How to Preserve a New 4runner “Forever”?

WannaBe77

WannaBe77

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I have a new 2021 Venture coming in mid-August (hopefully). I’m really excited. I’m 45 years old and this is the first brand new car I’ve ever owned.

I plan to keep this vehicle “forever” and want to take the best measures to do so from the beginning.

I am not super mechanically inclined, but I do know a little bit…I’m probably like a C-/D+ student when it comes to cars.

What are some courses of action that I can take to make my new ride last “forever”?

Mechanical? Frame? Interior?

For example, I live in the Mid-Atlantic part of the US…does it make sense for me to apply a product like fluid film from the beginning?

Any and all advice is appreciated!


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WannaBe77 said:
I have a new 2021 Venture coming in mid-August (hopefully). I’m really excited. I’m 45 years old and this is the first brand new car I’ve ever owned.

I plan to keep this vehicle “forever” and want to take the best measures to do so from the beginning.

I am not super mechanically inclined, but I do know a little bit…I’m probably like a C-/D+ student when it comes to cars.

What are some courses of action that I can take to make my new ride last “forever”?

Mechanical? Frame? Interior?

For example, I live in the Mid-Atlantic part of the US…does it make sense for me to apply a product like fluid film from the beginning?

Any and all advice is appreciated!


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Click to expand...


I have a new Toyota, and for comparison I have a 20 year old Dodge Durango with 220k miles that I never waxed. Never garaged. Park under a tree. Just car wash and vacuum. Paint still looks new, no cracking interior, no rips in the leather.

Some cars are just tolerant of abuse. Toyota’s are more mechanically and electrically reliable than Dodge, but I have heard of things like soft paint, fragile windshields, etc thst are really inconsequential to the big picture.


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Sounds like you might be in a rust-prone area and our Toyota trucks are susceptible to frame rust. Doing something proactive now (fluid film or something else) would be a good idea.

Regular maintenance and thorough cleaning every once and a while. When I'm cleaning, I also look for stuff going wrong so that I can address them early.

There are new ceramic-based paint protection treatments now that are very good. You can apply yourself or pay a few hundy to get it done professionally. Easier and cheaper to do this fresh off the lot as the detailer would not need to do "paint correction".
 
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good for you great choice.......you can't get them in new england......the lots are empty.
change the oil and filter every 5k ----it will allow you to catch things early, and the motor will run forever....I have 3 toyota's (2 LC's and a 4 runner) all have over 150k miles and never an issue.
 
I’m down for fluid filming. Does that make sense on a new vehicle that will be daily driven?

I also plan on a professional ceramic coating at a local detailer right off the lot.

Thanks for the advice so far! Keep em comin!


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I take care of the undercarriage even though I live in AZ and I also replace all fluids timely.

I wish I had some protectant for the paint any 4R that goes offroad will get pinstripped eventually anyway.

Also, I am gentle on the gas though the transmission is set up to be pretty lethargic anyway.

I am not as gentle offroad but not crazy either.
 
change the oil , belts and hoses on schedule and you should get 300K which is close enough to forever for me....
 
I'm in the same situation you are. 51 years old and purchasing my first new vehicle. Had the dealer order it from the factory. Hoping to keep it forever. My 3rd gen got too rusty after owning it for 15 years.

My 4Runner hasn't even been built yet, but I've already purchased a case of Woolwax(similar to Fluid Film) and 2 bottles of Nexgen ceramic coating for the paint.

I'm not letting this one get rusty!
 
Coat it with cosmoline, stick in a conex and forget about it.

If you want to actually use it and have it last forever where they put salt on the roads, don't drive it when there is salt on the roads, get a winter beater.
 
Bandit Runner said:
I'm in the same situation you are. 51 years old and purchasing my first new vehicle. Had the dealer order it from the factory. Hoping to keep it forever. My 3rd gen got too rusty after owning it for 15 years.

My 4Runner hasn't even been built yet, but I've already purchased a case of Woolwax(similar to Fluid Film) and 2 bottles of Nexgen ceramic coating for the paint.

I'm not letting this one get rusty!
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FYI, Toyota dealers can't make orders. They request allocation from their distributor for certain color/options.
 
H20ratt said:
change the oil , belts and hoses on schedule and you should get 300K which is close enough to forever for me....
Click to expand...
I haven't changed any hoses, but have had to change some cracked bushings. I'll be turning 300k in the next couple months. I expect 500k miles before having to tear into or swap engine/trans.
 
Thank you for asking the question. I’m also curious on something like this

It seems like fluid film is a popular response so far

I’m also new to the 4Runner scene. My dad ownes a sequoia and it has close to 300k miles and he has had zero major issues. Which is why I wanted a Toyota

Suppose only recommendation I could truly put in is follow general maintenance and you should be good. That’s all my dad did

But I’m happy to hear responses from fellow 4Runner owners
 
Jeremy556 said:
Coat it with cosmoline, stick in a conex and forget about it.

If you want to actually use it and have it last forever where they put salt on the roads, don't drive it when there is salt on the roads, get a winter beater.
Click to expand...

This. Despite frame recalls and history, these vehicles (even the newest of them) are still rust prone. It's unfortunate. I already see it after two winters and only a few Sierra runs with meticulous cleaning after each trip. Otherwise, it's desert dry all the time here and garaged. If I were in MI like the OP and wanted to max out longevity, I would garage my 4Runner in the winter and get a beater Subaru with Blizzaks.
 
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Jeremy556 said:
Coat it with cosmoline, stick in a conex and forget about it.

If you want to actually use it and have it last forever where they put salt on the roads, don't drive it when there is salt on the roads, get a winter beater.
Click to expand...

This is what I do....the '05 is the winter beater while the '17 is in hibernation.
 
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Move to the Southwest U.S. where you will have no problems with rust. Have 265K miles on my wife’s 2014 SR5 and I do all the maintenance. I’d get my wife a new one and take hers, but waiting for this disrupted market to settle down. Her 4Runner should easily go 300K miles and probably 400K.
 
One more thing:

Careful with mods and aftermarket parts.

Now dealing with my Shrock gas tank skid that I long suspected of rubbing into the gas tank. Yup. Has rubbed. Pretty much everywhere!

Now fighting the skid trying to modify it so it drops 1/4 in. And also creating opening in the side protectors so I can actually see everywhere if it rubs in the future and be able to hose the inside.

Seemingly small things like this may cause big headaches down the road.

And waste a weekend if addressed timely: on to Home Depot, again :)
 
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