The Toyota 3.4 V6 is the heart of several of the automaker’s legendary SUVs and trucks. Is it a reliable and sturdy engine to match your adventure needs?
It’s no secret that Toyota is notorious for reliability. Since their debut in the U.S., the iconic Japanese automaker has consistently topped the list of most reliable car brands. The Toyota 3.4 engine is certainly no exception to this rule.
Though production ended on this engine over a decade ago, there are still endless examples on the roads today running without issue.
The Toyota 3.4 V6 is known internally as the Toyota 5VZ engine. The 3.4 is the newest in the lineup of Toyota VZ engines. Toyota developed the VZ family of engines in response to the Nissan VG lineup found in the likes of the Nissan 300ZX. The Toyota VZ engines are all V6s and first debuted in 1988 in the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES250.
Eventually, the displacement of the VZ engine family would continue to grow into the 3.0-liter 3VZ V6, where it made its first appearance in Toyota trucks and SUVs. The 5VZ 3.4-liter V6 made its first appearance in 1995. The 5VZ was exclusive to Toyota SUVs and Trucks and was available through the 2004 model year
Let’s take a look at the engine specs of the Toyota 5VZ 3.4 V6 and what vehicles they come in. Furthermore, we’ll dive into what makes this engine so trustworthy.
Toyota 3.4 V6 Engine Specs
The 5VZ 3.4 V6 is a standard V6 engine layout with a cast-iron engine block and aluminum cylinder heads. It uses dual overhead camshaft construction, meaning each cylinder head has two camshafts to control valve timing.
Additionally, it has four valves per cylinder for a total of 24 valves. Interestingly, the cylinder heads were designed by Yamaha.
The Toyota 3.4 V6 has a bore of 93.5 millimeters and a stroke of 82 millimeters, landing it the displacement of 3.4 liters. This is the largest displacement of any of the VZ family of engines. It also has a 9.6 to 1 compression ratio.
There are a few modernizations that the Toyota 3.4 has over the other engines in the VZ family. For one, the 5VZ features a more consistent and efficient coil-on-plug ignition system matched with a sequential multiport electronic fuel injection system. This allows for the most efficient burning of fuel for ideal power output.
Additionally, high-flowing exhaust manifolds open up more bottom-end torque, which is great for offroad use. Finally, it features an oil cooler and a high-efficiency radiator fan to eliminate any potential overheating issues.
The 5VZ 3.4 V6 has an oil capacity of 5.5 quarts and recommends either 5W30 or 10W30 oil. The original recommended oil change interval is between 5,000 and 10,000 miles. However, owners should change the oil of higher mileage engines at the lower end of that spectrum.
Power output depends on which vehicle the engine is in. However, one variant of the Toyota 3.4 has 190 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque. The other has 183 horsepower and 217 lb.-ft. of torque. So that begs the question, what vehicles come with the Toyota 3.4 V6?
Vehicles Equipped with the Toyota 3.4 Engine
As we mentioned before, the Toyota 3.4 V6 only made its way into trucks and SUVs for the US market. However, Toyota used the engine in the Toyota Granvia van for other markets.
Additionally, it was also found in a Russian-built luxury sedan called the GAZ-3111. Finally, a variant of the Toyota Land Cruiser called the Land Cruiser Prado also came with the 5VZ in other markets. However, all U.S.-delivered Land Cruisers were equipped with V8s at this time.
These are the vehicles and model years that feature the Toyota 3.4 that were available in the US market.
- 1995–2004 Toyota Tacoma
- 2000–2004 Toyota Tundra
- 1995–1998 Toyota T-100
- 1996–2002 Toyota 4Runner
The truck versions of the 3.4 V6 were the higher horsepower ones, while the 4Runner got the slightly detuned variants. Though they do have less power and torque, the detuned variant in the 4Runner allows for an earlier torque band. Toyota engineers likely did this intentionally to get the heavier 4Runner chassis moving a bit quicker.
Is the Toyota 3.4 a Good Engine?
To put it quite simply, yes. The Toyota 3.4 5VZ V6 is an astonishingly good engine. It combines Toyota’s notorious reliability with enough power and torque for offroad adventures and exploration.
Furthermore, it is not at all uncommon to see 3.4-equipped Toyota vehicles far and above the 200,000-mile mark still running as if they rolled off the assembly line yesterday.
One of the biggest contributing factors to the longevity of the 3.4 engine is the fact that it is non-interference. This means that when engine timing is off, the valves and pistons will not make contact like they do in interference engines.
Though timing belt failure is not common on these engines, in the event that one did fail, it would simply be a matter of replacing the belt and setting the timing correctly with no internal repairs needed.
Furthermore, the Toyota 3.4 is capable of taking additional power right from the factory. In fact, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) previously offered a supercharger kit for this engine that only required different fuel injectors as an upgrade.
This allows a substantial power increase to 250-280 horsepower. Though the TRD kit is no longer available new, Magnuson makes a similar supercharger kit.
However, it is important to remember that adding power to an engine always implies an inherent risk. So, if you intend to supercharge your 3.4, it is important to make sure its maintenance is up to date, and the installer knows what they are doing.
Though not a common failure, some Toyota 3.4 V6s experience head gasket failures. This can be pricey to repair but is not a common occurrence. It is important when shopping used to request service and repair history. Additionally, researching the VIN history is always important, too.
Is the Toyota 3.4 V6 the Engine for You?
The 3.4-equipped family of vehicles is no exception to Toyota’s iconic offroad capabilities, either. The 4Runner, Tundra, Tacoma, and T-100 all feature Toyota’s legendary four-wheel-drive systems and are sure to get you wherever it is you’re trying to go.
The 4Runner and Tacoma with the 5VZ engine both have a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The T-100 equipped with the same engine has a towing capacity of 4,000 pounds.
Finally, the Tundra equipped with the 3.4 has a towing capacity of 5,250 pounds. While you may not be hauling the biggest trailers, vehicles with the Toyota 3.4 are more than capable of pulling a small camper trailer or a boat to the lake for a weekend of family fun.
Furthermore, a small work trailer to accompany a Tundra or Tacoma makes a great combo for work.
In general, a vehicle equipped with the Toyota 3.4 V6 is a great buy. This is especially true if you are shopping for a used truck or SUV in the $10,000 price range. While many of these trucks and SUVs for sale sport some substantially high mileage, it is important to remember how trustworthy these engines are.
If you come across a well-loved high mileage model and the seller has well-documented service history, it is likely to continue running well for thousands of miles to come. It is always a good idea to have a qualified mechanic inspect a vehicle before you purchase it.
To ensure a vehicle you’re shopping for is free of recalls or accidents, use our free VIN research tool to get the full detailed history of any vehicle.
Photos: Toyota
