Question for 3.0 owners

[the_slug]

1988 4Runner
3.0
240,000 miles
5 speed
32x11.50 off brand tires (sort of an AT style)

As far as I know it is pretty much stock. I have given it a complete tune-up, checked the timing, dropped and cleaned out the fuel tank, etc.

I understand that it is a 3.slow. I can, if I anticipate traffic and hills, run 60 (almost 65). It seem to be horribly slow. Mixed driving returns 12ish MPG.

Eventually I plan on doing the 3.4 swap but its just not in the time or money budget right now. What I want to know is what are other 3.0 owners getting for mileage and how it seems to do with 32s?

I am trying to figure out if maybe there is anything I do to try to find some missing HP or just grin and bear it until I can do a swap? The swap is not in the foreseeable future.

[1990dlx]

Are you sure that your rig didn't come with 225/75 R15 tires? You may be way undergeared. My 1990 pickup had that engine, and I ran 30's since it had the small tire package. I got around 20mpg. Just one theory...

[the_slug]

Originally Posted by 1990dlx

Are you sure that your rig didn't come with 225/75 R15 tires? You may be way undergeared. My 1990 pickup had that engine, and I ran 30's since it had the small tire package. I got around 20mpg. Just one theory...

I don't know what it originally came with. It has 32s now from the previous owner. I'm not sure of the gearing. I'll check later.
I'm open to any ideas/theories.

[1990dlx]

Well...those 4runners certainly didn't come with 32's stock. They either came with 27's -or- 31's. If it came with 27's, then running 32's would make it gutless. That is the theory I am going with...

[MooseBit]

Wrong gearing or not you should be able to do more than 65.

You've got engine problems. Either a clogged cat, clogged air filter, or it's misfiring. Is the check engine light on? Codes are pretty easy to pull on the old trucks.

['00xtracab]

That 4runner probley has 4.10s which toyota used with 5speed 4wds 22re and 3.0s with 225/75-15s(28s). Factory 31s weren't an option until the early 90s and they used 4.56 gears with them on either engine with 5speeds, a/ts got 4.88s with 31s. You'd want at least 4.88s with that engine and 32s, but some else has to be wrong to not be able to go over 65.

[Faded89]

Ive got an 89 4runner 31x10.5x15 ATs on it other than sluggish acceleration I havent had problems getting over 65. I think im getting around 15mpg.

[VooDooV]

3.0 and 5spd you need 4.56 for 32" tires
3.0 + auto 4.56 and 32" = correct speed-O, but suggest 4.88

My 92 4runner 300K mi 3.0 5spd/4.56 and 32 could do 95+mph easy

[the_slug]

Knock Sensor. Might be a while before I dig into it.

[natetru]

i to have an 88 4runner with a 3.0. i am running stock 4.10s and 33" mickey thompson mtz. i can run a gps confirmed 70-80 all day.

[Richard_]

i was getting maybe 200 miles to a tank , my only solution was to buy a comuter car , i might have been getting 15-16 combined driving with 33's and no lift , it will get worse after I lift it , and power is one thing they don't have

[the_slug]

Knock sensor, knock sensor wire, timing belt, water pump and intake gaskets are on the way.

[BigChalupa]

You got something going wrong. My 1990 pickup with a 3.0 and 31x10.50 mud terrains will run 100 mph down the highway any day of the week. Its also all stock. You must have some different gears or something. Also i got like 15 mpg.