High Mileage Gassers...not just diesels

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by rhickman

Really? I've never known a man that liked the 400m or the 351m. I had one, and it is truly the worst engine i've ever seen. A great idea though, a long stroke, big bore, great torque right... however no compression and was absolutely gutless.

The factory 400 was shot when I bought the truck. Replaced it at 155k with a used one from a '79 Lincoln Continental. Had more ponies than the truck version.



My dad used to use a '80 F-250 w/4. 10's and had 400. Never had any trouble hauling a backhoe on a tri-axle flatbed. Same goes for my uncle that had a 351M in his '80 F-250.



Worst thing with the 4. 10's in the '80 trucks was mileage, 5 1/2-8.



I had 3. 55, and got 11. My only complaint with that motor was that the carb needed rebuilt or to replace the 2 barrel with a 4 barrel carb. It had 165k on the motor when I sold the truck, and never used any oil. Can't say the same for the one I pulled out, 1qt/4-500 miles.

Originally posted by rhickman

... however no compression and was absolutely gutless.

The lowest compression I have seen on an old gasser was in a mid '80's Chevy /350. It was so low, you could turn the motor by hand by grabbing the flexplate.

 

[illflem]

It's funny when you go to a Toyota PU website there's hardly anybody talking about mechanical problems, they argue about which air freshener to use...

 

[Texas Diesel]

I wonder how many Toyotas actually carry or tow anything heavier than groceries? I wonder how they would hold up if they actually worked hard.



I had 4 Toyotas in a row (all perfect) and bought s 5th, V6 w4d, 94, extra cab. It was in the shop 13 times in the first six months, the dealer traded me out of it and the next one was no better, it was in the shop more than I had it. I was disgusted at that point. Traded it off on a (new) 95 Dakota, V8 4wd extra cab, it was in the shop TWICE in 195,000 miles, once for the idle speed control motor once for a fuel take sender. We sold it at 195,000 miles and it still had the original clutch and is still a daily driver, the only things replaced were timimng chain (PM) water pump, starter, alternator and radiator. We liked it so much my wife tranded her (6 month old) Camry for another Dakota, V8, auto, 4wd, her Camry was starting to have repeat visits to the dealer too. That Dakota was in the shop 4-5 times in its life for various minor junk, we sold it at 100,000 and still regret it.



After having several 80's vintage Toyotas all I can say is that when Toyota merged with GM they learned how to match GM's legendary quality.



No more Toyotas for me. Yes, I have a bad attitude towards the Toyo-let, but my attitude is from battle scars with them.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by Tejas Deezul

I wonder how many Toyotas actually carry or tow anything heavier than groceries?

Judging from what I've seen I wonder how many Rams carry anything heavier than groceries.

I'll bet the majority drive a PU because they want to, not becuse they need to.

 

[mcoleman]

Toys don't last very long at all if you work them. Buddy of mine has one. It does great until he tries to use it to haul wood with. he has put 3 clutches in it and 1 headgasket in the last 3 years along with rebuilding the entire frontend. It's a 4X4. I don't think they were made to do hard work with. But they are great for the town person needing to haul a little mulch or something. I'd be willing to bet that I've had more chat in the bed of my Dodge than his entire truck even weighs. But he doesn't have a race car or horses or a farm so I guess he gets by with it. His other truck is a 96 Ram 4X4 QC with the 360 and it's been a piece of junk since day one. He lets his wife drive it all the time.

 

[mcoleman]

Loggers around here only drive real trucks. Powered by big blocks or diesels. A Toyota has to be the most useless thing a logger could own. I'd like to see a toy with a 36 foot gooseneck and a load of logs climb out of a ravine and head down the road. You have to use low range in my buddies toy just to get out of the woods with a load of firewood in the back and onto level ground without smoking the clutch. I like to see a Toy pull my racecar trailer empty or my horse trailer for that matter. They have their purpose but it ain't working.

 

[Rman]

my buddy has a 93 yota with the V6, he can't hold 75 mph in 5th gear on the highway because of the winds that come out of a nearby canyon. I always ask him why he's winding the engine out in 4th gear, and he laughs. We always joke how gutless it is, although it is a good little pickup. No problems, just worthless other than a nifty "car" to drive around. Pretty capable off road as well, we use it on some trails up in them thar hills and it's OK, mainly because it is light.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by Dl5treez

Around where I come from the 2nd most popular truck among loggers--who aren't exactly easy on equipment, is Toyotas.



Mostly older ones (84'-'95) with 4 cylinders.



Stay away from the V6 in the trucks.

Same here. No one round here's lame enough to use any pickup to haul a load of logs, leave that to the tractor/trailers. The problem is stopping, not going. But Toyotas work great for hauling chainsaws, fuel, etc.

 

[mcoleman]

We have those same trucks here but their inability to get into peoples farms and ranches in the hills and hollars makes them useless until they can get the wood out to the main roads. The main use for the duallies and goosenecks is getting the walnut logs out of the woods and tight areas. Walnut=$$$$$ it's used in verneers. I had 75 trees logged off my place this year so I could build a lake. They had to park the Western star out on the main road and cart everything to it with a crane. He came back with a dually chivvy and loaded the walnut logs on the gooseneck to save time on the back side of the farm. Around here the 2 biggest money makers are oak logs for flooring and of course walnut and we still have the tie industry as well. We have sawmills about every 30 miles or so in my area. Plenty of slabs available for firewood if you don't mind stoking the stove a lot. He had brought a bobcat out to load the gooseneck with and left it overnight while he took the logs to his mill. Left the keys in it and told me to have at it if I needed it for anything. I found several things to move.

 

[1sand0s]

I think a bad experience with Toyota is pretty rare.

In the older trucks, I would prefer the 4 over the 6, even if it is a little gutless... the thing is, the v6 "aint a whole lot bettah fer guuuts". Nevermind it was not one of thier best motors. (Still better than the average Ford or Dodge V6). Funny though, that GM 4. 3 (chevy 350 with 2 pistons chopped off) does not seem to have any issues. Hmmmmm Even UPS pounds the snot out of those and they hold up.



I think there are a lot of people who want a light pickup truck. Driving a Tundra from CT to Florida once made me realize that having a 4X4 as a daily driver with a GREAT ride is actually possible. I sure wish my Dodge had an adjustment to ride like that. Screw the load rating... Gimme adjustable suspension to ride like that Tundra and I would cringe to adjust it when towing the boat.



If I were to pick a car company where you pick anything out of thier fleet and be assured that it would make the 150,000 mark with regular maint. and the fewest possible garage trips... it would be Toyota.

Dakota vs. Yota??

Those rattly, smoky V6 Dakotas make me want to.....

#ad






(Still wearing flame proof suit. )

 

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by 1sand0s

I think a bad experience with Toyota is pretty rare.

May not be as rare as you think, I had lots of company at the Toyota dealership while I waited for my trucks. Plenty of excuses to, out of stock, backordered, new stock going to new car production etc.



Look at a Toyota dealership early AM and see the lined up cars for service.



Like I said before. I had 5 perfect Toyotas and 3 bad in a row. It's difficult to sell me on Toyota quality any more.



I seriously thought about painting it to look like a lemon but have a life to live, not enough interest in Toyota for me to spend that kind of time.

 

[Ncostello]

My other truck is a 1984 F-150 with 203,000 totally original miles. 3 on the column, 300-6, no air, no power... no problems ever. In fact I drive it almost everyday for some reason. It was grandpa's originally. Just change the Motorcraft 10W-30 once in a while.



After I got it in 1990... I was a Ford believer. A big blue oval fan I was. After I bought a brand new 97 F-150 4. 6L V-8, I gave up on Ford forever. That truck was pathetic. They still are.



I love my Dodge Cummins now but not like my ole blue. Its the last Ford I'll have.

 

[Steve M]

The only vehicle I ever lemon lawed was a Toyota. The '89 Tercel had a CV carburetor laying on it's side. Bad idea. It started stalling at around 7k miles. Dangerous as hell with the wife and two daughters to pull out in traffic only to stall. Talked to Toyota royalty in Jacksonville and California. Got the run-around. I finally wrote with a white marker on the rear window, "Toyota refuses to fix this lemon" and parked it out in front of the dealership. They called the sheriff. Sheriff showed up and told them there was nothing they could do unless I was breaking the law. At 9k miles it was no longer mine. I'll never buy another Toyota. A co-worker's Tundra cost him over $600 for a right side exhaust manifold that cracked. He's ready to unload it for another F-250. $31k for a Tundra? They still run drum brakes on the rear. Time for a reality check.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by Dl5treez

Well, my God it was a Tercel.





People have said on here "look at the lines in front of Toyota dealers for service in the morning. " Well, most of those vehicles are there for routine maintenance. Oil changes, timing belts, coolant flushes, tunes, etc.

Begging you pardon, *I* was the one sitting in the waiting area, day after day, and most of the people in the room with me were PO'd at the lack of quality and problems too. I had some interesting conversations about Toyotas lack of quality and screw you attitude if it was a difficult problem. While I was going through my "Oh what a feeling" experience, (Toyota should furnish a tube of vasaline with each purchase for that "oh what a feeling") another Toyota owner was picketing the dealer re: is lemon truck. Dont know how that came out.



Please dont try to snow *me*, I lived through it personally.



My theory is when Chrvrolet merged with Toyota (Toyolet) the quality went through the floor, they went from legendary (quality and service) to _________ well you get the idea. Remember I had Toyotas before and loved them, what a shame.

 

[Ncostello]

Heck with Toyota... I'm talkin about high mileage work horses. Just trying to see what owners are getting out of gas 250's, 2500's, 350's, 3500 duallys, etc with V-8 and V-10 gassers in comparison to diesel owners.



An average person might just choose the 6. 8L V-10 option versus the Powerstroke because of the price difference. The diesel will have more torque and slightly more HP. It will get better fuel economy. But if a V-10 and a diesel both last 200K in a work truck, you'll be hard pressed to make up the difference in cost in fuel savings.



I'm not buying a gasser, but I was just thinking about the fact that if a person has 200K on a diesel it doesn't really say too awfully much. Unless its a Cummins... then its still breaking in.

 

[Texas Diesel]

I'm sorry :{ I'll stop with Toyota talk (they suck > :-{} < no they dont)

 

[1sand0s]

When you get a driveability issue, the dealership makes or breaks you. I dont want to turn this into another Amsoil or transmission wars. Toyota sure does not pay me here. But the numbers dont lie.



Friends who run auto scrapyards keep track of mileage when they take in a car. I decided to run a little query on four yards I deal with. (I do this for a living, sell people reports on thier data... )



Guess what is in the boneyards with the highest mileage?

(Rule out Mercedes, Rolls Royce. . etc etc they dont see those cars)

It is Toyota, followed by Nissan then... get ready for this guys... GM.

These are not pristine maintained gems here either. Corollas, 2wd pickups. . etc etc. A pretty good mix of fleets in there too. The only thing I filtered out were accidents. If the car was flagged as a wreck, the data did not go into this report.



Guess who has the lowest mileage to junk ratio?



Brace yourself. Anything Chrysler, including Jeeps. Followed VERY closely by anything with the Mitsubishi name on it. In fact, Mitsu came up MUCH worse than Hyundai. Hows that for a shocker? (Even more so when you consider hyundais roots. . )



My data is three years old, but I bet when I run the next batch it comes up very similar.



Taking a single experience and trying to apply it against proven numbers is kind of like... well, it is kind of like saying synthetic oil is worse for your engine than Rotella... Just makes you sound silly.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Oh yea? I want VIN's (just kidding) :-laf