Is 243,000 miles too high for a 93 4Runner?

Hello guys, i have been thinking about trading my vehicle for a 93 4runner 5 speed, with the 3.0 and 243,000 miles. Is that to many miles on the drive train for this vehicle? What issues should i be looking for when looking over this vehicle? Thanks for any help guys.Pic below

 

No siree bob! To answer your ? No the mileage isn't too high for a 23 yr. old vehicle. The industry average for yearly miles is 15K. It used to be 10K about 10-15 years ago. So at the old rate(10K) the 4rnr should have 230K. At the rate used by the industry now(15K)it should have 345K on it. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the answer, i wasnt sure if i asked a stupid question that noone wanted to answer or if no one got on here. I have never owned a 4runner and dont want to get hosed, my other concern is the timing belt needing replaced on it. Cant really afford to do that right now.

 

As with any 3.0, check for BHG. Blown Head Gaskets. This engine is notorious for BHG. Also rust on the inside of the frame. If the timing belts haven't been changed, they should be immediately.

 

Will the 3.0 run with a blown head gasket and what do i look for to see if it is blown.

 

It'll run but u don't want to drive it like that. You'll get coolant in the oil and vice versa. Not good. This truck is 23 yrs old. It's gonna have a multitude of issues that will need to be addressed. Brakes, shocks, bushings, belts, hoses, tierods, etc. etc. etc. I'm not saying it's a bad truck but u gotta be ready for the inevitable.

 

No i wouldnt drive it, im just about to trade my 96 dodge grand caravan for the 4runner and i just dont want to be taken for a ride.The person ive been talking to says it has no issues and runs great and its a 5 spped, of course everyone says their vehicle is great running when they are trying to trade it. I'm not 100% certain that ill do it since i just put alor of money and work into the van.

 

I guess when i go to test drive it all be looking for leaks and possibly water in the oil.

 

My 2 cents. Just from my own experience. Mine is also a V6 but its the 4.0L Be sure to check the oil. See how dirty it is and if the engine is knocking. I'm not familiar with the 3.0 and I hope that it is a better motor than the 4.0. Previously, My truck had been keyed on almost every surface of the body. So i took it to the local Maaco while I was on a business trip in LA. When i got back I picked it up with the new paint job, I drove it about 3 miles and the engine blew. What happened was that 2 rods broke and ultimately the two rods punched a hole in the side of the engine block. Initially, When I dropped it off at Maaco, My engine wasn't knocking, smoking or using oil. It was running perfect....and i mean perfect. It was quiet, smooth and had a lot of power. I was pretty surprised at how it could be running perfectly one minute and then the next time i drive it, the engine had gone to hell. But I knew the oil needed to be changed and i ran it over about 700 miles. Still, I realize that should have did the oil change and i'm usually very punctual about maintaining my vehicles. It just slipped up on me that time. I really didn't think that waiting a few weeks on the oil change could cause so much damage. Boy was i wrong!! All I'm saying is to check it out before you buy it! I would also consider an engine treatment to the oil to make sure the lubrication is like it should be. Let me know how it turns out because I'm looking for an older model 4Runner for my son. I do hope everything works out well for you and your 93.

 

I'm starting to think this is not going to turn out in my favor in anyway,i'm thinking the trade would be a big mistake,im not ready to put a bunch of money into a vehicle right now.

 

Nope i had a 1997 Toyota Avalon with 265,000 still ran like new when i sold it.

 

to answer your question again, my truck had 465000kms on it when the motor went, which is about 288000miles and it was the 3.0L 3VZ

 

700 miles over an oil change will NOT cause it to throw rods... You can actually run an engine with dirty oil quite a long time before anything catastrophic will happen. Sounds like you were burning oil and were running low and it threw or you lost oil pressure and it blew. Usually the causes for thrown rods. But simply having slightly extra dirty oil for a short time wont do the damage.

 

My 90 has 261000 miles. They are great vehicles even when obviously mistreated, such was the case with mine. The fact of the matter is you're always going to have to put money into cars, the question is when. I would say this is one of the best vehicles to do that with because it will keep going as long as you take of it. AS far as being able to tell if it has a BHG, it'll most likely get a plume of white smoke coming out of the exhaust and could even be hydrolocked when you start it. Other than that you should be pretty good to go

 

Easiest way to check for a blown head gasket is to pull the coil wire off the dist,
Take radiator cap off and turn the engine over or have someone do that. Usually if the gaskets blown you'll see bubbles coming up through the antifreeze after a few seconds as the compression pushes it past the head gasket failure and into the coolant.

It's a good trick I learned from a veteran 35yr mechanic I used to work with.

 

If the oil cap has some milky white gunk on it theres water mixing in there... No bueno ran a 92 for 415k till this happened.