A friend wants to buy the SUV but he learnt the motor consumes oil. I advised him to get 2005 model just because of the upgrades (JBL premium sound etc) but I don't know about the engine. He is considering 4 cylinder(harder to find as we see more of 3.3L 6cylinder) or 6 cylinder but Is the 4 cylinder engine any good?

Please help him to make an informed decision. He will be reading this post as a guest.

nurey
gazzuz et al

Joo edakun.

NaijadrivaCars:
A friend wants to buy the SUV but he learnt the motor consumes oil. I advised him to get 2005 model just because of the upgrades (JBL premium sound etc) but I don't know about the engine. He is considering 4 cylinder(harder to find as we see more of 3.3L 6cylinder) or 6 cylinder but Is the 4 cylinder engine any good?

Please help him to make an informed decision. He will be reading this post as a guest.

nurey
gazzuz et al

like you mentioned there are 2 options for the Highlander, the 4 cylinder 2AZ engine which was used in many 4 cylinder toyota models between 2000 and 2010, yes the 2AZ engine had a well documented engine oil shortage problem due to a design error which toyota admitted

the extent of the oil burning depends on the history and maintenance, some have worse symptoms than others

specific to the Highlander, the first american generation was in two categories, 2001 - 2003 and then 2004 - 2007

all of them used the same 2AZ 4 cylinder engine, frankly I think it's a disservice to yourself to buy a 4 cylinder Highlander all in the name of fuel economy, it is very underpowered and underwhelming

for the V6, 2001 - 2003 used the 3l 1MZ engine which was prone to oil sludge while 2004 - 2007 used the updated 3.3l 3MZ with better power, better fuel economy and less oil sludge problems

also the 2001 - 2003 used the 4 speed transmission while the 2004 - 2007 used the newer U151E 5 speed AT

if your friend wants the best, let him go for the 2005 - 2007 Limited 4WD with leather interior and premium interior options

the 4WD is optional, may not be necessary if the ride would be a city terrain crawler, the FWD versions have slightly better fuel economy so you'd have to decide which is more important to you

NaijadrivaCars:
A friend wants to buy the SUV but he learnt the motor consumes oil. I advised him to get 2005 model just because of the upgrades (JBL premium sound etc) but I don't know about the engine. He is considering 4 cylinder(harder to find as we see more of 3.3L 6cylinder) or 6 cylinder but Is the 4 cylinder engine any good?

Please help him to make an informed decision. He will be reading this post as a guest.

nurey
gazzuz et al

Having owned a 2003 highlander 2.4i 4 cylinders for 4 years without any issues, and an RX330 3.3L V6 (same engine in highlander) without any issues, I'd advice your friend to go for the V6.

More power, smoother, more quieter, more reliable and more rugged.

KINGreignn:


Having owned a 2003 highlander 2.4i 4 cylinders for 4 years without any issues, and an RX330 3.3L V6 (same engine in highlander) without any issues, I'd advice your friend to go for the V6.

More power, smoother, more quieter, more reliable and more rugged.

Thanks. But what is it with the oil burn/check engine issues with 2003 (worst year according to carcomplaints)?

Fentanyl:


like you mentioned there are 2 options for the Highlander, the 4 cylinder 2AZ engine which was used in many 4 cylinder toyota models between 2000 and 2010, yes the 2AZ engine had a well documented engine oil shortage problem due to a design error which toyota admitted

the extent of the oil burning depends on the history and maintenance, some have worse symptoms than others

specific to the Highlander, the first american generation was in two categories, 2001 - 2003 and then 2004 - 2007

all of them used the same 2AZ 4 cylinder engine, frankly I think it's a disservice to yourself to buy a 4 cylinder Highlander all in the name of fuel economy, it is very underpowered and underwhelming

for the V6, 2001 - 2003 used the 3l 1MZ engine which was prone to oil sludge while 2004 - 2007 used the updated 3.3l 3MZ with better power, better fuel economy and less oil sludge problems

also the 2001 - 2003 used the 4 speed transmission while the 2004 - 2007 used the newer U151E 5 speed AT

if your friend wants the best, let him go for the 2005 - 2007 Limited 4WD with leather interior and premium interior options

the 4WD is optional, may not be necessary if the ride would be a city terrain crawler, the FWD versions have slightly better fuel economy so you'd have to decide which is more important to you

Thanks for your input. You made salient points.

@ nurey, thanks too.

NaijadrivaCars:


Thanks. But what is it with the oil burn/check engine issues with 2003 (worst year according to carcomplaints)?

Well, it's a factory defect that Toyota US/Canada market suffered.

About security, (Make I laugh small), he suggested that he will remove the key hole on the two front doors and buy 2 door openers (for back doors - note that they dont have key hole) so that he can only open the doors with 'remote'.

About security, (Make I laugh small), he suggested that he will remove the key hole on the two front doors and buy 2 door openers (for back doors - note that they dont have key hole) so that he can only open the doors with 'remote'. He is afraid of these Toyota thieves.

Lots of upgrade on 2005-2007 like:
controls on stearing, JBL premium sound etc

KINGreignn:


Well, it's a factory defect that Toyota US/Canada market suffered.

\
Pls any idea of the current market price of 3.3L V6 nmotor and gear box (complete and skeleton or SKELETUN )

Is the V6 3.0L good too?

NaijadrivaCars:
About security, (Make I laugh small), he suggested that he will remove the key hole on the two front doors and buy 2 door openers (for back doors - note that they dont have key hole) so that he can only open the doors with 'remote'. He is afraid of these Toyota thieves.

Lots of upgrade on 2005-2007 like:
controls on stearing, JBL premium sound etc

01- date had the JBL synthesis audio in the Limited Edition and in-glass printed diversity antenna, automatic dual zone climate control system, opti-lumnisense cluster, electronic seat adjustments etc.

NaijadrivaCars:
\
Pls any idea of the current market price of 3.3L V6 nmotor and gear box (complete and skeleton or SKELETUN )

No, I don't.

We saw a nice clean one: 2005 3.3L V6 FWD.

KINGreignn:

No, I don't.

Saw very few ads of the engine selling for 270,000Naira. 3.3L V6 3MZ