This may be a dumb question but does the 4th gen 4Runner have a serviceable fuel filter, and if so, where is it? I have 155k and want to get some preventative maintenance done before it get cold. Also have a long trip in the planning for the summer.

Yes it does have a serviceable fuel filter, it comes with a brand new serviceable fuel pump located inside the fuel tank! Toyota even made a far smaller than the diameter of the fuel pump opening access panel so you can stare at the pump wiring and hoses wondering why the hell they didn't make it a few inches bigger in diameter so you don't have to drop the fuel tank!

Jovial Cynicism aside, I wouldn't worry too much about the fuel filter; fuel tanks in the last decade or two have been mainly made from polymer so they won't rust/flake up like older ones did. That being said, water retention in the fuel and contaminants transported via fuel still pose a problem; but from my experience when it comes to Toyota fuel pumps, the pumps will usually fail before the filters get clogged up. If you do feel adamant on replacing it, I'd just go for a new Genuine "Redbox" Toyota fuel pump or at the very least a good Denso unit (they make most of the components for the Toyotas, so the specs and quality will be more similar to the original part, if not in some cases exactly the same.)

Of course, it has. You will find it in fuel tank. Tank should be dismantled to replace filter.

Why the hell would they do that? I'll just leave it alone then. Thanks!

"Yes it does have a serviceable fuel filter, it comes with a brand new serviceable fuel pump located inside the fuel tank!" F'in hilarious.

I wonder if the kit from URD for the Tacoma would fit the 4runner? Same fuel pump?

Underdog Racing Development

It places the fuel filter outside the tank for easy inspection/replacement. I often thought about it for the Tacoma. Although most people do it are s/c'd, it sounds like it would work just fine for NA too.

It's entirely possible that it works, I would imagine if it works on the FJ it will be fine on the 4Runner as well. Though to be honest I haven't really seen a clogged filter on a 2nd Gen Tacoma, 4th & 5th Gen 4Runner, and/or FJ Cruiser Yet.

I remember 3 or 4 years ago some 05-09 guys on TW complaining about fuel pumps going out, but I haven't seen anything in awhile. It's pretty rare.

There are serviceable fuel filters having installed under hood on fj and prado for arabic market. It is not very hard to do such installation but i'd rather prefer to cut out excessive metal from oem hole. Therefore it would be enough to lift rear seat for filter servicing

Since you can't purchase a fuel filter w/o purchasing the entire fuel pump assembly, it begs the question can you use a filter from another fuel pump from a different vehicle?

The thing is that a fuel filter post pump is rather useless and does little besides piece of mind. You're main filter is the inlet at the fuel pump which is part of the in-tank assembly, so there's no way to make an in-line system unless you convert to an external fuel pump.

I agree but given that the main filter at the fuel pump can't be purchased separately w/o purchasing the whole assembly, I'd like to know if an alternate filter exist that will snap on to the Denso pump? Just trying to save some coin by not having to purchase an entire fuel pump assembly.

According to Find My Part | DENSO Auto Parts, part # 950-0206 is a fuel pump + strainer.

When you click on "buy now", this link comes up with a pic of the pump, strainer and couple of tubes:

Denso - Search Results: 950-0206

My pump has the following number 291000-0021 so I need to figure out if the pump linked above will cross ref this part.

I guess you can get the fuel filter separate?

23217-50100 Seems to be the part number.

Oddly enough either the prices on the fuel pump assemblies has gone way up or I could have sworn getting a replacement factory unit with housing, pump, gauge sensor, ect. was sub-$300... some reason all I am finding is $700~800 range!

I gotta wonder if toyota also sells the fuel pump with the strainer since that seems to be the normal packaging, according to the Densoparts link on my previous post.

Thank you very much for the part number, it seems a little different from what came out of my 2008 4 runner but it may still work.

That's a V6 strainer but let me see if I can modify it to fit my V8.