I'd say if you buy it you should definitely budget to do the engine at some point in the near future.

 

wamt,

My take is that if you don't tow and don't abuse it they are fine. Of coarse that is a big statement but, I think I would try to get maybe $1,000 off of the price to compensate for work that maybe needed. This is just my opinion.

 

I like to make fun of the 3.0 as having 4cyl power with V6 fuel economy. If the 3.0 wasn't prone to losing head gaskets(the 22RE can be also), it would be a durable, reliable truck engine with mediocre performance and economy.

That rig better be sparkly mint to warrant asking nearly $6000 for a 17-year-old truck with relatively high mileage. Even then it's not likely worth more than $4500-5000 IMO if it is.

 

187k is kinda pushing it for that price..even if u don't need to do the HG your probably looking at a new tbelt waterpump idler pulley etc etc...new clutch also then you got your general maintenance like fluids n such

 

check with toyota they have a recall on the hg issue and will replace them or the engine if it is beyond repair fron the hg.

 

...Only if the VIN is part of the recall program, not all 3V-ZE's are included in the program.

 

With 187*** miles I dont think they would fix it under warrenty

 

Check the VIN with a dealer, that's the only way, regardless of mileage. It's a design issue, not a mileage issue.

 

That is WAAY too much for that truck. I'd walk unless they are willing to come down.

Either way, things are going to have to be replaced as time/mileage goes on. I have 267k miles on mine now & have replaced the distributor, fuel pressure regulator, fuel pulsation damper, front/rear main seals, clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, pilot bearing, rotors, calipers, wheels bearings, fuel pump, & radiator in the past 2 years.

If you EVER overheat a 3VZE or put the wrong type of coolant or go too long between coolant changes, it's a recipe to blow a HG. Otherwise, they are very robust.

The 22RE is not without it's problems, either. Both are good engines you can get a LOT of miles out of. Just be aware, nothing lasts forever & maintenance on vehicles (especially 4x4) gets more expensive as you add miles/years.

 

Thats pretty expensive for one of our trucks. Mine has all sorts of extra bells and whistles and It was only 4,000 bucks.

I like my 3VZE; the only problems I've ever had *knock on wood* were ones I caused myself by acting out of my own ignorance. My little truck has served for 4 generations of my family without any major problems...

 

The problem with 3VZEs is that they are a big question mark......

Basically they are a very sturdy reliable engine. But do to the issues with head gaskets they may have had some slight damage from hydro-locking that may not really be evident and may reduce the life of the engine.

When I worked at a Toyota dealer from 1995 to 2000, I replaced head gaskets on hundreds of V6 trucks. At first most of them were coming in with severely blown head gaskets, some were blown up (rods broken from being hydro locked), some where blowing steam out so hard you couldn't see behind you while driving down the road. Some of these that were not actually blown up still got short blocks because of obvious damage. a lot of them got head gaskets and sent on down the road. Who knows their ultimate fate. As time went on, more and more we found while doing the recall that a lot of these engines had head gaskets that were just seeping. This allowed a corrosive mixture of coolant and combustion gasses to eat away at the block in the area where the headgasket seals compression at the rear inboard edge near cylinder #6. some of these got short blocks, some were deemed serviceable and just got head gaskets. A good number came back for subsequent repairs later.

Add to this the nature of old trucks and the fact that most never get service unless they are actually broken, and this is why there are so many problems with the 3VZEs that are still on the road.

Any vehicle that is 17 years old is gong to have more problems than something that is half that age. I would certainly shy away from any vehicle that old that was being sold for what is obviously top dollar.

Hope this helps
Victor

 

i agree eith ehat everyone else is saying, that is too high. the owner needs to come down. i wouldnt pay more than about 4-4,5 for that truck, that is if it still looks good and has no major mechanical issues. dont worry about the miles for the hg recal. i have a 90 4runner with that enigine and at 350k they replaced my hg as part of the recall program. you may have to do some searching bc the toyota place in my town claimed that the miles where a factor but one about 70 miles away said it could do it. toyota payed for the tow and the hg work.