Running 4runners to High Mileage - Maintenence

[270quest]

My wife and I just paid off her 2021 TRD Off Road Premium 4runner. She drives a lot so in the nearly 5 years of ownership she has put 100k miles on it - basically back and forth to work and running kids around to practices/events/etc. It's basically a city car that may go off road once or twice when I get to take it instead of my truck - but again - usually just a normal mom car.

Now that we own it, she wants to keep for a long time and not mess with car payments. For guys with Toyotas with the 4.0 - besides normal oil changes - anything extra you did to keep it running smooth with high mileage. Any major services to consider?

 

[Dos Perros]

420k on a Tacoma, this is what I've done.

Oil changes every 5k. Air filters when needed. Tranny flushes when required (every 90k?). Stay on top of the fluids (rear diff, front diff, transfer case). Grease the zerks every 30k. Other than that just keep fixing what breaks (u-joints, wheel bearings, not much else). I tend to use OEM parts when replacing stuff. It's pretty incredible what is original and had lasted all this time.

I was also pretty religious about keeping salt off the frame, but nevertheless it still rusted out and Toyota did me a solid by replacing it for free.

I think if people took care of stuff it would last, and that goes for non-Toyota brands too. People just like to switch and have new/newer. People think stuff is going to break down and leave them stranded. People are emotional.

 

[WeiserBucks]

100k is nothing. Keep up on all fluid changes and routine maintenance. My two Toyotas trucks have 185k and 250k neither has needed anything other than normal maintenance and replacing typical wear items. Hell, the taco with 250k on it is still on the original clutch.

 

[Thinkingman]

The 4.0 is a solid engine.
That and the 4.7 are likely the best engine in the Toyota lineup.
It's a timing chain engine so no worries there, tensioners are pretty solid.
Because it's a torque engine and you have an automatic transmission, the only concern I would have is the variable valve timing components.
They run on oil pressure and even keeping clean, quality oil in it will eventually cause a bit of sludging which will interfere with the VVT.
Not an issue unless you feel the need to run high revs which is a waste of time and fuel in that engine.
I would be more concerned about the trim and fabrics...Other than seat covers, there isn't much you can do especially with kids and pets.

 

[thegrouse]

My Toyota has 250k and I would drive it to AK today without thinking about it. My engine has a timing belt so I change it as required.

 

[CorbLand]

Keep up on maintenance and replace parts as needed. Report back and ask the same questions when it has 200K on it. To which I can copy and paste this response and change the 2 to a 3.

For what new cars cost these days, you can replace a lot of things for a lot less than a payment.

 

[TaperPin]

Like others said, just keeping up on maintenance and lubrication is key. Once a year buy a case of fluid film (a waxy rust preventative) and spray anything that has or could get corrosion underneith. It not only prevents rust through of places Toyotas normally have issues with, it makes changing out parts much easier if you’re not fighting rusted fasteners. Looking at clapped out rusted Toyotas at a You-Pic-Parts salvage yard will show where to focus. I’ve even heard of guys spraying chainsaw bar oil everywhere once a year, but it would have an oily stink to it if parked inside.

A little fluid film on speed sensor hold down bolts, and any fastener on the underside is a good idea. Rust on any brake, fuel, or evap tubing is a bad thing down the road, so I make sure to hit those. A rust hole on the fuel filler tube is just as bad so I hit that as well.

One summer I worked alongside a company that had a fleet of trucks with over 500k miles on all of them. They simply do a close inspection once a year, replace anything that is noticeably worn, replace seals that leak, rebuild the engine and tranny at the first sign of problems, and preemptively replace parts they know are short for this world. It makes sense, but is hard to do. At 150k I change the alternator, water pump, and starter, and pawn the vehicle off to one of the kids in the family at 200k so it’s their problem.

 

[rideold]

One thing a lot of people forget about with 4WD vehicles that are primarily city cars is to shift into 4WD and drive a bit every month or two. The manual has an interval and number of miles figured. Remember to lock any differentials (yours should have the center and rear lock).

My wife had a 2008 4Runner that was always picky about going into 4WD and our mechanic told us it was because the previous owner of 130k miles probably never used the 4WD. Her dad drives it now and he never uses the 4WD and the last time I tried it wouldn't go into 4WD no matter what I tried.

 

[justin davis]

100k? It’s barely broken in lol

 

[LostArra]

2010 4runner Trail (I think it's pre-TRD off road)
My mechanic says "if it's wet keep it fresh" although fresh is different for oil, trans, transfer, fr-rear diff, coolant, brake fluid.
At 200k replaced plugs and cleaned injectors resulted in noticeable mileage improvement.

 

[Sinistram]

I sold my 08 a few years back with 187k on it. As others have said, preventative maintenance is the best sauce. Toyotas are not necessarily the picture of reliability they are made out to be. Mine had a few nuisance items that popped up and cost a bunch to fix. I had to replace ALL FOUR brake calipers and rotors twice because the calipers rusted and seized one of the pistons. I also had to replace one of the catalytic converters at about 140k, which I've never seen before. Ball joints wore out and I had to replace the half shafts because of torn boots.

Mind you, this was my daily driver and didn't see any serious off roading. Something to consider.

 

[Tradchef]

420k on a Tacoma, this is what I've done.

Oil changes every 5k. Air filters when needed. Tranny flushes when required (every 90k?). Stay on top of the fluids (rear diff, front diff, transfer case). Grease the zerks every 30k. Other than that just keep fixing what breaks (u-joints, wheel bearings, not much else). I tend to use OEM parts when replacing stuff. It's pretty incredible what is original and had lasted all this time.

I was also pretty religious about keeping salt off the frame, but nevertheless it still rusted out and Toyota did me a solid by replacing it for free.

I think if people took care of stuff it would last, and that goes for non-Toyota brands too. People just like to switch and have new/newer. People think stuff is going to break down and leave them stranded. People are emotional.

Exactly this!!! Always done this on my Toyotas and on my Nissan Titan. Just hit 400k and the dealership asked when I was going to get a new one. I said as long as I can fix and maintain and it rolls you can keep your overpriced shit and I'll be happy saving my money. Your 4Runner will do just fine and keep going strong.

 

[justinspicher]

My 96 tacoma has about 350k on it and it’s had to have some repairs, but it is a machine and things do break. My 05 GX470 has 250k on it and it’s the same way. General maintenance like oil changes every 5k, tire rotations and a weekly rinse are about all I’ve ever done.

 

[PathFinder]

One thing to add to the above is a valve adjustment at 200k. It's a bit of work, but doesn't have to be done often. Watch the timing cover, it will probably start to leak oil but will be mostly insignificant.
My 4.0 Tacoma (slightly different motor) is now owned by a friend and still going at 280k with no issues.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[TxLite]

I’ve got a 2000 with 285k on it that’s been pretty much just regular oil changes and tire rotations.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I sold my 08 a few years back with 187k on it. As others have said, preventative maintenance is the best sauce. Toyotas are not necessarily the picture of reliability they are made out to be. Mine had a few nuisance items that popped up and cost a bunch to fix. I had to replace ALL FOUR brake calipers and rotors twice because the calipers rusted and seized one of the pistons. I also had to replace one of the catalytic converters at about 140k, which I've never seen before. Ball joints wore out and I had to replace the half shafts because of torn boots.

Mind you, this was my daily driver and didn't see any serious off roading. Something to consider.

How often did you have to replace the transmission, lifters and head gaskets?

Brakes, catalytic converter, ball joints ect are basic wear items in my opinion.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

My first "brand new" car was a 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road. I saved up from when I started working in 1999 to be able to pay cash for it. The price? $24,500 out the door with tax title etc.

I put 275,000 miles on it with just routine maintenance before selling to a buddy of mine who was in a tight spot (he made payments to me). I did put new factory shocks on it at 190K. He drove it to 320K before someone hit him and totaled it.

We’ve had a 2001 4 cylinder Tacoma in the family since it was driven off the lot. Regular maintenance and only “out of norm” from routine filters, fluids, brakes, ball joints, gaskets, etc was 4 new coil packs at just over 200K. We ended up doing new alternator, wires, plugs, and coil packs all at once.

My sister commuted to college in it before moving out. Then my youngest sister used it in High School and college and into adulthood before getting married.

It then went to my youngest brother once he got out of the army and he’s had it since. His father in law drives it as a backup/extra work truck down in Mexico. Last I asked him it was still running at just over 400K miles.

 

[fngTony]

One thing a lot of people forget about with 4WD vehicles that are primarily city cars is to shift into 4WD and drive a bit every month or two. The manual has an interval and number of miles figured. Remember to lock any differentials (yours should have the center and rear lock).

My wife had a 2008 4Runner that was always picky about going into 4WD and our mechanic told us it was because the previous owner of 130k miles probably never used the 4WD. Her dad drives it now and he never uses the 4WD and the last time I tried it wouldn't go into 4WD no matter what I tried.

I was going to say similar. A Toyota dealership told me that the neglected 4x4 system is a huge reason for trade ins. Could be a $3500 fix if not used and serviced.

 

[eddielasvegas]

I have an '01 T4R with 198k miles and do this for maintnance. I bought mine in 2018 with 155k miles.

Some of these steps are already in here, but I'm far too lazy to read the prior posts so here goes:

1) Change engine oil and filter every 5k miles, ideally using full syn, but not necessary. Almost any oil will do. Any name brand or SuperTech, just change it 5k miles and buy the on sale in the recommended weight.

2) Drain the ATF from your transmission pan every other engine oil change. Add a like amount to ATF fill. This will keep fresh ATF in your tranny and save you from having to drop the pan is a PITA. Also, overheated tranny oil do a JOB on your transmissoin.

3) Use new, and the correct, washer for your engine oil and tranny pan drain plug. Cheap and available at all Toyota dealers.

4) Grease all of your Zerks in your 4WD propeller shaft system (mine has 8 Zerks). Your MY might be different than mine on these, but I doubt it. Do this every 2 years and more often if your running offroad where deep water, etc. may remove the grease. You can tell it needs greasing when the time to enage and disengage the 4WD is longer than 10-30 seconds. Do not wait until it takes > minute to grease skids. Hard to overdo this if you do it regularly.

5) Drain and fill the coolant every 5-ish years. This is a little involved but not a biggie if you watching a few YT vids. Also, replace the upper and lower rad hoses while you are at it.

6) Engage the 4WD monthly-ish and drive it for a 2-5 miles.

7) Join HERE. Lots of smart and helpful folks there just like RS.

Good luck,

Eddie

 

[5MilesBack]

I put 100k miles the first 5 years on my '89 4x4 xtracab 3.0L pickup. Then I've put about 175k miles on it the last 31 years. A LOT of the miles have been in 4wd, as that's mostly what I use it for anymore. Just routine maintenance its whole life. Like someone said above......"it's pretty unreal what is still original on it".