Toyota trucks, why so many rebuilt/replaced engines?

[kornphlake]

Why do so many toyota trucks have rebuilt or replaced engines? I thought they were good for a half million miles.

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/3009436678.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/3008904889.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/3006723447.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/2998714941.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/yam/cto/3009441821.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/3007063962.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/3005322594.html
etc...

It's like 1 in 3 Toyota trucks for sale on craigslist from the mid 80's to mid 90's now has a rebuilt or replaced motor, many had the motor replaced with under 150k miles. A lot of '94s with rebuilt motors, was that just a bad year? I don't see nearly as many Chevy S-10's or Ford Rangers with rebuilt engines although Chevy and Ford owners typically don't love their trucks enough to want to hassle with a rebuild or replacement.

 

[desy]

I think thats it, I knew a guy who had 700 kmiles on his Corolla and had replaced his engine once and only wrote it off after taking out his suspension on railroad tracks

 

[manimal]

You can find engine stories from every mfg.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

You can find engine stories from every mfg.

While this is true, there are DEFINITE lemons to avoid or at least be aware of... One is the oil consumption issues on the high output VQs but there are many out there.


My guess... In the OPs particular situation he is looking at thirdhand small trucks and suvs. By 20 years and 200k miles it has probably been passed onto and abused by at least three idiot teenagers and/or owners.

 

[kornphlake]

When people talk about Toyota trucks they talk about driving them 300k without problems, they don't talk about needing new engines by 150k, yet of the trucks for sale with higher mileage, a significant portion mention having the engine rebuilt. I just wondered if it was a coincidence or if there was some known problem with these trucks at around 150k.

 

[Doppel]

Not sure, but a couple of the '94s you posted have beautiful bodies for that age. Life without salt is life good!

 

[thomsbrain]

Wait, are we complaining that 20-30 year old cars need engine rebuilds?

 

[mwmorph]

I'd put it down at least somewhat to attachment. Everyone I know that has a Toyota Truck (old, old ones) absolutely love them so they're more apt to do the big work whereas, everyone I know with an S10 doesn't really care, S10s seems disposable so the trucks tend to get used and then when major repairs come up, scrapped.

 

[kornphlake]

Wait, are we complaining that 20-30 year old cars need engine rebuilds?

Not complaining, I don't know where you got the idea I'm complaining. I'm just surprised to see that so many Toyota trucks needed major engine work well before 300k, I always thought Toyota truck engines were more reliable. If anything I'd call these old trucks average, they're certainly not bad.

I'd put it down at least somewhat to attachment. Everyone I know that has a Toyota Truck (old, old ones) absolutely love them so they're more apt to do the big work whereas, everyone I know with an S10 doesn't really care, S10s seems disposable so the trucks tend to get used and then when major repairs come up, scrapped.

Yeah, S10s and Rangers are almost disposable, for whatever reason people don't love them as much as people love Toyota. You probably see more rebuilt Toyota engines than rebuilt Chevy or Ford engines because the Chevys and Fords went to the junk yard instead of being rebuilt.

 

[justfrank]

I'm just surprised to see that so many Toyota trucks needed major engine work well before 300k, I always thought Toyota truck engines were more reliable.

What you aren't considering here is the FACT that most Americans do minimal maintenance on their cars. Toyota suggests oil changes every 5K miles but to many, they go farther than that on oil changes.
I work for a Lexus dealer. You put a lube sticker on the windshield for 5K miles but when do many with older vehicles especially return for their next oil change? 10K-15K often. You'll see that with any car make so that's a good reason why engines don't last 300K miles.
I use to work for Volvo, same thing. Sure, some last 400K+ miles but others are destroyed before 150K because the owner neglected basic maintenance.

 

[NutBucket]

The only truly indestructible Toyota Truck engine is the 22R/RE. They haven't put that in a truck in about 20 years.

 

[thedarkwolf]

The only truly indestructible Toyota Truck engine is the 22R/RE. They haven't put that in a truck in about 20 years.

Even those tended to blow head gaskets.

 

[msmy300z]

Any of them are going to have their problem areas but I have to say the 3.0 Vulcan in the Ford rangers are pretty bullet proof. Many go 250-300k miles before something blows. Its like justfrank said... It is all about the maintenance and luck.... Want to say the 3.3? Toyota v6 likes to randomly explode. Had a friend that had to have his Tacoma rebuilt ~65k and the last payment

 

[HarryLui]

What you aren't considering here is the FACT that most Americans do minimal maintenance on their cars.

I'm with above.

 

[jlee]

The 3.0l Toyota V6 was notoriously unreliable compared to other Toyota motors. The 5VZFE 3.4l is far superior.

 

[justfrank]

The 3.0l Toyota V6 was notoriously unreliable compared to other Toyota motors. The 5VZFE 3.4l is far superior.

True, Toyota had problems with their PCV system, valve covers (PCV design flaw) on their 3.0 l V6s that caused gelling (sludge motors) and/or oil consumption BUT again, those that we've seen were always with cars that didn't get enough oil changes. Toyota's other engines took more neglect, abuse w/o problems.

To get 200K+ miles with any engine, one needs to be pretty anal about oil changes and maintenance. If neglected, abused, that won't happen.