I sold it so it was a pretty good engine

 

You mean Energizer, right?

 

Stronger as in overall. durability, power, anything u can think of.

 

Yes. That means that a valve will never strike a piston, even if fully open when the piston comes up.

While the 3.4 engine is BASICALLY the same from 95.5 up to 2004, there have been MANY changes to the intake, and fuel systems. Also as years progress, newer, improved designs in gasket material, torque allowances, and other components, have eliminated some of the issues from early on. For example we can look at the GM 3100/3400 as an example of improvements. The original intake manifold gaskets were plastic, and would fail all the time. A new, metal design came out after the first couple of years, which almost never failed. If you found an older car with that engine, you just looked at the intake manifold contact area to see if it had the newer designed gaskets before you bought the car.

 

I believe this guy has the most miles on his 2nd gen.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...fully-million-mile-thread-11.html#post6928960

 

thats the 2.7 right? we bringing another dog in this fight? he is the highest 2nd gen i know of tho but there is a guy on here with well over 300k on his 4.0. i have very little doubt in my mind that these 4.0 will stand the test of time and hang in there with the 3.4 when a bit more time comes to pass. since the 03 4runner came with this motor does anyone know of a really high mileage 03-04 4runner still kickin, since this is a motor debate?

 

oh... my bad... Could have swore he had the 4.0...

 

I'm just gonna leave this here...

 

Lol my mom had a f250 5.4L with 170k on it not burning a drop of oil, 109k is nothing even for a modern ferd.