Can you say "silent recall?" If you owned this engine and the head gasket blew, you would take your truck to a toyota dealer for repair. That's when you learned about the "free head gasket replacement." That's how it was. Toyota fixed the head gasket problem after the 1991 model and it was no longer an issue. There's so much misinformation that this lie has taken on a life of its own. It's quite uncomfortable to watch people, mostly misinformed men, bash this engine thinking it makes them look smart. It does not. See, the 22RE was built for low RPM rock crawling. The 3VZE was built for traveling at high speeds at low to medium RPM. When you don't understand this and you try to crawl rocks at low RPM with the 3VZE, you will blow head gaskets and blame the engine for your incompetence.

Its a good fuckin engine, withstands pressure, heat and abuse. If you can't replace the head gaskets on these engines than you shouldn't own one mofos. They dont make engines like these anymore.

I have an 88 4×4 with this same motor, I just recently blew my head gasket after 32 years out on the trails in Death Valley, I was still able to make it all the way home! Repaired the motor and hope to get another 32 years!

I don't think the engine is bad. Sure, there are better swaps and generations of the truck, but if you don't want the swap just keep up the maintenance. My 3.0 is HEAVILY modified and is quite the head turner. I will post my own video after dyno. Just finished it a couple days ago. I'm expecting around 225 hp, but we'll see.....

My 95' is at 287,000 miles... Running strong and burning clean... I'm pretty sure I can get it to reach 400,000... That's my goal... Regular coolant flushes with 'Thermocure' with also a 'Liquid Glass' treatment with each flush should (finger crossed) get me to that 400,000 goal or at least to 350,000... I have a rebuilt 3.0 ready and waiting for that day, till then she's running strong and clean... Also addressing all the leaks and replacing all the old and worn out parts... Also, it's best to stick to authentic OEM parts as much as possible, a lot counterfeits out there, so be aware of that... God Speed...

I have a 90 toyota pickup with the v6 3.0 I do all my repairs. I love my 3vze I'm doing a complete engine rebuild. I've had 2 blown head gaskets since I've owned it. I've also mistreated it extremely bad and would drive it like it's stolen. It was not slow at all it also has a manual transmission on 35" tires

love my 93 4x4 4runner 3.0..original owner.

Well said 👍I have 1993 2wd looks like a four wheel , I love it and still running over 3hunders thousands miles . I got it from my uncle too

I still rock the 3.0! I’ve deleted the egr and oil cooler. Replaced oil cooler with 2nd oil filter. Wrapped passenger manifold between engine and cab. Been flawless. Not a world beater, but on a crawler build, it gets the job done.

They are great engins i have lots of toyotas 4runners and pickups and have over 400000 on some 3vze never a problem always keep up with the oil changes more the better and also flush the rads out never overrev them all the time and they will last 22res blew headgaskets too this v6 is better than most other vehicles best engines from the time

Sole owner of a ‘92 xtra cab DLX and sticking with the 3VZE

Love the fact that you called out Subaru owners I just recently rebuilt my 3.0 and so far she's running better than when I got it which is amazing

Looks like a pristine 3VZe to me. I still have my 92 - SR5 Truck w/ 350K miles on it in one engine. I love this truck - I will collect 3VZe engines and parts until I cannot find parts anymore.

My shop teacher wrote an article on this in 4wd magazine. Take the Crossover pipe off and either wrap it or replace with headers and wrap it. Better cooling and performance in the long run. Now you will have to address egr system and starter but he said he never had a issue afterwards with his t100

My 3vz-Fe (same engine just used in cars) had blown head gaskets when I bought it. The guy I bought it from drove it daily and over heated it daily. It got so hot it melted the knock sensor. I just took off the heads and replaced the gaskets. No machining. Cause for the Head gasket failure was a power steering leak. The cooling fan in my 1993 ES300 is driven by a hydraulic cooling fan. The High pressure Power steering hose burst and the previous owner drove it with no power steering. Been driving it for 3 years since gasket replacement. Engine currently has 267,000 miles and I drive it like its new. The only complaint I have about this engine is Lack of HP torque is great and the engine is heavy because its cast iron. I didn't like the fact the head gaskets weren't MLS style gaskets. This engine is extremely durable though. This is a 500k engine!

The 94 I have blew a head gasket. Toyota ain’t helping me

Head gasket job, change everything along the way, knock sensor pig tail, upgrade fuel injectors then lean out the vafm, timing belt and pullys, upgrade all coolant/heater hoses, temp sensors, radiator fluid 50/50 green, eBay headers with cross over moved to below tranny, etc

I own a 1991 and I remember I had a recall and up until now I just had a valve cover gaskets! 132 thousand miles on it!!

Just pick up a 92 4Runner with 200k miles. Excited to drive it, needs work but I hope I don’t run into gasket problems!

My 94 has 280k. No head gasket replacement to my knowledge, previous owner didn't know either. Runs great, could use a new timing chain and a major tune up but everything is solid. Very fun to drive

I deleted all the egr and removed most all unessary vacuum hoses gutted the converter bumped the timing up

i have a 93 t100 and just had the HG done at 200K, one thing i would definitely recommend is replace the radiator fan, the shop i took mine to put a fan with more air flow and it keeps it noticeably cooler under the hood, hopefully this will make the HG last longer.

My transmission failed before the engine did and it had 231,105 miles and honestly it wasn’t that slow, but that engine purred like a kitten.

This engine gets a bad rep for many reasons. They are 30+ years old. They have a pair valve on it because they thought putting air into the exhaust was helpful. There are a lot of 3vze out there with a ton of miles. Mine has 170k.

I am the original owner of a 1992 4x4 with a 3.0. In 2000, at about 75K miles, Toyota did the head mill and gasket replacement recall. I have changed my oil ever 3000 miles, my radiator coolant every year. I now have 312,000 miles. So, how bad can the 3.0 be? I have considered the 3.4 swap. I would never put in a used 3.4 . The swap is not as easy as people think. You are really better off getting a donor car with a 3.4, because you'll need many of the 3.4 parts. Rebuild the 3.4 then do the swap. Just my opinions.

No notification for me. At 103,000 miles, mine blew. When I took it in, toyota informed me that there was a recall on the head gasket problem and they fixed it for free. Now at 360,000+ miles, there is no head gasket problem. The engine is solid and I don't drive at low rpm under any engine torque stress. Torque junkies and rock crawlers trashed this engine.

The Toyota motorhome also has that engine as well.

I have the same model. Want to go off-roading ? Do what I did. 4:88 gears with a Detroit True-Track differential (auto-locker) and big tires run at 14 PSI. I have had 3 people so far crawl under my truck looking for front axles telling me I can’t get here without 4wheel drive ! (Don’t get stuck nose down) bring a stretch road, jack’s, come-along, 100 foot piece of cable, & an air pump!

Should I buy a 93 4runner with over 200k miles body's in good shape, already had a head gasket replacement. It's his daily driver I can get it for 2k should I buy?

ya I am rebuild one right now

I bought my second 1994-1995 vzn130, after being very impressed with my first (1995). The second one (1994) has a blown head gasket with only 150,000+ km (90,000 miles) on the clock -mileage may have been wound back but the overall condition of the rest of the car seems about right (better than my “95) I got the HG “valve regrind” kit from Toyota (head bolts additional) overnight shipping, and cheaper than local aftermarket HG kits of lower quality material, and less comprehensive kit, imo. I’m very happy with the level of service and quality (and price) of the parts from my local Toyota dealer, but I’m not sure it makes up for having to do a HG replacement so early but if I now get the reliability I did from my ‘95 then I think it will be worth it in the long run.

I had a 1990 4x4 Toyota pick up, with AC. It hadn't blown a head gasket (yet), but, that's because the previous owner complied with the recall. I knew it was slow, but I didn't give a shit. And you're right, that engine was pulling ALOT of weight. Also, mine was 4,000 pounds. not 3,000. XD I miss it something terrible, I really loved that distinct sound the 3VZE made when it revved. It was a SOLID engine. ☺

Love my 91 4runner👍

Im at 240k on my 91’ and mine runs like a champ and head gaskets are the only thing i worry about but so far i have no problem thank god

I've never heard of a gap. It's the exhaust manifold being too close that causes head gasket failure. There was a recall.

Dude i didnt even know they made a stock 4 runner without 4wd. Did your uncle pull the 4 wheel drive out? Btw i daily an 88 4runner with my 2nd 3.0 after the first lost a cylinder.

Like this generation body style and this engine is not that bad, but is harder to pass california emissions I don't know how to monitor fuel trims on this engines it is important to monitor fuel trims for smog check...

LC head gasket and ARP bolts

I have this same engine... on my 1993 Toyota Dolphin... fully loaded it runs about 7000 lbs

My father has a 1992 4runner 3vze with automatic transmission, and he had the same head gasket issue but it happened because of the failure of radiator cap which drained all the coolant and caused and overheat. Nevertheless its not a super slow car, I even drove it up to 160Km/h with a automatic transmission!

No i think the earlier toyota 3vze engines were better asbestos gaskets were the good ones

Subaru for sure had head gasket issues. Not sure if that is still a thing or not. I have both a Subaru and a 4Runner both over 200k and neither has blown the head gasket (yet). I'm not going to hate on either of them though I will say that the toyota is 10yrs older and more parts are still available than for the Subaru.

Mines been a fucking nightmare not gonna lie.

Do you think the engine oil cooler could be causing coolant to get in the oil?

I just purchased a 92 toyota 3vze old man owned , maintenance kept up with new rimming belt 282 000 miles runs like a top what's estimate mileage to get out of this engine

Hey I follow ya on Instagram mines the 4 inch lifted white 95 4runner I talked to you yesterday saying mine blew and gonna 5vz swap it soon haha

I drive a 1991 Toyota pickup 2wd 3.slo it’s an absolute pos but i dog the shit out off it it leaks oil like hell I cut the exhaust pipe right up under me for shits and giggles so she’s nicknamed the screamin goat. I forget abt fluids all the time. My odometer is stuck at 266xxx because the speedometer gear is gone and I use an app for a speedometer. I drive an average of 70 and my top speed is 120. And she’s reliable af. It’s like any other engine you could get a lemon or a golden egg

Yeah subaru owners shut it

I have a 94’ Toyota pick up v6 3.0 with 206K and just did a block test on it all good now leak or head gasket issues so I’m a firm believer in the whole take care of your ride and it will love long 😂

Thoughts on the 3.4 5vz motor swap for 1st and 2nd gen 4 runners?

They Still Blowhead Gasket From All The Years They Came Out My 94 Pickup Still Blew a Head Gasket But There Not That Bad Of A Engine I Actually Like Them

Tôi có một toyoa 4runner v6 3.0

I found with my 92 v6 4runner that when I converted the engine fan to an electric unit the engine was able to rev harder and was better at delivering the power to the wheels

If you slapped this in a civic it would make it slower sadly

Toyota will definitely fix it for free just once so if it happens again for any reason it's kn you . Been through it with mine not sure how it went out 2 xs already only has 155k on the truck. It's a 1990 SR5 , 5speed I'm doing it myself this time so I know it will be done right.

Lot of so called mechanics can't work on these engines they talk a good talk but have no clue what they are doing. YOU Tube don't make you a Mechanic. You have to have Instinct and know the Basics. Dealership Technicians plug up Computer that's all they know

you need to change your brake fluid soon.

Profanity in public speech is unseemly, and you do a lot of it.