weekendclimber
New member
Just thought I'd share another 3rd Gen 4runner 5vzfe 6 cylinder success story. Bought this rig from the first owner with about 112k on it in 2006. The guy that owned before me smoked, which usually is a big turnoff for me (smell, cleanliness, dust). Thing was, he owned his own detailing business and kept this rig pretty pristine.
Turns out I'm the schleup owner who never cleans his rig or takes care if it. The starter went out in about 2007 and it sat in my backyard for about 18 months or so. Easy fix, but I had just had knee surgery so couldn't physically do it. Since I had another car to use at the time, it sat.
Fixed the starter at the end 2009 and changed the oil. Ran just fine. Got the transmission flushed, pan dropped, screen checked, magnets look clear mid 2010. Radiator flushed before winter started later that same year. Spring came and I decided to do a tuneup. Never had done anything like that before really, but it went smooth with directions online. So, new plugs, wires, clean the MAF, the throttle body, air filter, and new tires. Had to get new rotors and pads about a year later.
Was running rough about a year ago, and ended up needing a new MAF. Did a new fuel pump at the shop about a week later. He mentioned that there's a bit of oil on the valve covers but otherwise looks good.It was also getting around time to do another tuneup again just as PM. Get back online and start reading to figure it all out again and see that the sparkplugs should be torqued to a certain spec, and thought crap! I didn't have a torque wrench at the time (or even know the specs). I probably had a loose plug that is sprouting oil everywhere.
Fortunately, I pulled the plugs and got this:
Not bad, and that's after about 30k on them. I do the regular oil changes, so I think the oil is obviously coming from the valve gasket, but its not from the plugs. They are pretty clean. A bit of oil coming out the vacuum hose in front of the throttle body, but over all pretty clean. Probably should have done the pcv sooner, I think some is from that:
It's a little dirty, but not real bad. Going to need to do the valve gasket soon, but that's doable. Maybe an injector loose but not near failure or anything:
Under the throttle body:
A little crude but not horrible:
Not real bad on the drivers side, but valve gasket needs it.
Throttle body cleaned up nicely and the inlet had a little oil residue on the gasket and the inlet plenum face. That cleaned off okay. Just a tiny but left. I dremeled the old throttle body gasket out to a full 'O':
I know your not supposed to reuse that gasket, but I did 't have a replacement yet. Will probably redo soon and clean up that intake plenum face and see how much oil comes through in 300-500 miles instead if ruining a new gasket. I hear that oil is normal, as long as it's not accessive.
Looks pretty clean in the upper plenum. I don't think that oily hose is much of a concern. This is the first time the throttIe body has come off, l believe. Couldn't find any records of it and the prior owner had it at the dealer for the timing belt and water pump at 110k. Basically, just before I bought it. That's at about 75% of life and should get done in 10000 miles or so as PM. Probably get a new alternator and single unit radiator/fan/termostat(now that the the transmission cooler is separate) at the same time. Underside is remarkably rust free at 196k.
Turns out I'm the schleup owner who never cleans his rig or takes care if it. The starter went out in about 2007 and it sat in my backyard for about 18 months or so. Easy fix, but I had just had knee surgery so couldn't physically do it. Since I had another car to use at the time, it sat.
Fixed the starter at the end 2009 and changed the oil. Ran just fine. Got the transmission flushed, pan dropped, screen checked, magnets look clear mid 2010. Radiator flushed before winter started later that same year. Spring came and I decided to do a tuneup. Never had done anything like that before really, but it went smooth with directions online. So, new plugs, wires, clean the MAF, the throttle body, air filter, and new tires. Had to get new rotors and pads about a year later.
Was running rough about a year ago, and ended up needing a new MAF. Did a new fuel pump at the shop about a week later. He mentioned that there's a bit of oil on the valve covers but otherwise looks good.It was also getting around time to do another tuneup again just as PM. Get back online and start reading to figure it all out again and see that the sparkplugs should be torqued to a certain spec, and thought crap! I didn't have a torque wrench at the time (or even know the specs). I probably had a loose plug that is sprouting oil everywhere.
Fortunately, I pulled the plugs and got this:
Not bad, and that's after about 30k on them. I do the regular oil changes, so I think the oil is obviously coming from the valve gasket, but its not from the plugs. They are pretty clean. A bit of oil coming out the vacuum hose in front of the throttle body, but over all pretty clean. Probably should have done the pcv sooner, I think some is from that:
It's a little dirty, but not real bad. Going to need to do the valve gasket soon, but that's doable. Maybe an injector loose but not near failure or anything:
Under the throttle body:
A little crude but not horrible:
Not real bad on the drivers side, but valve gasket needs it.
Throttle body cleaned up nicely and the inlet had a little oil residue on the gasket and the inlet plenum face. That cleaned off okay. Just a tiny but left. I dremeled the old throttle body gasket out to a full 'O':
I know your not supposed to reuse that gasket, but I did 't have a replacement yet. Will probably redo soon and clean up that intake plenum face and see how much oil comes through in 300-500 miles instead if ruining a new gasket. I hear that oil is normal, as long as it's not accessive.
Looks pretty clean in the upper plenum. I don't think that oily hose is much of a concern. This is the first time the throttIe body has come off, l believe. Couldn't find any records of it and the prior owner had it at the dealer for the timing belt and water pump at 110k. Basically, just before I bought it. That's at about 75% of life and should get done in 10000 miles or so as PM. Probably get a new alternator and single unit radiator/fan/termostat(now that the the transmission cooler is separate) at the same time. Underside is remarkably rust free at 196k.
