How to Compare Toyota Truck Engines

If you want to upgrade or replace your Toyota truck engine, you should do a comparison first to make sure that you are getting the right engine at the right price. Whether you're buying a brand new Toyota truck engine or a used one, there are a few key criteria that you should consider when reviewing your options. Naturally there are some Toyota truck engines that will be unsuitable, such as diesel engines if you have a gasoline-powered vehicle, or low-torque engines if you have a large truck, or an extra-large engine if your pickup is compact. Be certain what characteristics you want from your engine before beginning your comparison process.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• List of comparison criteria
• Specifications of your current engine

Suggest Edits

1. • 1

     Eliminate all unsuitable engines from your initial search. You should use the manufacturer's website and those of pickup engine parts dealers to review engine specifications. To save time, make a list of engine types that are unsuitable. Write them down and discount them from your comparison process. For example, if you're buying an engine from a vehicle with right-hand drive, you'll have to move the mounting struts and power steering pump to fit a left-hand-drive vehicle, which is a lot of work. Toyota stopped producing diesel pickup engines for the American market in 1986, so only very old engines will be available for diesel vehicles.

   • 2

     Set out your key criteria. In order to do a successful comparison, you need a starting point. Toyota truck engines come in different sizes and designs, so understand what you require. Write down a list of the three most important things that you're looking for in an engine. For example, you may wish to purchase a 2.0-liter engine with low mileage for no more than $600. So engine size, mileage and price are your three main criteria. There are certain Toyota truck engines, such as the 22RE and the L series diesel, that share the same mounting, spacing and transmission bolt patterns. Such compatibility makes for an easier installation.

   • 3

     Research recall history. For example, in 1996 Toyota recalled its 3.0-liter V6 engines made between 1988 and 1995 due to head gasket design flaws. Toyota repaired many of the engines that were returned, but double-check to ensure that the engine you're considering has been checked over.

   • 4

     Establish a ranking system. Rank your three main criteria in order of importance. When reviewing Toyota truck engines, rank them in the following method. Award a score of 1 to 20 for how the engine measures up against your top criterion, a score of 1 to 10 for the second criterion and a score of 1 to 5 for the third criterion. This gives a more accurate reflection of engine suitability when you add up the final scores.

   • 5

     Total up the final scores. Each engine will have a score that's as low as 3 or as high as 35; the engine with the highest mark is, ostensibly, the most suitable. If you have more than one engine with the same marks, use the other characteristics to break the deadlock. Quite often you'll need to arrange delivery of the engine, speak to the retailers and find out who offers the cheapest or fastest delivery.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you've identified a suitable engine model, call local salvage yards to see if they have any cheap Toyota truck engines that fit the bill.

• Only install a new engine if you are confident of doing the job safely. A badly installed engine can cause damage to the rest of your vehicle.