I just talked with a guy who had a 2003 splash. He said his 3.0 had the same spark-knock problem as my 2001 XLT. If this truck didn't spark knock I might actually like it. Personally, I believe if these rangers only run right with 93 octane, they shouldn't recommend 87 octane in the manuals!!!!!! I bet Toyota would never market a vehicle with a crappy motor in it! I liked my truck the first few months 'cause it was the first newer car I've owned. But let me tell ya, I had a 86 Toyota with 160K, an 87 Mitsubishi with 170K. They both used a quart of oil every 1000 miles but neither had any engine noises. The other day I had my radio turned up to conceal the spark knocking and sure enough, I looked over and there was my old Toyota zipping down the highway. Don't get me wrong, these Rangers are decent trucks, but my next one will be either a Toyota or a Chevy. Sometimes I wish Jesse James would come and take my Ford and turn it into a mobile wastewater sludge pumper! haha

Let me tell ya. I have a 94' Splash with 187K and it doesn't use any oil. I've buried every....single Toyota, mitsu, Nissan there is with this, and still out run the new V8 Toyotas. Toyotas are underpowered until now and now you will see them only go 150K because they changed their one saving grace. Low compression. That was the only reason that even went as long as they did. I'm telling you....not a bit of oil! I'm sorry you've had a bad experience. I don't know what knock you are talking about. That engine, is in most of the t-bird, cougar, Taurus, and rangers with minimal problem. I'll take any thing BUT a little job taking, labor killin foreign job! If you haven't lost your job to some overseas company yet......maybe you will soon..... Chris Robertson Buy American, keep your job.