5th Gen - How Far Would It Go?

[1engineer]

A friend of mine took a Honda Ridgeline 105K miles before trading it in a few years ago. He did nothing to it. No oil change, no filter change, nothing. Oh, and he is an engineer too. He thought it would do it and it did! He added washer fluid, tires, and gas. He said he told the dealer... who knows really but I do know it went that distance with no issues. So the question: How long could a 4Runner go with that same treatment? Now's your chance to post your opinions and not hurt anything lol.

 

[Antman]

Hell, I had a lawn mower for 10 years that I never changed the oil, added oil, changed the plug or filter on. Only reason I got a new one was when I hit a stump and bent the crankshaft. It still ran great just shook your balls off...

4Runner = 200k+ baby!

 

[NuclearN8]

I'd put money on at least 100,00 miles... But I dont have deep enough pockets or a small brain to buy something that expensive and totally neglect the powertrain. Big gamble.

 

[jrandom]

Driven under "normal" conditions (not mash-the-gas slam-the-brakes) in "average" (no extremes hot or cold) weather I'd bet 200k or better. I beat the sh!t out of, jumped, wrecked twice, totalled once, rebuilt, neglected, back yard engine job, vice pressed u-joints, ect., let sit for 4 years, the hella my 89' 22re toyota pickup and sold it 24 years later still running with 268K on it.

I think a babied 5th gen without oil changes would do the same engine wise, my only worries would be crappy/dirty gas clogging an injector or one of the ignition coils wigging out.

 

[1engineer]

I think 200K easy. I would love to see some of Toyota's test results. I know what we do to our stuff and it's brutal forever with no maintenance.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

Mechanically I think 200K would be feasible, electronics wise I would bet you would run into issues first. So many damn gizmos on new cars it would be difficult not to have to change something. I had a '96 Limited with just under 100K, and the cam sensor went out. This kept it from being able to start. That was the only thing that stopped it in it's tracks. Otberwise it ran like a top, only having to replace things based on mileage.

 

[rydr1]

I wouldn't want to test it out, but hopefully one of these 4runners can live long enough and pass these tests someday: https://youtu.be/xnWKz7Cthkk

In my opinion Honda and Toyota are the most reliable vehicles on the road and I would expect the 4runner to go just as far as a Ridgeline in similar conditions.

Just some additional info, I had a coworker rollover 500k on his 95 civic with no major repairs. He also wanted to test out how long it would take before the timing belt would break. Sure enough it broke at 245k miles. His commute was mainly highway and it was 160miles roundtrip 5 days a week.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Driven under "normal" conditions (not mash-the-gas slam-the-brakes) in "average" (no extremes hot or cold) weather I'd bet 200k or better. I beat the sh!t out of, jumped, wrecked twice, totalled once, rebuilt, neglected, back yard engine job, vice pressed u-joints, ect., let sit for 4 years, the hella my 89' 22re toyota pickup and sold it 24 years later still running with 268K on it.

I think a babied 5th gen without oil changes would do the same engine wise, my only worries would be crappy/dirty gas clogging an injector or one of the ignition coils wigging out.

Did you see the Top Gear episode where they took an SR-5 pickup, blew up a building around/on top of it and it ran afterwards. So then they took it out to the coast and put it out at low tide and let it get buried in the sea and then drug it out and still managed to get it started?

If that is not a tough vehicle, I don't know what is.

 

[JayceeP]

I feel like climate could vary results substantially. Around here, cold starts below 0F are certainly not uncommon in Janaury and February. I voted < 100,000 miles.

 

[4Surfin]

So many damn gizmos on new cars it would be difficult not to have to change something.

I think this is th e limiting factor for us unfortunately. My 3rd GEN 4runner had 145k on it and I never did a thin but put gas in it... I bet it would still be running today if some dumb b1tch didn't pull out in front of me! I'm sure if taken care of these will see 200k.... I will be happy with 150k anything less and I will have to rethink my purchase (price/year not brand) next time because I put at least 20k a year on my rig

 

[Lester Lugnut]

I know of a repair shop owner who actually decided to test part of the OPs idea some years ago. He purchased an '89 Accord 4 banger new. Drove it 250,000 miles. NEVER changed the oil. Changed the oil filter once at 125,000 miles - kept oil topped up.

The oil was the only area he completely neglected.

I believe his plan was to debunk the 3K oil change common at that time.

I think he did it.

 

[jrandom]

Did you see the Top Gear episode where they took an SR-5 pickup, blew up a building around/on top of it and it ran afterwards. So then they took it out to the coast and put it out at low tide and let it get buried in the sea and then drug it out and still managed to get it started?

If that is not a tough vehicle, I don't know what is.

Yes! I loved it, that hilux is in their hall of fame! :biggrin2:

Found it!
Part 1: https://youtu.be/xnWKz7Cthkk
Part 2: https://youtu.be/xTPnIpjodA8
Part 3: https://youtu.be/kFnVZXQD5_k

 

[MSinDC]

I know of a repair shop owner who actually decided to test part of the OPs idea some years ago. He purchased an '89 Accord 4 banger new. Drove it 250,000 miles. NEVER changed the oil. Changed the oil filter once at 125,000 miles - kept oil topped up.

The oil was the only area he completely neglected.

I believe his plan was to debunk the 3K oil change common at that time.

I think he did it.

That's really surprising to me. Without a single oil change i would never think it would go 250,000 miles.

I'm not sure how the electronics are relevant to this poll as others have pointed out, though. As far as I know the manual doesn't call for any maintenance on the electronics.

 

[Quantum1]

I guess I'm confused what we're debating. Are we discussing how long the car will last without issues, or, how long will it last before hitting the scrap yard?

I'm pretty sure the 5th Gen will last as long if not longer than any other Gen Runner. I do agree that you may see an electrical problem here and there but nothing that will not be a clear and obvious fix. These things (ie Toyotas) last impressively long.

 

[jrandom]

I guess I'm confused what we're debating. Are we discussing how long the car will last without issues, or, how long will it last before hitting the scrap yard?

Like the OP stated, pretty much without doing regular maintenance. Which to me means you would top off fluids if needed but not replace them. No greasing. No filter changes. ect. Just drive it but not abuse it.

Of course you would have to do things to ensure that it is safe to drive like: brake pads, tires, ect.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

I checked <75,000.

My guess that if you took a sample of 10 5th gen 4Runners and treated them that way:

1 of the ten might make it to 200,000
1 of the ten might make it to 100,000
8 of the ten would probably seize at less than 75,000

Now then, if at the start of the test you were to put in some 20W40 synthetic and a one quart capacity oil filter you might get the higher results more often. Also it would be best if it weren't driven in a city with lots of cold starts. A better environment would be once it is started drive it about 100 miles each trip to burn off the acids, fuel and water that have accumulated in the oil and filter.

 

[Ryanmb21]

Absolutely idiotic. An oil change costs less than a tank of gas and takes 30 mins, an air filter the same.

Pointless and useless exercise. Who cares.

 

[jrandom]

[MENTION=7081]Ryanmb21[/MENTION] It's for the sake of discussion Mr. Grumpy Pants. Pretty sure we are all aware of the cost of an oil change, filters, and the benefits of doing regular maintenance.

 

[Lester Lugnut]

That's really surprising to me. Without a single oil change i would never think it would go 250,000 miles.

Me too. He told me the engine was torn down at 250,000. That was the stopping point he set. Engine was dirty and gunked up some, but the car supposedly was running fairly decent when he did the tear down.

Again, his point was to prove that 3K oil changes were unnecessary.

 

[comp_engineer]

I think the answer is the same as your safety thread a couple days back. The answer has to be "we don't know".
Mobil/Toyota for obvious reasons don't give any test data on engine hours run before the oil starts to loose it's viscosity/lubricity.

What we need is friends who work in Toyota R&D to frequent this forum...