What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

I changed the spark plugs in the Tacoma and 4Runner today. The Tacoma is easy and I’ve done it a few times. All you need to remove is the air box and everything is easily accessible. The 4Runner on the other hand. WTF. You have to take half the engine bay apart. Who the hell designed that so you have to take the air pumps out to change spark plugs? Even then the drivers side plug closest to the firewall is almost impossible to get to. I hope to never have to do that again.

 

Here’s a picture of the 4Runner plugs at 130K on the left and the Tacoma at 60K on the right. The 4Runner plugs are still pretty good while the Tacoma eats plugs.

 

Cleaned the MAF sensor and throttle body today. TB was pretty clean as was MAF but I was bored so why not.

 

Do any of you recognize this rubber piece? I found it under the hood up near the windshield. I’m not sure if it came off the 4Runner or if it’s road debris.

 

AI says it might be rubber grommet from the firewall. (above the brake booster, near the wiper motor, along the thin top edge of the firewall, under the plastic wiper cowl panel)

 

Thanks. I’ll take a look tomorrow.

 

That looks freaking awesome, I love me some lights!

 

He rolled through camp last summer

 

I like that one!

 

Up here in the Kootenays, bears have learned how to open truck doors (from the exterior only) so that mess wouldn't last long.
If you park pointing uphill, the doors close on the bear....and you get to ask ICBC for a new truck. Has happened to two people I know .....that's what convinced my wife to lock the doors overnight in our driveway.

 

What rock sliders are those?

 

Has the wind noise gotten a lot better now? I've heard that roof racks create a lot of wind noise while driving.

 

Mine makes noise, not to bad. I lost some MPG , especially when loaded

 

Tree cutting 2025

 

Is there a reason you did that? Is that recommended? Are there risks in changing oil viscosity?

 

You run the risk of blowing your engine given the wrong viscosity. But it will run quieter and smoother up till then.

 

Exciting day, just placed an order for Eibach stage 2R suspension with the load leveling springs for the rear! 130k on the stock suspension. Can’t wait to get rid of it.

 

These will explain everything.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=0w+20+vs+5w+30+oil

 

Put on the snow tires. My back is still sore. Pic from last year.

 

Surreal!

 

Working on a 4R request for my wife this afternoon:
Does anyone have a link for those shifter knob socks?
The Teton Workshop is legit below 32° in winter

 

i agree. Im dreading it when it my turn.

 

i bet the Iridium vs standard plug tip helps on wear.

 

mine is so much quieter without the Yakama rack removed.

 

I switched to 5w30 to just make the engine quieter overall in the temperatures that I typically drive in. Yes there are risks to changing oil viscosity so you'll want to do your research beforehand. For me I found that most people say that 5w30 is just fine for the 4Runner.

Here's a chart that goes over the basic differences between 0w20 and 5w30. If you don't have a problem with how your 4Runner is running though I'd recommend sticking with the factory 0w20.

 

^^ We need to do everything we can to maximize those MPG's. These heavy tanks we drive are gas guzzlers.

 

Had a splash guard fall apart so replaced them with Ark

 

Thanks for the chart. I'm on my 35th oil change on my 2019. The last 2 I switched to 5W-30. I haven't noticed much difference gas mileage-wise. I got almost 17 MPG on my last KY to AR trip. I'm kind of hard of hearing so not sure if the engine is quieter. Might be a little bit. Going back to 0W-20 for the winter since my daughter was here for Thanksgiving and her Tacoma needed an oil change with 5W-30. I wouldn't hesitate to run 5W-30, especially if I still lived in AZ. That heat kills everything.