Just got a 97 4Runner, Need some advice

[Kobalt13]

I just recently got my first car, a 97 4runner with about a 142k miles on it. Ive done some wheeling in it, including some mud holes and some beaches and I must say I absolutely love the truck! Ive done some stuff to it myself like taking off the running boards and installing KYB MonoMax shocks in the back, but I have some questions.

Ive been doing a lot of reading on this site and on yotatech, a lot of which has been very helpful, but now that its come time to change the oil and air filter, I have some questions I havent found answres to. The guy who owned it before me used 5W-30 dino oil every 3000 miles. Ive read a lot about using 0w-30 synthetic. I plan on going full synthetic, but I dont know what weight. I keep reading about 0w-30, my gearhead friends tell me use 10w-30, the guy before me used 5w-30, and a mechanic told me to use 10w-40 because its an old engine.0w-30 sounds good, but I dont know if it would be bad for an engine with as many miles as mine. Any recommendations on decent oil filters would be helpful too, unless they are all about the same.

I want to replace the air filter as well as the guy before me had in a K&N filter, and I havent read the best things about those on this and other sites. I also want a filter I dont have to oil and everything. Any recommendations on replaceable, maintenance free air filters would be great.

Oh, and lastly, I keep reading about seafoaming and engine, but then I read that you can really mess things up. Is it neccessary or even safe?


Thanks in advance

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I switched my Runner over to synthetic (Mobile 1 5w30) at 100k and now have almost 141k and has had no leaks or problems at all.

I've used a K&N with no problems but anything that flows well gives up a little filtration and filtration is more important to me since I off road a fair amount so I just use a Toyota or a Puralator paper one and change them when I do oil changes every 8000 miles.

 

[peter78]

10W40 is pretty heavy oil and is not recommended in newer cars. 10W40 should be used if you have a problem with the engine, i.e. it is leaking oil or the engine is about to go.

I think it would be OK to switch to syntethic at 140,000 miles, especially if the last guy changed his oil often. I would try 5W30 first. That is what is recomended and unless you see a problem, I would stick with that. 0W30 might be too much on a older engine and 10W30 could be used if you see some oil burn off, like a quart in 3,000 miles.

Also, you could probably go further than 3,000 miles for an oil change with syntethic. I go 5,000 miles and RonMAIDEN says he goes 8,000 miles. By the way, changing the oil in the 4Runner is a real pain.

 

[Charlee78]

Toyota recommands 5w30 in their engines, synthetic or not, you should stick with that. You should change the viscosity of your engine oil only IF you have problems with the engine.

Toyota engineers dedicated a lot of time and money to find the best method to do the filtering in the engines and they came up with one of the best desing on the market today for their filters. Making them my first pick.

For the air filter, K&N and TRD, in my opinion, are one of the best out there. I don't think you will find a high flow, good quality air filter that won't need to be washed and oiled. I hace a TRD in my ride and I've done the deckplate mod almost since a year now and I don't regret it. It didn't cost to much, it isn't to noisy (yet noticeable) and I save a little little bit on gas! You will only need to wash and oil it once or twice a year, and it only take 15 min. to do.

 

[Charlee78]

Sorry, just read back my last post. When I was talking about the research Toyota did, I was talking about the oil filters!

I also read your question about seafoam. Personnaly I don't beleive in this kind of "mechanic" if you don't have issues with your engine. If your engine is noisy or you know you will have to repair it or change it, then you can give it a try, but I'm assuming it 's not your situation.

A friend of mine always say: Leave well enough alone...

 

[peter78]

Toyota recommands 5w30 in their engines, synthetic or not, you should stick with that. You should change the viscosity of your engine oil only IF you have problems with the engine.

There might be times you want to change viscousity. Kobalt13 never psoted where he lived. He may live up in northern Maine and it might be helpful to use 0W30, especially in the winter. For the most part stick with 5W30 and if you use synthetic, it should flow pretty easily.

On my 92 Accord I did switch to 10W30 last year. With 225,000 miles it burns a little oil, not much, but I feel Dino 10W30 is more stable, especially during the long hot summer months. instead of the 5W30.

So, I think there might be times to change a little, maybe???

 

[Kobalt13]

Wow. thanks for all the replies first of all. I think Ill buy some valvoline, amsoil, or maybe mobil 1 full synthetic 5w-30 and try that. Ill go for either the purolator or OEM oil filter. I might just get an oiling kit for the air filter that is in there now.


As for where I live, Im currently in eastern VA, a few hours from the OBX, and I do take it out on the beach occasionaly

I also found out that when I change gears (like from park to drive to neutral) the engine idles at different speeds. like in neutral its a about 800 rpms, in drive about 400-500, etc.

sorry, just a little aside about something Im a little worried about. I had a feeling changing the oil wouldnt be too fun, I took the skid plate off the other day just to see how easy it would be to access.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Checker/Schucks/Kragen has the Valvoline full synthetic

5w-30 or 10w-30 for same prices as dino oil. Rebate deal in last Sunday's paper or at the store.

99cents a quart after rebate.

NOT a misprint.