200,000MI - High Milage Maintenance Suggestions

M

Maingear

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My stock 4Runner will be hitting 200,000 miles soon and have no intention of trading off this 2013 model, so I ordered a factory fuel pump assembly, complete with fuel sending unit as a best guess as what I should be replacing to ensure uninterrupted service.

Just installed its third battery. Already replaced shocks, need to do it again. With cooler weather around the corner; hoses, filters, and plugs are soon to follow. I hate working in the heat. Radiator plastic failure or sparkplug well gaskets leaking in the valve covers? Carry an extra belt tensioner or coil pack or replace them all? Are there any querks on the 5th gen I should address now?

My goal is to get 300,000 on it, then swap a 25k mile engine/transmission. Original engine doesn't burn a drop of oil, and all the lift struts are still charged. My family uses it for vacations and I want to be sure it stays dependable.
 
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Don't make the *plan* to do an engine/transmission swap -- that's some seriously hardcore preventive maintenance that is probably unnecessary. Just see how it's running at that point. The transmission... I don't know if the 13s have the "lifetime" transmission fluid or not, but if you haven't ever had that done, well, maybe that's something to watch (I changed my fluid at 75k). But I'm of the belief that these 4.0L dual vvt-i engines are indestructible if given their routine maintenance. Search for 5th gen engine issues and it's crickets...........
 
I agree that my odds of having a maintenance issue is very low. That is how Toyota earned my loyalty.

My goal is to never have an unscheduled maintenance event. Our aircraft have a published time between overhaul. The honeymoon period of no repairs wil end one day..... Best guess is sensor/servo is the most likely failure?

It would be very interesting to see the stats on replacment part sales and at the very least make up a kit. There is no voluntary reporting of repairs that I‘m aware of.

I forgot to add ujoints, starter, and throttle body servo to the possible list.

Justin
 
Seems like some of the 2010-2013 guys are starting to get into the mid 100s, but I haven't heard much in terms of failures. I just hit 115k on my 2010. In my opinion, because our 4.0 is the "2nd" gen of that motor, Toyota figured out the bugs.

I change my fluids religiously, and my only OEM part failures have been a leaking coolant cap, a door lock actuator, and the rear lift gate button cover.

I'm on the lookout for valve cover gasket and/or spark plug well seals. But I'm not aware of any major flaws on the 10 and up 4.0s.
 
I'm at 180k, just ordered front wheel bearing assemblies, put shocks on at around 160, 3rd set of tires, 3rd set of brake pads on last week, changed the diff fluid, considering to do soon as PM:

Trans flush, coolant flush, open valve covers to inspect and replace cover/plug gaskets. Other than that, seems to be running smooth. I change my oil every 5k regardless.

Oh, i had to replace the rear liftgate struts recently, used strongarms.
 
northcoast said:
The transmission... I don't know if the 13s have the "lifetime" transmission fluid or not, but if you haven't ever had that done, well, maybe that's something to watch (I changed my fluid at 75k.
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I think you’ll find a lot of mechanics agree that “lifetime” tranny fluid means just that: it’ll last until the transmission fails even if it could have been prevented by fluid maintenance. I agree that regular transmission fluid change, along with all other fluids, will ensure you make it to 200k, 300k, and beyond.
 
Just hit 190K on our 2014 SR5. Third set of tires, brake pads and rotors. Second set of shocks, bilstein 5100s. Differentials and transmission (flushed) at 75K replaced with synthetic, non-OEM fluids. Second Serp belt. Changed plugs at 120K. Plan is to drive to 250K and sell and get another.
 
CutthroatSlam said:
Just hit 190K on our 2014 SR5. Third set of tires, brake pads and rotors. Second set of shocks, bilstein 5100s. Differentials and transmission (flushed) at 75K replaced with synthetic, non-OEM fluids. Second Serp belt. Changed plugs at 120K. Plan is to drive to 250K and sell and get another.
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2014 with 190K miles, that is a lot of driving! I'm sure your truck is on a short list of 4Runner's with that many miles. Pretty cool you've driven it that much!
 
If it was me, I wouldn't touch the valve covers unless they were already leaking.

Assuming plugs, wires, belts, hoses, and fluids are already taken care of, I would personally have a starter and a water pump on standby. I know our vehicles aren't known for going through water pumps on the regular, but having an extra one on hand during a trip would at least give me peace of mind.

Other than that, if it was my vehicle, I would just keep driving it while doing regular maintenance.
 
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aelarson said:
2014 with 190K miles, that is a lot of driving! I'm sure your truck is on a short list of 4Runner's with that many miles. Pretty cool you've driven it that much!
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I bought it for my wife who is retired and very much an outdoors, off-road type of girl. We then bought a home (3rd) in Stevensville, MT. So she’s back and forth regularly. The running joke is that she comes home when the 4Runner needs service. We are both currently up at the home on my vacation and one of the first things I did was change the oil.

Truck was bought in September 2014, so it’s coming up on 5 years. Been pretty trouble free miles so far.
 
aelarson said:
2014 with 190K miles, that is a lot of driving! I'm sure your truck is on a short list of 4Runner's with that many miles. Pretty cool you've driven it that much!
Click to expand...

I bought it for my wife who is retired and very much an outdoors, off-road type of girl. We then bought a home (3rd) in Stevensville, MT. So she’s back and forth regularly between Montana and Fullerton, Ca. The running joke is that she comes home when the 4Runner needs service. We are both currently up at the home on my vacation and one of the first things I did was change the oil.

Truck was bought in September 2014, so it’s coming up on 5 years. Been pretty trouble free miles so far.
 
Fuel pump came in. Gasket was separate.

Guess I should replace the factory plugs too.
 

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nimby said:
If it was me, I wouldn't touch the valve covers unless they were already leaking.

Assuming plugs, wires, belts, hoses, and fluids are already taken care of, I would personally have a starter and a water pump on standby. I know our vehicles aren't known for going through water pumps on the regular, but having an extra one on hand during a trip would at least give me peace of mind.

Other than that, if it was my vehicle, I would just keep driving it while doing regular maintenance.
Click to expand...

yea i wouldnt bother w/ the valve covers unless youre losing lots of oil between oil changes or smoking
 
Personally I usually subscribe to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" theory.

That being said, I generally have a few spare parts on hand in case it does fail.
And that's mostly so I don't have to wait on the d@mn parts counter to order in stuff I need on a Friday night holiday weekend.
If it fails you can bet it will be when no one can get you the parts you need in a timely manner.

Starter, Alternator, water pump, belts, etc. Normal wear items, nothing like fuel pump assemblies, etc.
 
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Perhaps I should toss the reliability logic and decided to go with this scoring method?

Component replacement scores based on ease of access levels
1 Driveway in an afternoon
2 Takes time, may take a special tool
3 Hard to find special tools/lift needed if you're over 35 (would get towed rather than roadside repair)

The fuel unit assembly kills two birds with one stone (pump and sending unit) and scores a level 3 on the accessibility index.

Other level 3s?
 
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I'm just impressed at these higher mileage 4R's with such few problems! That is the big reason I bought mine.

2013 TE purchased Feb 2019 with 79.5k on the clock, right now I'm at 92.5k.

I thought that was high, but wow, you guys have me beat!

One thing that really annoys me about mine is the noisy engine. I'm told its normal, and read about it on here as being normal.

Do you higher mileage guys have that clattering or ticking noise at idle, and if so, has it gotten worse with age?
 
Horsethief said:
I'm just impressed at these higher mileage 4R's with such few problems! That is the big reason I bought mine.

2013 TE purchased Feb 2019 with 79.5k on the clock, right now I'm at 92.5k.

I thought that was high, but wow, you guys have me beat!

One thing that really annoys me about mine is the noisy engine. I'm told its normal, and read about it on here as being normal.

Do you higher mileage guys have that clattering or ticking noise at idle, and if so, has it gotten worse with age?
Click to expand...

There was a thread recently on this topic. IIRC consensus seemed to be that it’s normal even in newer 5th gens.
 
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