krown

I'm at 317k right now bud, just keep on top of your maintenance


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My 04 V8 has 172K now. I love it but I can't decide if I'm going to do the 180K maintenance (timing belt, water pump, etc) or sell it. I have kept up with all the recommended maintenance. Everything works and it runs fine.
My concerns are the sealed "lifetime" transmission and the overly expensive master cylinder. I'm pretty sure the engine is good for 200K more. It still doesn't burn any measurable oil between 5K changes (about every 2 months)
My Toyota dealer says with 170K, don't touch the transmission fluid or more problems may occur. They don't recommend the drain and fill either.
The only brake issues I've had are the frozen caliper problems common to this model. I have replaced both fronts twice and the rear's once in the past 5 years.

I am leaning toward selling it in good condition before any potential problems, where I can still get $5 to $6K for it. I could put about $600 in maintenance and roll the dice, but if something major dies (I'm not going to put in a new transmission) I'd sell it for parts and be out $4K that could have gone to something newer.

My local dealer had some 5th gen 4runners as loaners so last time I was in for service I took a 2016 for a day. I was so hopeful I would love it but ended up hating it. After much research it looks like my best bet is a used Lexus GX 460 for about what a new 4runner goes for.

So, my question is for all you high mileage owners, are you on the original transmission fluid? What is lifetime for this fluid? 200K? 250K?

A couple of points: From what I understand, if it has only been a daily driver, the tranny should be fine for quite a while. I wouldn't worry about big things like that. But yeah you never know. If you have the money and want something newer then nothing wrong with an upgrade.

Also, if it is a 4wd model, it is worth more than $5/6 grand... If you sell it now you could get $8-9 grand on craigslist I bet. They are popular cars now especially with gas prices as low as they are now.

I would do the t-belt etc and keep driving it until you get the yearning for a particular new model of car. That $600 is a good selling point in the future when you do sell it anyways.

And I would definitely do the tranny fluid change though. That fluid is probably nasty now if it has never been done.

Lifetime for the fluid is however long you leave it in. If you never change it and the transmission dies at 180k, that's the lifetime. If it last to 250k, you guessed it, that's the lifetime. Dealers aren't the best people to rely on (certified mechanics are) and I'm pretty sure most Toyota mechanics would tell you that a drain & fill is a good idea. A tranny flush - never!

Just one guys opinion which is how I maintain my '05 with 207,000 hard miles of wheeling & towing without any worries.

My 04 sport has 379k and still purrs like kitten with no oil burn. Suspension is needing attention and have vsc Trac light on dash, but everything else works as it should. Driver's seat doesn't even have the normal wear on the edge.

422K on my 1st gen pathfinder. Still cranks on the first try every morning. No rust. I have high expectations for the 4runner.

I've got 186k on mine, my wife got it from her mother at 100k about 7 years ago. I had a Volvo 850 Turbo wagon go 265k before giving her up, and applied the maintenance records for that car for my expectations of the 4runner (about $1200 a year). The 4runner has not nearly cost that much, somewhere below $3000 for the whole 7 year period including oil changes and tires. It's been an extremely reliable car. The front suspension is getting crunchy, feels like the shock mounts are blown out but I know they haven't ever been changed.

It burns about a quart of oil every 7k miles, so it's totally fine right now but I might try and get the heads rebuilt at 200k. Runs great, it's essentially a perfect car.