Bit confused between V8 4Runner and V8 GX470

[Arthur4R]

Hello all,

I was over my friends house the other day and we are were talking about cars. He currently owns a GX470 2009 V8. He does all of his maintenance in the dealership and it was funny how a dealer recommended changing out the spark plugs and he was not having it. He said car drives fine, averages 20mpg and he does not see the necessity . He currently has 160k miles on the vehicle and the first owner. I asked if he ever changed the timing belt on it and he said no, never. I started arguing that it is required at 90k and he said dealer never mentioned it. After some research I noticed it has a timing chain and requires 91 octane or higher fuel. 4Runner uses the same exact engine or as I thought 2UZ-FE but we have a timing belt and require 87 octane or higher. Why are two same engines requiring different fuel? How come the GX has a chain?

 

[Morphyne]

Somethings not right. My 05 gx470 takes a belt. It does ask for premium fuel but I run 87 with good results.

 

[Arthur4R]

Somethings not right. My 05 gx470 takes a belt. It does ask for premium fuel but I run 87 with good results.

I checked maintenance schedule on his owners manual with no mention of the belt anywhere. Starting at 5k miles all to way to 160k miles. Then I googled and in a Lexus forum someone said we are using a chain instead of a belt. Directly from Lexus put in GX470 2009 https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/service/maintenance-schedules

 

[trailsurfer92]

2003+ V6 4Runners run a timing chain, older and V8 models use a belt. Not sure on the mechanical difference of it all, but they could have used the same parameters on the Land Cruiser/GX470

 

[socal-4runner]

The 09 gx470 uses the 2uz-fe engine with vvti just like the +05 4Runner v8 so it should be using a belt as well. If they got chain that's just unfair

 

[GX4SEVEND]

04 GX here and mine has a belt. I believe 05-09 is the vvti and those are also a belt. Maybe he should actually look and start taking care of his rig and not just bypass slot of routine maintenance

Also, they're the same displacement but they are not the same motors. Tundra and 4runner are made state side and Lexus is made in Japan. Lexus has forged internals and the 4runner and tundra do not. There was a thread discussing this. I will see if I can find it.

 

[07V8]

04 GX here and mine has a belt. I believe 05-09 is the vvti and those are also a belt. Maybe he should actually look and start taking care of his rig and not just bypass slot of routine maintenance

Also, they're the same displacement but they are not the same motors. Tundra and 4runner are made state side and Lexus is made in Japan. Lexus has forged internals and the 4runner and tundra do not. There was a thread discussing this. I will see if I can find it.

This is all wrong. Sorry bud. 4Runner V8 is 100% Japanese.

 

[amalik]

04 GX here and mine has a belt. I believe 05-09 is the vvti and those are also a belt. Maybe he should actually look and start taking care of his rig and not just bypass slot of routine maintenance

Also, they're the same displacement but they are not the same motors. Tundra and 4runner are made state side and Lexus is made in Japan. Lexus has forged internals and the 4runner and tundra do not. There was a thread discussing this. I will see if I can find it.

This is all wrong. Sorry bud. 4Runner V8 is 100% Japanese.

... I thought *all* 4runners are made in Japan.

Me thinks you are both wrong.

 

[07V8]

... I thought *all* 4runners are made in Japan.

Me thinks you are both wrong.

They are. I'm specifically speaking about the V8 because that is the thread topic.

OP your friend is 40k overdue on the plugs. Don't wait much longer or they may never come out of the heads.

V8 iridium plugs are rated for 120k.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

This is all wrong. Sorry bud. 4Runner V8 is 100% Japanese.

Sorry 4Runner and GX are the same, sequoia and tundra are not the same v8.

Back on topic, he's way over due on maintenance as previously stated.

 

[Morphyne]

Maybe he has a 2010 GX460? Did the new model get a chain?

 

[rooost]

Maybe this is one of those "luxury" car tricks, where they want to lengthen the maintenance free period, and reduce the "cost of ownership" figures.

I am certain that if the GX470 had a hot rodded motor, the fine folks here at T4r.org would have sniffed it out years ago, we are a pretty through bunch

 

[Arthur4R]

They are. I'm specifically speaking about the V8 because that is the thread topic.

OP your friend is 40k overdue on the plugs. Don't wait much longer or they may never come out of the heads.

V8 iridium plugs are rated for 120k.

My maintenance book suggest changing plugs every 30k....... Another difference between the GX and the 4Runner.

 

[techno]

It is definitely a timing belt, not a chain. There is not one single parts store that sells a chain, no pictures available anywhere that show it with a chain or any other evidence at all for a chain. Several forums have asked the same question and those that have suspected a chain have always been proven wrong.
It is odd that the Lexus site does not list the belt replacement, however every other maintenance schedule website that I looked at did.

 

[Arthur4R]

2008 GX470 Maintenance for 90k

2009 GX470 Maintenance for 90k

All straight out of the Lexus website. How does this make any sense? For 2009 they started using a chain? Or belt but don't recommend on changing it?


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[Morphyne]

maybe that is when they started moving to that 4.6L v8. Have your buddy pop his hood and see if it says 4.7L on the engine cover...

 

[techno]

It's just an error. Kind of embarassing for Lexus if you ask me. Take a look at other maintenance websites too. For example.
https://www.driverside.com/service-...-gx_470-2009-29686-48185-121017?mileage=90000
https://www.openbay.com/maintenance/2009-lexus-gx-470

 

[m85476585]

It looks like the 2007 GX470 has 3 more horsepower (1.1% more) and 17 more foot-pounds of torque (5.6% more) than the 2007 4runner V8 based on edmunds specs. I wonder if it's a different engine tune or if the engine will automatically run that way on premium gas?

 

[Morphyne]

I'm guessing that rating was made with use of premium gas.

 

[aha2988]

4.7 2UZ-FE = BELT = 2003-09 V8 4runner's gx470's and tundras. 05+ most all models received the vvti upgrade. Different internals between state side and japan made engines.

4.6l 1UR-FE = CHAIN = 2010+ gx460, tundra and up to 2012 sequoias