4Runner Engineers are my heros

[Rcastle]

It wasn't my car, or I would have done things much differently. The kid I was doing the work for called all the shots on what he wanted to put in. Originally he brought it to me for a leaking slave cylinder and I found a cracked bell housing, then when I took the tranny out I pulled the clutch to see if the rear seal was leaking and was able to move the crank about an 1/8 of an inch, then I looked up and the intake manifold was cracked, there was nothing on this car that hadn't been destroyed in one way or another.

I will be honest, I miss my DSM. I still see it across the street from my buddy's shop where the guy that owns it now lives and consider going and offering to buy it back. He has a big dent in the front drivers fender now and isn't fixing it. It irritates me to no end.

I agree DSM's are a great platform, especially to learn on. There is a guy here local that had a 1st gen called he called "the turd" that he would take to the track and just destroy people with. He even had a picture of it lifting the front off the ground. It was impressive.

 

[sjwelna]

But young and dumb with 300-400whp makes you break things.

Once you learn the Mitsubishi its the best budget tuner car.

THIS. Another former DSM owner here, had a '99 GSX with 3076r, fp2 cams, magnus intake manifold, dsmlink. Man I learned a lot on that car. Still miss having that thing around. Had 3 subarus after that, '05 forester xt, '05 outback wagon, and '08 legacy gt. THOSE are the easiest cars to do an oil change on, vertical oil filter so no spills, easy to get at most everything. Just don't try to change the spark plugs...4 hours later...LOL.

-Steve

 

[masphx]

You should try changing the 02 sensor on the 5speed.

 

[Rcastle]

THIS. Another former DSM owner here, had a '99 GSX with 3076r, fp2 cams, magnus intake manifold, dsmlink. Man I learned a lot on that car. Still miss having that thing around. Had 3 subarus after that, '05 forester xt, '05 outback wagon, and '08 legacy gt. THOSE are the easiest cars to do an oil change on, vertical oil filter so no spills, easy to get at most everything. Just don't try to change the spark plugs...4 hours later...LOL.

-Steve

I love Subies as well. Those are easy to work on. I remember thinking the timing belt was going to be a nightmare but it was one of the easiest I have ever done. It just looks intimidating.

 

[JayRolla]

THIS. Another former DSM owner here, had a '99 GSX with 3076r, fp2 cams, magnus intake manifold, dsmlink. Man I learned a lot on that car. Still miss having that thing around. Had 3 subarus after that, '05 forester xt, '05 outback wagon, and '08 legacy gt. THOSE are the easiest cars to do an oil change on, vertical oil filter so no spills, easy to get at most everything. Just don't try to change the spark plugs...4 hours later...LOL.

-Steve

Nice setup, I was able to get a holset on my car before I killed it off, never tracked her or dynoed after that but it was a monster.

I miss mine so much. Im going to build an auto with a full built motor hopefully here soon once some stuff is caught up. If not im going to get another daily driver and turbo the 4runner. Either way boost is coming soon!!!!!!!!

 

[poleclimber63]

totally agree

10 minutes to change both O2,s. Easy to reach, not rusted in, no need for a special socket. I love my 4Runner.

The lift helps when crawing under too.
Really the only thing that irritates me on this thing so far is the rear shocks and that is not that much of an inconvenience.

Just thought I would share... :biggrin2:

I did an engine swap last year and I can say it went quite smoothly! Not quite as easy as my old 62' Chev but much easier than the 76' VW Rabbit--- believe it or not! I've commented on this before: the build quality and how this truck was engineered is great! My 99' Suburban was a nightmare in comparison! Connectors never failed to break, electrical components were placed and mounted as if they were after-thoughts and my coffeemaker had better quality switches etc!!!!

On the 4r, as below, the only painful issue I've come across is the starter---- as others have said. I haven't done rear shocks yet so we'll see!

 

[KainDrag]

The E36 based chassis and E367/8 (Z3 roady/coupes) are the same.



Jack up, drain, replace washer, drop, remove oil filter cap, swap orings/filter, replace cap, fill.



No crazy spaces to get to, nothing else needed to be removed. The only thing that could make it easier is a lift or even a set of ramps if you could drive up them (I can't, cars go down, trucks go up).



Half of that $200 is nearly the liquid gold your S54's require though.

Not anymore 10w60 is no longer in production, all m card have switched their reqs 5w30

 

[D Farms]

overall mostly easy to work only a handful of things that can be a huge pain: starter, rear shocks, rear lca bolts. other than that its all normal car stuff.

 

[cashmoney]

Rear shocks are easy. Drop spare, sawzall old shock out, develop 4 jointed arm, tighten with socket.

 

[jeremyc74]

The E36 based chassis and E367/8 (Z3 roady/coupes) are the same.

Jack up, drain, replace washer, drop, remove oil filter cap, swap orings/filter, replace cap, fill.

No crazy spaces to get to, nothing else needed to be removed. The only thing that could make it easier is a lift or even a set of ramps if you could drive up them (I can't, cars go down, trucks go up).

Half of that $200 is nearly the liquid gold your S54's require though.

Most BMWs since the early 90's have been pretty easy to do oil changes on. It's everything after that where the Germans put it to you! You'd think they were still fighting the war! :gun4:

The 4Runner is a lot easier to work on than my BMW. Before you even open the hood on it you might as well just go buy a new set of tools. Everything is torx or reverse torx (star, or whatever the proper term is), and they seem to have something against using the same size twice, so you're constantly crawling out from under the car to find another socket.

And then there are simple things that aren't there that should be. Like a radiator drain valve, or an oil dipstick! :smash:

Changing the turbochargers (which are tucked under the engine and can't even be seen from the top) is 18 hours labor at the dealership or Indy shop, and closer to 30 hours if you're doing it on jackstands in your garage! MFing Germans! :infidel:

 

[JayRolla]

Most BMWs since the early 90's have been pretty easy to do oil changes on. It's everything after that where the Germans put it to you! You'd think they were still fighting the war! :gun4:

The 4Runner is a lot easier to work on than my BMW. Before you even open the hood on it you might as well just go buy a new set of tools. Everything is torx or reverse torx (star, or whatever the proper term is), and they seem to have something against using the same size twice, so you're constantly crawling out from under the car to find another socket.

And then there are simple things that aren't there that should be. Like a radiator drain valve, or an oil dipstick! :smash:

Changing the turbochargers (which are tucked under the engine and can't even be seen from the top) is 18 hours labor at the dealership or Indy shop, and closer to 30 hours if you're doing it on jackstands in your garage! MFing Germans! :infidel:

Took me 30 minutes to figure out how to use the stock jack on a BMW I was helping change a tire on. Felt like an idiot pulling her stock manual out. LOL.

 

[jeremyc74]

Took me 30 minutes to figure out how to use the stock jack on a BMW I was helping change a tire on. Felt like an idiot pulling her stock manual out. LOL.

I'm surprised the instructions weren't in German. Of course I wouldn't know because a jack and spare are a couple of other things they didn't think needed to be included in my car. :hurt:

 

[Unner]

I'm surprised the instructions weren't in German. Of course I wouldn't know because a jack and spare are a couple of other things they didn't think needed to be included in my car. :hurt:

This is something I think is crazy, but seems to be a trend with new cars...

 

[jeremyc74]

This is something I think is crazy, but seems to be a trend with new cars...

Well, in their defense I've owned the car since '08, and put 120k miles on it, and never needed the spare. And I ditched the run-flats as soon as they were worn out at 12k miles.

Part of the reason for that is that I'm aware of the condition of my tires, and the fact that I don't have a spare, but most of it is due to the tire pressure monitors. The vast majority of blowouts (at least on the road) are caused by overheating due to under-inflation. If you don't ignore the TPMS warnings you're not very likely to have a flat.

 

[amalik]

Audi A4 is a bonafide nightmare.

Issue on oil change is the filter. Still, it's easier than a lot of cars. My sons Hyundai Accent is far worse, tight up under the exhaust mainfold, good for a second degree burn every time.

Surprised someone in the Toyota family has a Hyundai.

How is it, compared to our reliability?

 

[JayRolla]

Well, in their defense I've owned the car since '08, and put 120k miles on it, and never needed the spare. And I ditched the run-flats as soon as they were worn out at 12k miles.

Part of the reason for that is that I'm aware of the condition of my tires, and the fact that I don't have a spare, but most of it is due to the tire pressure monitors. The vast majority of blowouts (at least on the road) are caused by overheating due to under-inflation. If you don't ignore the TPMS warnings you're not very likely to have a flat.

Every blowout I have ever had since 16 was from a puncture. I have had lots. LOL.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Germans cars: great to drive but a royal pain in the arse to work on. Tried changing a timing belt on a S4 once, gave up. Nothing though beats a German car's electrical system when it goes south.

My great grandfather told me that if the Germans during WWII would have had replacement parts for their tanks, planes, etc., it would have taken much longer to defeat them. If something broke down they just left it, no parts to keep it going. Foolish pride as he said.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I love the 3rd Gen 4Runner, so easy to work on.

Worst engine I've ever worked on? 2nd Gen 4Runner. If the 5VZ-FE is the pinnacle of Toyota engineering, the 3VZ-E is an absolute tragedy.

 

[J. B.]

serious PITA to work on and ridiculously overpriced parts....

RS6

/thread

 

[samsung]

easiest oil change ever it has to be 2nd gen toyota v6 tacoma.:bounce: