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V6 Work truck Toyota-Dodge-Chevy-Ford
scaper
Member Posts: 9
I hope I will get some info here on this subject. I have been searching for a work truck for my business for the past few months. I looked at the big three and the Tundra v6. I like the Chevy 4.3 but a friend of mine is a Chevy mechanic and stated they were having drive ability problems and that if I were to go Chevy get the small V8. I like the dodge but am afraid of the 3.9 not having enough grunt. The Ford was very nice inside but I hear reports from friends that the 4.2 doesn't yield great mileage in this platform. Well I don't know squat about the Tundra V6 combo so that's why I'm in here to find out. First off, I'm using this truck to do estimates not haul alot of material. I'm getting 2wd not 4x4. I have a 4x4 91 Dodge Ramcharger for winter and a F450 SD to tow my 22 foot equipment trailer so this is my pleasure ride. Does anyone own the Toyota V6 in the Tundra? If so how do you like it? What's your mileage? And how is the power in this size truck? These are all questions I'm trying to answer. If anyone owns the above mentioned trucks please fell free to give the same information. I like all three big three trucks but would like to give the Tundra equal consideration. Thanks ahead of time for any and all answers. Scaper
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I did have a bad fuel injector at about 5K miles which was replaced under warranty and the dealer also cleaned all of the injectors and put a can of Techron in the gas tank. The service advisor recommended that I use only Chevron to get the Techron additive and I have done so since that episode. I also dump a bottle of Techron in the tank at every 3,000 mile oil change as a precaution. So far, no recurrence of the driveablity issue(about 13K now.). I think the dealer may have been right. I would use Techron in any vehicle now.
If you are concerned about getting a problem engine, I would stay away from the new 4.8 and 5.3 votec GM V8 engines. You can search here at Edmunds and still find problems relating to knock, ping, and driveablity on these engines. A co-worker just took delivery of a 4.8 Silverado and he has had the engine ping from day one. I think the 4.3 is an old reliable design and not a problem. The problem with all of the new GM engines is that they are leaned out too much and any imperfection in the fuel or fuel delivery system causes a performance problem.
I drive very carefully in town only and get 20-21 mpg. On the one extended highway/city trip I took I got 27 mpg, with about one hour spent stopped on the expressway in a traffic jam with the engine idling.
If you go with GM, I would buy the GMC because you can get a fold down armrest in the base model. If you are going upscale it doesn't matter - Silverado or Sierra - as long as you don't mind spending an extra 4-5K for the doo-dads.
I would, of course, take all of your prosective choices on a long test drive under the conditions you will drive daily before you buy (rent one?).
Good Luck.
Two hours later the Chevy 4.3 is still running.
I've heard of em going over 200,000 miles with no problems in full size trucks from other sources as well.
My personal vehicle is a Toyota T100 so I'm generally a little biased when it comes to trucks, but that chevy 4.3 impressed me with that many miles and having numerous drivers over the years.
It kind of makes me think that I could get the same miles out of an American truck as my Toyota!
On the other hand, I have been dreaming about a new Sierra 2500 HD Crew Cab Duramax 6 speed....(I'll have to get a short box to fit in the garage... maybe I'll keep the old truck around for the bulky and messy loads...)
I would not buy a Toy with the V-6. Toyota has never made a good V-6 truck engine. After 5 or 6 years the head gaskets go. I thought they would fix them in the 90's but looks like they can't.
By the way, I believe jim4444. I bet it gets hot, but cast can take it. Loose tolerances on 200k or more engines have places to store oil.
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The new 3.4 did blow some head gaskets the first two years, but I have not seen one documented 97 and after. Toyota also footed the bill. The 3.4 is a good truck engine.
I would asume Toyota is in the works of a new V6 when the new Tacoma arrives as well as the mysterious (rumors) bigger V8 for the Tundra.
New truck will be 1" wider, have all new platform, similar styling queues.
Of course, regular cab trucks are never out of style, because they were never "in style."
jim444 you should suggest to your boss that they should auction those trucks they want to get rid of instead of destroying them,then he will think you are a genius and give you a raise.
Why would anyone want to destroy a pickup engine to get rid of it as much as they sell for used? Or is it an unbreakable company policy, perhaps, to keep one a specified number of years and/or a specified number of miles, so this method is being used to remove lemons from the fleet? If so, selling them would still be a better business decision, so I would suggest a change of policy.
I'm afraid as far as picking a newer version 6 cylinder I wouldn't be of much help. I have an old 1982 F-150 4x4 with a manual tranny and inline 300 cubic inch 6 that is still going. Unfortunately, those engines are no longer available. It needs a new muffler, but is strong and tows a lot with the granny low it has in it.
If they were pickups they might consider selling them but they arent.
They are kinda like delivery trucks, you know "bread vans" not a popular vehicle.
Dont get me started on the clowns I work for....oops management.
I don't know if someone has mentioned this yet but the Chevy v6 is based off the 350 the best engine ever made.
thats something to think about
Not sure why this is..
The fleet of Astro Van delivery trucks used by King Soopers (supermarket chain) have 4.3L engines. What a headache! They constantly need oil changes, windshield washer fluid and air added to the tires on a fleet of low mileage, 230,000 mile trucks, given the kindest treatment by the company's caring delivery drivers.
Why did you buy a water pump you didnt need at 100,000 miles?
Changing air filters etc is called routine maintenance.
I believe the malibu has the 3800 V-6
http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/engines_cartruck/index.htm
– 3100 V6 SFI
Gas mileage was good to - in the mid to upper twenties in town - pretty good for such a big car.
I recommend the Chevy with the V-6. Parts are cheaper and more folks are willing to repair them (if needed). You will also find them to cost less (in many areas, such as here in Central Texas). One of my co-workers just traded in his 92 shortbed with 4.3L and 5 spd. It had 240K miles. Of course he had a head gasket go out at 210K, so some folks may say that the engine is a piece of crap.
Texas Truck - r
The problem with the 4.3 V6 is that it is based on the 90 degree 350 V8, minus 2 cylinders. A 90 degree block is optimum for a V8, but not the optimum configuration for a V6 engine. For better balance, a V6 should be a 60 degree block (or better yet, it should be an inline 6). The balance concerns with the 4.3 V6 is why the early models had a very low redline and later models had balancers added so the redline could be increased resulting in greater horsepower. The balancers help I'm sure, but its a compromise and something else to break.
The head gasket problems with the early Toyota 3.0 and 3.4 V6s were corrected in 1997 to my knowledge.
If you are interested in a 6 cylinder work truck, then you just need to get out and drive some of them and make up your mind. You can use the internet for researching reliability issues and such, but the only way you can get a feel for the truck is to test drive it.
Now is definitly the right time to buy one because of all of the incentives and low or zero interest rates.
For TSBs and Recalls, you can find info on a particular truck or car here http://www.alldata.com Another good source of technical info is http://www.batauto.com
Alan
I bought a GM 4.3 V-6 just for that reason. I have one in my 99 Blazer and one in my 2k Silverado 4x4. I have a Gtech meter and you would not believe how they run. Blazer is running 7.81 sec 0 to 60. Siverado is running 9.03 sec 0 to 60. Both times were about .4 seconds slower when new. Both engines have synthetic oil.
They run GREAT. I tow 5000 lbs with each. When I tow with the Blazer it feels like the engine is going to destroy the rear diff on WOT takeoffs.
The best work truck engine is the 4.3 and it is all cast iron. Not many of these left, not even GMs V-8s can make that statement.
Oi!!!
If you got to have a Dodge go with the 4.7.
I have a '98 Chevy x-cab with the 4.3/auto. Been real pleased with the performance with this setup.