After only driving my 09 4Runner Limited V6 for just a a few week I decided to have a few things checked out at the dealer where I purchased this Toyota Certified vehicle. I was thought my Zerk fittings were looking a little dry and I was thinking some different noises I may have been hearing may have been related or was that just how a 4Runner was suppose to sound.
1) My first question was to just confirm that the V6 4Runner in D (Drive) will shift up to 5th / Overdrive when going 30 - 40 MPH and will sometimes lug along.
Two folks on the forum gave my their input and they were right on. I am just a new bee at this so what do I know. The service manager confirmed that the V6 will in fact have this behavior. He mentioned that with the V8 4Runner you would not even notice this. He said that there was no harm in leaving the V6 4Runner in D (Drive) however there was no harm in putting it into 4th. Otherwise from 30 - 40 MPH the transmission would hunt all day long as he put it. I was wondering if I would get much less MPG in 4th and said I would not really notice. If I am driving around town now I will shift into 4 now and it puts an end to the lugging and the transmission hunting,
2) My next question had to do with towing my 6 X 10 enclosed cargo trailer which weighs about 990 lbs empty and guess what it has a 2000 lb capacity limit making just below the 3000 lbs just below the state limit where you would need to have electric brakes. 09 manual does not mention anything about only towing in 4. The service manager said to tow in 4 around town but once I get up to 60 ~ 65 or more tow in D.
3) My next question had to do with switching to synthetic oil. The service manager said it was ok to switch back an forth. Some folks go to synthetic in the winter and back to conventional for the summer. I will probably just switch and not go back.
4) After they put my 4Runner on the lift they said the Zerks were dry but inside the joints they were not dry. While they had her on the lift they greased the Zerk fittings. The service manager took it for a ride and said it runs just like any other 4Runner. He also said he shot some lithium grease on a few spots including the outside of the ball joints. He even gave me a free spray can and he said it would be good just to hit up a few places every so often. He said if I ever wanted a free can just drop in. I asked him what I owed him for greasing the zerk fittings and he said I did not owe him anything.
1) My first question was to just confirm that the V6 4Runner in D (Drive) will shift up to 5th / Overdrive when going 30 - 40 MPH and will sometimes lug along.
Two folks on the forum gave my their input and they were right on. I am just a new bee at this so what do I know. The service manager confirmed that the V6 will in fact have this behavior. He mentioned that with the V8 4Runner you would not even notice this. He said that there was no harm in leaving the V6 4Runner in D (Drive) however there was no harm in putting it into 4th. Otherwise from 30 - 40 MPH the transmission would hunt all day long as he put it. I was wondering if I would get much less MPG in 4th and said I would not really notice. If I am driving around town now I will shift into 4 now and it puts an end to the lugging and the transmission hunting,
2) My next question had to do with towing my 6 X 10 enclosed cargo trailer which weighs about 990 lbs empty and guess what it has a 2000 lb capacity limit making just below the 3000 lbs just below the state limit where you would need to have electric brakes. 09 manual does not mention anything about only towing in 4. The service manager said to tow in 4 around town but once I get up to 60 ~ 65 or more tow in D.
3) My next question had to do with switching to synthetic oil. The service manager said it was ok to switch back an forth. Some folks go to synthetic in the winter and back to conventional for the summer. I will probably just switch and not go back.
4) After they put my 4Runner on the lift they said the Zerks were dry but inside the joints they were not dry. While they had her on the lift they greased the Zerk fittings. The service manager took it for a ride and said it runs just like any other 4Runner. He also said he shot some lithium grease on a few spots including the outside of the ball joints. He even gave me a free spray can and he said it would be good just to hit up a few places every so often. He said if I ever wanted a free can just drop in. I asked him what I owed him for greasing the zerk fittings and he said I did not owe him anything.
