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Engine Skids

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Geojanitor, Feb 10, 2023.

  1. Feb 10, 2023 at 11:57 AM
    #1
    Geojanitor

    Geojanitor [OP] New Member

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    I have a question for you members that have installed after-market engine skids on your 4R. I see that there are some skids that have access holes for oil change draining and some that have plates (all seem to have plates for the filter change). My question is, which do you prefer? and which are easiest for oil changes. My gut tells me that the access plate is the easier; it allows more room to access the drain plug and less chance for oil to slurp all over the skid plate. The access hole, on the other hand, does not have screws that could come undone and be lost in overland travel. So that is my quandary. Also, if there are any professional mechanics out there, which do you prefer?
    Thanks in advance.
    Dave
     
  2. Feb 10, 2023 at 2:19 PM
    #2
    nova

    nova New Member

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    TBH, I have access plates but it wasn’t the primary attribute for me. I think your better built skids will all have plates.

    I wanted skids that allowed air flow to help with cooling.

     
  3. Feb 10, 2023 at 2:24 PM
    #3
    Geojanitor

    Geojanitor [OP] New Member

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    Thanks Nova, which ones did you go with?
     
  4. Feb 10, 2023 at 2:28 PM
    #4
    ChessGuy

    ChessGuy New Member

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    Too many..... Performance: • Magnusum Supercharger • Gibson exhaust with dual black tip • Pedal Commander * PowerBrakes • Suspension – Old Man Emu BP-51 front and back with Medium load coils • Tires: AT3 Faulken Wildpeak – 285/70/17 • Wheels: Relations Race Wheels, RR7-H with -12 offset • Full roof rack and ladder by Westcott Design (removed the stock Yakima basket) • Molle storage panels by Rago fabrication • Front light brackets by Rago • Illuminator light bracket by Rago (roof rack location) Lights • Morimoto front and back with sequential signals • Morimoto fog lights and side mirrors with sequential signals • 40” Baja design light bar for roof rack • 20” S8 Baja design driving combo (winch location) • Squadron sport baja design ditch lights • S2 Chase lights by baja designs (mounted on roof) In the bay: • Odyssey 34-PC Battery • SDQH Aluminum billet battery terminals and bracket • Switch Pro 9100 with aluminum tray • Anytime front and back camera • ARB twin compressor Recovery & Protection: • Smittybilt X20 synthetic rope winch • Factor 55 fairlead and flatlink • Southern Style Off-road (SSO) low profile bumper • SSO stage 2 high clearance wings • Weekend warrior recovery kit by treaty oak • RCI – skid plates – entire vehicle + catalytic converter protection wings Interior: • Nano Ceramic IR – Avery Dennison Window tint – all windows • Several phone mounts • Upgraded Rear Hatch lift gate struts (ladder is heavy) • Boom blaster horn switch (featuring La cucaracha)
    I went with RCI. Seems they have the best setup although others are very similar.

    20220819_183027.jpg
     
    Trail Runnah and Tradbow like this.
  5. Feb 10, 2023 at 3:00 PM
    #5
    wingo

    wingo New Member

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    I have the same RCI skid plates. Dealership always removes the front skid plate when changing the oil and filter. No different than the TRD skid plate. It is only 4 bolts to remove.
     
  6. Feb 10, 2023 at 3:03 PM
    #6
    Tradbow

    Tradbow New Member

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    Agree on RCI. That’s what I have and oil changes are very easy.
     
  7. Feb 10, 2023 at 4:13 PM
    #7
    K-Paul

    K-Paul Looking for a water crossing

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    I went with ARB, but its like kitchen foil next to Victory and RCI.

    I say get the skids that protect your underbelly best. Better to spend an extra 5 min removing the whole skid than a busted underside.

    BA138E8C-A7CA-403F-A40A-B1FF4B0B937A.jpg
     
  8. Feb 10, 2023 at 4:52 PM
    #8
    nova

    nova New Member

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    I went with C4

    super well engineered, but it comes raw steel.

    luckily there are a lot of good options for just about any budget.

    Cheers
    Mike
     
  9. Feb 10, 2023 at 4:54 PM
    #9
    LaHh

    LaHh New Member

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    C4 full skids here, protection + oil changes are the reasons why I changed the stock skids. I can still lube up all the points on the shaft with the skids on too.upload_2023-2-10_18-48-56.jpg
     
  10. Feb 10, 2023 at 5:00 PM
    #10
    Brownspotz

    Brownspotz High Class Hyena

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    I took the stock skid plate, drilled out spot welds on the what looks like where an access panel should go from the factory, then i made a very nice clean access plate and used speed nuts to fasten it to original skid plate.
     
  11. Feb 10, 2023 at 5:46 PM
    #11
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Really, are there access holes for the drivshaft?
     
  12. Feb 10, 2023 at 6:26 PM
    #12
    LaHh

    LaHh New Member

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    You just lube it up from the side. It’s tight but not too tight for you to reach to the zerk fittings.
     
    Austin26 likes this.
  13. Feb 10, 2023 at 6:58 PM
    #13
    Trail Runnah

    Trail Runnah New Member

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    I have the RCI, and I do all my own oil changes. Very easy with the RCI.

    Two bolts hold the access plate for the oil filter, I unloosen one, remove the other, and just pivot the plate out of the way. There is a hole to access the drain plug. Yes, some oil may run down the inside of the skid, but I just look at that as keeping it from rusting haha. One way to avoid that would be to install a fumitomo valve with a hose for draining the oil.
     
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  14. Feb 10, 2023 at 7:45 PM
    #14
    5thToy

    5thToy New Member

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    This is exactly what I did with My RCI skids. Fumoto valve for the oil pan drain and drain valve and tube for the filter canister. I don't spill a drop.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2023
  15. Feb 10, 2023 at 9:02 PM
    #15
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Another one with RCI.

    A Fumoto or similar oil drain valve will eliminate the need for a rear access plate for the oil pan drain.
     
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  16. Feb 10, 2023 at 9:04 PM
    #16
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Got any photos of this engineering marvel?
     
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  17. Feb 11, 2023 at 6:17 AM
    #17
    GreatDane

    GreatDane New Member

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    I ordered an RCI skid plate for mine. It'll be here tomorrow.
     
  18. Feb 11, 2023 at 6:42 AM
    #18
    Kyblack76

    Kyblack76 New Member

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    They are all pretty much the same. Hard to go wrong really. Tons of good shit out there.

    I went Victory (same as my roof rack, and sliders. I also mig welded nuts on the back of mine, just for more piece of mind. (See weld burns bottom, and more length on top) Just didn't trust "threads" in a 3/16's steel panel, or 1/4" alum, that leave 5 threads,..... and/or those that use a loose nut on the back, That are a mother to get to.

    Now i have more,durable threads, that live there. I hella dig it.


    Runner under weld.jpg
     
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  19. Feb 11, 2023 at 10:33 AM
    #19
    Geojanitor

    Geojanitor [OP] New Member

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    Thanks everybody, I appreciate the working knowledge of this forum. Sounds like its not much of an issue.
     
  20. Feb 11, 2023 at 10:47 AM
    #20
    BobbyB

    BobbyB Where the road ends, Fun begins!

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    SSO Slimline Bumper Warn Evo 10s winch Bilstein 5100 shocks Dobinson Springs (front and rear) JBA Upper Control Arms Baja Designs Squadron Pro Combo lights Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro Foglights RCI skids (engine, trans, Txfr and gas tank) CaliRaised sliders UpTop Overland Bravo Rack Auxbeam 6 switch panel Frac Harness with front camera Custom rear diff breather on firewall
    One more with RCI skids paired with a Fumoto drain. No need to remove the skid to change oil and can change with all 4 tires on the garage floor (no Ramps needed)….

    Cheers,
    Bob
     
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  21. Feb 11, 2023 at 11:41 AM
    #21
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    if using the fumoto valve, make sure to check clearance between it and the skidplate. I saw a picture floating around that showed almost zero space between the two, dint remember which skidplate it was.

    Skid plates will flex on hit, and it could be close enough to hit the valve and damage the oil pan.
     
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  22. Feb 11, 2023 at 5:13 PM
    #22
    BobbyB

    BobbyB Where the road ends, Fun begins!

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    SSO Slimline Bumper Warn Evo 10s winch Bilstein 5100 shocks Dobinson Springs (front and rear) JBA Upper Control Arms Baja Designs Squadron Pro Combo lights Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro Foglights RCI skids (engine, trans, Txfr and gas tank) CaliRaised sliders UpTop Overland Bravo Rack Auxbeam 6 switch panel Frac Harness with front camera Custom rear diff breather on firewall
    I checked the clearance between my RCI skid and the bottom of the Fumoto valve and have right at 1” from the bottom of the nipple to the skid. The valve is also centered over the hole in the skid placed there to drain the oil.

    It’s about 2” from the skid to the bottom of the oil pan.

    What do you think about those clearances? Concern or OK?

    Cheers,
    Bob
     
  23. Feb 11, 2023 at 7:00 PM
    #23
    5thToy

    5thToy New Member

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    Mine has sufficient clearance I believe. There are two different versions of the valve (well, and two generations with the newer having a higher flow rate) with short and long nipple. I went with the short nipple with more recess for exactly the concern you point out.
     
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  24. Feb 12, 2023 at 9:43 AM
    #24
    KilluFirst

    KilluFirst New Member

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    KO2, RCI Skid and filler plate, Caliraised ditch lights, seat jacker clones, aluminum oil filter housing and fumoto drain.
    RCI skid in aluminum and fumoto drain, as well
     
  25. Feb 12, 2023 at 12:08 PM
    #25
    GreatDane

    GreatDane New Member

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    My RCI skid just came today. It's steel though. About to order a Fumoto drain valve, and maybe a Baxter oil filter adapter for it next.
     
  26. Feb 21, 2023 at 3:03 PM
    #26
    Kfish

    Kfish New Member

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    I've been using RCI as well, with fumoto short and there's about an inch of clearance between it and the plate. Oil changes are easy with fumoto and that hatch.
     
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  27. Feb 21, 2023 at 4:11 PM
    #27
    Geojanitor

    Geojanitor [OP] New Member

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    many thanks to all that replied. I have gone with the RCI in powder-coated steel. Arrived yesterday.
     
  28. Feb 21, 2023 at 6:35 PM
    #28
    2020 4Runner

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    CBI skids on ours.
     
  29. Feb 22, 2023 at 6:41 AM
    #29
    MusashiSushi

    MusashiSushi New Member

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    I just had RSG install a steel, black powder coated front skid on mine, Haven't done an oil change yet but it has an access panel like the RCI.
     
  30. Mar 17, 2023 at 6:27 PM
    #30
    Austin26

    Austin26 New Member

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    With a valve installed on the drain plug hole, it doesn't matter. I'd prefer just a small hole actually. All I have to do is snap on my plastic fitting and tube and drain. No mess.

    On a side note, I'm about to figure out how to mate an RSG front skid with an RCI tranny. I'll likely cut the RCI plate back some on the front edge and drill holes that line up through them both and use carriage bolts and a lock washer.
     

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