1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

How often should you change the oil on your 4runner?

Discussion in '3rd Gen 4Runners (1996-2002)' started by Trekker, Aug 6, 2020.

  1. Aug 6, 2020 at 1:06 AM
    #1
    Trekker

    Trekker [OP] Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2020
    Member:
    #15732
    Messages:
    904
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    1997 3rz 5spd
    Assuming its an daily driver car. I was told 3 months or 3000 miles but that seems excessive.
     
  2. Aug 6, 2020 at 6:04 AM
    #2
    BgBmBoo

    BgBmBoo New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2020
    Member:
    #15793
    Messages:
    216
    Kansas
    3000 miles was the rule of thumb back in the carburetor days. It is not necessary for modern engines under normal driving conditions. I change oil when the maintenance reminder tells me too. IIRC, that was around 7k this last time. For a daily driver under normal conditions you will be fine following the vehicle maintenance reminder.

    I also like to send samples to Blackstone Labs for analysis once in a while to check for indications of unusual wear. So far I've never had an issue with Toyota engines.
     
  3. Aug 6, 2020 at 7:29 AM
    #3
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    1,899
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    Synthetic or Dino oil? Synthetic goes much farther...even regular oil goes to 5k. You won't hurt anything with 3k oil changes...but 5k is fine. Higher with synthetic.
     
  4. Aug 6, 2020 at 7:32 AM
    #4
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #3777
    Messages:
    4,473
    First Name:
    Jake
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5P
    Mine is a daily driver in normal driving conditions that requires synthetic (2018).

    I change every 10,000 miles.
     
    Trail Runnah and rkwfxd like this.
  5. Aug 6, 2020 at 9:17 AM
    #5
    rkwfxd

    rkwfxd New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2018
    Member:
    #5662
    Messages:
    642
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rich
    Whittier - So Cal
    Same
     
    nimby[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Aug 6, 2020 at 10:07 AM
    #6
    aroyalsfan

    aroyalsfan The Owner

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2019
    Member:
    #8789
    Messages:
    887
    Gender:
    Male
    Kansas City
    Vehicle:
    2018 4Runner SR5 Premium - Midnight Black Metallic(218) - 4WD
    Westin Pro Traxx 5 Hood and side window deflectors Black exhaust tip Tinted front windows Billet grill overlay Badge Overlays painted Cavalry Blue Powder coated stock Trail Wheels gloss black 12 Volt Solutions plug and play remote start To do list: led swap Speaker upgrades Sound deadening doors Maybe list: rear backup sensors
    What's the manual say in your 3rd gen? I'd be shocked if it's the same as the 5th gen 10k recommendation.

    For me I always replace it every 6-8 months regardless of milage as I don't even hit 10k a year.....especially this year as I've put 3k miles on since December 2019.
     
  7. Aug 6, 2020 at 8:01 PM
    #7
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #3777
    Messages:
    4,473
    First Name:
    Jake
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5P
    Ah, didn't even see this was in the 3rd gen forum until @aroyalsfan mentioned it.

    Disregard my statement OP, as it doesn't pertain to your situation.

    :cheers:
     
  8. Aug 6, 2020 at 8:14 PM
    #8
    SR5 Limited

    SR5 Limited New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2018
    Member:
    #7180
    Messages:
    12,297
    Vehicle:
    1996 SR5 Limited
  9. Aug 6, 2020 at 8:17 PM
    #9
    SR5 Limited

    SR5 Limited New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2018
    Member:
    #7180
    Messages:
    12,297
    Vehicle:
    1996 SR5 Limited
    Hayne’s manual....38598A71-31EB-4784-927F-9C2835E9A762.jpg
     
  10. Aug 7, 2020 at 11:33 AM
    #10
    Starr

    Starr Life Off the Road, off the Grid

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2020
    Member:
    #13542
    Messages:
    253
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jonathan
    SouthEast Maui
    Vehicle:
    Tacoma 3rd Gen 2017 quicksand TRD OR, T4R 5th Gen TRD ORP silver , Tundra 2000 TRD OR silver, Deere 5300 4wd, Wrangler 1994 ARB air lockers, 1998 BMW R100RTL.
    KDSS, Baja Sport amber fogs, PRO Black wheels, BFG KO2's
    I change at 5k and use synthetic. First change goes down around 3k.
    It’s either very dry dusty or tropical wet humid here. Neither is great for oil longevity.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  11. Aug 7, 2020 at 3:00 PM
    #11
    tazdale38

    tazdale38 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2020
    Member:
    #14943
    Messages:
    27
    Gender:
    Male
    Every 5k with Mobil 1 full synthetic, usually in the high 90s to low 100s here in Mississippi, so i like to keep it clean.
     
    Thatbassguy and Tama1968 like this.
  12. Aug 7, 2020 at 4:04 PM
    #12
    SR5 Limited

    SR5 Limited New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2018
    Member:
    #7180
    Messages:
    12,297
    Vehicle:
    1996 SR5 Limited
    Ya, no wonder my engine is running so well. I change it every 3,500 miles. Gonna ride out this next change to 4,500 prob. I’m towing...
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  13. Aug 7, 2020 at 4:06 PM
    #13
    SR5 Limited

    SR5 Limited New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2018
    Member:
    #7180
    Messages:
    12,297
    Vehicle:
    1996 SR5 Limited
    This may be the first time I’ve every opened this service booklet....
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  14. Aug 7, 2020 at 7:03 PM
    #14
    Tama1968

    Tama1968 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2016
    Member:
    #1353
    Messages:
    678
    Gender:
    Male
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    T4R SR5 in Classic Silver
    I follow the Toyota recs right now since mine is under warranty...will probably revert to my usual 10k interval. that's about 2x a year for me.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  15. Aug 8, 2020 at 10:05 PM
    #15
    Clutchplate

    Clutchplate New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2020
    Member:
    #13982
    Messages:
    73
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    96 4runner 3.4 Liter
    I use Toyota oil and filter. I change it at 5,000 miles.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  16. Aug 16, 2020 at 7:35 PM
    #16
    PAUL_MO

    PAUL_MO New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2020
    Member:
    #16124
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    PAUL
    Vehicle:
    TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2001
    TYRES AN WHELS
    que grado de aceite utilizan para el motor 3.4l ??
     
  17. Aug 16, 2020 at 8:16 PM
    #17
    jack13cool

    jack13cool New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2020
    Member:
    #15786
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Magnetic Gray Metallic 4Runner
    TRD wheels
    I use full synthetic and change it every 5K
     
  18. Feb 8, 2021 at 12:05 PM
    #18
    gretzky2857

    gretzky2857 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2020
    Member:
    #18276
    Messages:
    15
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner
    I put on 12-14K per year so to make it easy, I don't even look at the mileage, just change it in December and then in June using synthetic oil, runs like a champ!
     
  19. Feb 8, 2021 at 2:37 PM
    #19
    jcoon

    jcoon New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2019
    Member:
    #10700
    Messages:
    55
    Gender:
    Male
    Peasleeville NY
    Vehicle:
    19 4 runner TRD off road
    I change every 10,000

    I use the same stuff in my Silverado.

    Castrol 03060 GTX MAGNATEC 0W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil, Green, 5 Quart
     
  20. Feb 8, 2021 at 3:05 PM
    #20
    flyinhoot

    flyinhoot When in doubt, Throttle out.

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Member:
    #13871
    Messages:
    718
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    Nor Cal
    Vehicle:
    2020 TRD Pro 4Runner "Trudy"
    Monochrome everything. LED reverse lights.
    whenever it runs out...
     
    nimby likes this.
  21. Feb 9, 2021 at 2:05 PM
    #21
    treyus30

    treyus30 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2020
    Member:
    #18312
    Messages:
    123
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trey
    Vehicle:
    '99 Limited & '99 Tacoma PreRunner
    I change when it reaches a certain color... Between 5k and 8k typically
     

Products Discussed in

To Top