Leaky '03 V8 4Runner

Hey! I recently hit 320k on my 03 V8 4runner. Been running strong but of course there are some leaks.

I knew of my valve cover leak which I plan to take care of soon and of course the infamous tcase actuator. But lately, it seems like a lot more is leaking so I took it into my local shop.

This is what they had on the leaky list:

• PS line
• Trans cooler line
• valve cover
• rear main
• upper oil pan
• passenger CV boot

The big ticket items are the rear main and the upper oil pan. How crucial is it to get these fixed or is it just something I can live with and keep a check on the fluids?
The rear main is $1500 and the upper oil pan is $4500. I love my 4runner and want to keep driving (it is tailored to how I use it solo and with my fam while offroad and camping) but I don't know if it makes sense financially to drop $6000 into it.

Thoughts? I love the shop I take my 4runner to but does anyone have any other shop recommendations in the San Diego area? Thoughts on the prices?

**cross posted**

 

if you cant do any of the repairs, Id cut my losses and sell it. 320k! wow, thats huge

 

yeh but i was hoping for at least 500k It's definitely not unheard of. I've seen people buying V8 4r with 300k on them and then modding them to go wheeling.

As long as the rear main and the upper oil pan are not leaking huge puddles, but a slower leak, it should be ok for a while?

 

Eh, not sure you'd get one that's THAT much better for $6000 so I don't think shelling out for it is necessarily a bad choice.

But if you're willing to spend more, another 4Runner could be in your future since that'll probably be a better overall value.

Honestly as long as the leaks aren't severe, you could procrastinate and monitor closely most of those and get that CV rebooted.

 

Yeh, I'd probably go with another 4th gen V8. I definitely don't mind shelling out more as I would keep it long term for sure. I'm the second owner of my 4R and bough it in 2005. It has been good to me all these years. Only other thing I would get would be a 1st gen Sequoia. New 4R, new Sequoia or Landcruiser prob not in the cards.

 

Where in San Diego are you looking for shops?

I've taken my 4runner for some slightly more 'major' repairs near Pacific Beach, because thats where i'm at. Beeline Automotive did my timing belt and all that, and basically i replaced almost everything on and front of the engine at their shop.

For the rear main seal, Dr. Trans in kearny mesa gets good reviews, and i've taken my 4runner in for a transmission flush. I also got a quote for a transmission rebuild just for information, i don't actually need a rebuild at this point.

 

I'm in North Escondido but I don't mind driving down. PB may be a bit far but if its worth it I would do it. I could have my wife pickup me

I've never had any major repairs done. Only "costly" work done are the timing belts and my current shop does it for a reasonable price (I buy all the AISIN parts myself).

I hate to let my 4runner go. I know 320k with no major work done on it is more than I could ever ask for but I love my 4R. Not only just memories but I have just about everything dialed in... all the little mods and creature comforts whem I'm offroad or camping. I could just get another 4R and carry things over but man when would I have the time to do that? LOL

 

Check out "The Truck Stop" in Mira Mesa... they regularly work on these types of vehicles. I'm not familiar with anything in North County, unfortunately.

Either way, I would call Beeline, The Truck Stop and Dr. Trans at least for some quotes on the various items you need taken care of. See how they compare to your original quote.

I like Beeline because they have a 'toyota guy' who did all the work on my 4runner.

 

Oh, theres also "toyota lexus care (TLC)" in kearny mesa that specializes in obviously toyota/lexus vehicles. I've had some work on my Tacoma (back in the day) done there. They are great, but they also aren't cheap. Still could be good to call and get quotes.

 

To save money on parts i always buy online at Norm Reeves Toyota then just pick up the parts myself. Ordering online always saves a ton of money compared to if you just went into the dealership and bought parts in person... not sure why.

 

How much oil do you have to add between changes? If less than 2 qts I would get some carboard to put under the leaky area. You can buy one Hell of a lot of Mobil1 for $6000!

 

I stopped a main seal leak by switching to "High Mileage Mobile 1 synthetic oil". It's formula includes seal conditioners. It dried up the oil drip. I washed the botton of my Pilot with a pressure wand at a self wash stall. I kept a close watch for new wetness. So every oil change I used the High Mileage oil. After about 40,000 to 50,000 miles the main seal drip started again. So I added a bottle of

$37 AT-205 Seal Leak Stopper 8 Ounce - 2 Pack

AT-205 to the High Mileage Oil. That worked another 40,000 miles. Then drip returned and I added another (forgot exact brand) bottle of an additive advertised as for "Main Seal leaks".
That in combination with High Mileage oil & AT-205 worked till I sold Pilot-so i got another 30,000 miles or so.
A seal replacement is the best main seal fix, but the mechanic needs to disassemble and re-assemble lots of parts perfectly or will cause more problems.

 

The amount of work you’ve put into to dial it just right has a very real value that’s hard to put a price on. Also, since “they don’t make them like they used to” you could justify keeping yours running if that amount of maintenance time is less than re-outfitting a newer 4th or 5th gen 4runner.

If it was me I’d have a whole spare drivetrain in storage, reconditioned and ready to swap in at a moments’s notice, and another spare 4runner in the yard up on blocks lol.