Redeth005

Hmm... That seems to be the average MPG everyone with these motors get. :'(
I guess I'm just spoiled with my 25mpg Corolla lol

I'd just really like to at least get 19mph off this truck.

YotaRunner33

My runner gets about 16 to 20 mpg depending on how hard I drive it. Running 33's and 4.88 gears with 2" lift.

Michael

Redeth005

Im guessing my main problem atm is gearing. That has to be the problem. cuz all you guys who have better gears with your 31"+ tires still get better mpg then me. And with everything I have done to my truck it shouldn't be running like that. I was actually expecting to get 18-21 mpg.

I'm gonna give all the stuff I mentioned in the last post and see if it works.
- The Lucas gas additive FI cleaner
- Swapping out my corroded sensors for new ones
- Using Chevron, 76, and Shell gas stations only.
- Try not to go over 3rpm's, not use or reach 5th gear, and not go faster then 65-70mph
- and driving less aggressively

TNRabbit

Anyone who thinks they're getting 21 mpg in a 4x4 3VZE is being deluded by an incorrect speedometer skewing their mpg figures.

Dingotech

And yet when I approach one of those digital "speed display" thingies that LE sometimes put along the road to warn folks that they're driving too fast, I find that the displayed speed is substantially similar to my speedometer-reported speed. Weird, huh?

turo

I am swapping out my 3.0 v6 for another even tho there isnt great power going u hills and the gas milage sucks the motor had 0ver 300,000 miles and blew a rod so y not put another engine that will last another 300,000 or more miles

Asuarez737

why does everyone complain so much about the 3.0. its really not that bad of an engine, and if you really take the time to work on it, it will produce power. my 3.0 has 230,xxx miles on it, and it runs great. on hill if i take overdrive off then my 4Runner will do 70 going up. all the upgrades my 3.0 has so far is just silicone lines and a weapon r intake. and this thing hauls. pretty soon it will be used as a baja race truck because of the fact that its super reliable and i know i can get some power out of it. just look at Ivan Stewart, his 3.0 had over 400 hp, so it is possible, just have to take time with your engine.

ksti

I was hoping you could tell me where I could find this good day and get 20mpg,
maybe going down an endless cliff in neutral.

Duffdog

You forgot about the one good thing about the 3.0 engine. In my experience, you can get the whole engine free from people who don't like it. I wanted to buy just the driveline and rear axle + third out of a 93 v6 truck with bad bearings and the guy just gave me the entire truck for $300. Thats a free 3.0!-- I suppose I could actually change out the bearings and have a good truck, but its already cut up and sold. Either way, I made a lot of money off this "junk" engine.

Also, I have an 89 4runner with the 3.0. Works fine with 290k

Dingotech

My last fill-up was 15.769 gallons and came at about 305 miles, mixed driving. Not quite 20MPG, but not at all bad.

I gotten up to 330-335 miles per tank. Sometimes, only 270/tank.

bone collector

thats pretty good mileage. any mods to speak of or is it all stock??

Dingotech

Read my first post further up^^^. But, yeah, essentially stock.

About a year ago, I failed Kalifornia smog and the mechanic I took it to fixed the problem and the truck's been running extremely well ever since. Took them several days to diagnose the problem. Prior to that, I never even sniffed 300 miles/tank.

I'll look up my receipt to he what work they performed- it may be instructive.

jalopytech

You are rite about the forum. I own both and then some. The only thing I've determined is that if I drink 3.0L of beer I belch slower than if I drink 22. Another words the 22/22RE is a much better engine even though smaller and if your 3.0 has an automatic, it's not worth messing with. Sell it to someone who has soccer practice.

94hiluxZE

Well ive had a 3.0 for a while now and my biggest isuse is the heat it produces one way to help is after market headers which are like 500 $ for this engine which is way to much for me. but over al its got ok power and if taken care of real well then it is a decent engine.

jalopytech

Yep, I've a 90 SR5/3.0 and a 92 4x4/22RE Bought in 91, between the 2 I'm looking at 550k, My 1980 long bed 4x4 I got in the late 90s, beat to hell but my favorite with around 200k on it. I've tinkered with them and allot of others but found it mostly to be a waste of time and money. they are what they are, so they say, longevity!

Punchy

Actually there is nothing wrong with going over 3K rpm and is suggested, The engine is more efficient at higher RPM. (Every engine and mfg has a sweet rpm spot)
You will suck more gas lugging the engine.
5th gear and doing over 90 mph on my 300K+ mi 3vz is easy and 16+ mpg is possible when I don't keep my laying my foot into it.
4.56 w/32-33"

jalopytech

Last year I took a little camping trip From Az. thru UT, Wy, Id, Or. (run into the ocean @ Coos bay) mostly all back roads (slow), even got lost a time or two. Averaged almost 16MPG. After Northern Ca. I hit the freeway and headed home at 75+MPH best I got was 17 with a tail wind and burnt a Qt. of oil, I was way over on my normal oil change.. After that fast run and oiling the engine seemed to run better for awhile. My rigs regularly see over 4K RPM, do to the hill I live on and I have never even given it any thought. When they were newer I may of been a little more conches of RPMs. Keep the valves adjusted is my motto.

Inferno451

I've owned both. I've personally watched 2 22res eat themselves and honestly don't know how in the world they have the reputation they do. I've had COUNTLESS problems with mine. The payoff is crappy fuel economy, and a noisy, underpowered engine. That's really what it boils down to. It is, however much easier to work on than the 3.0, which is a nightmare. That said, i didn't have a SINGLE problem with my 250,000 mile 3.0. And as stated, the 3.4 swap is much easier with one.

jalopytech

Did you buy them new or were they hand me downs? You've answered your own statement with the word "reputation" they are the VW of the 60s and 70s. and "countless problems" sounds more like abuse or lack of proper maintenance, same as the VW.

Inferno451

Both those motors were factory motors. My roommate's spun a bearing at 155k and mine had a connecting rod nut fall off and threw a rod at 225k. Mine happened going 35MPH on the freeway in 5th gear and his happened coming back from the grocery store. Neither had ever been opened up/tampered with, and well maintained. Even with my brand new motor (built RIGHT) it's still a noisy dog that i don't trust and gets only slightly (maybe 2?) MPG better than my 92' truck with the v6. I work on my vehicles at least 3 times a week, it's definitely not due to abuse and CERTAINLY not neglect. It was my experience that my v6 treated me FAR better, had more power, ran smoother, sounded better, and only got slightly less mileage. Remember that the 22re is OLD technology, not only electronically, but mechanically. The R family of engines debuted in 1953. I just don't think anyone should be put off by the old 3.slow. It's still 3.Awholelotfasterthanthe22re and just about the only disadvantage i see is that it's harder to work on. I don't think the 3VZE's reputation is entirely deserved, and for that matter, neither is the 22re's. Just my 2 cents.