maintance questions

[wrestler157]

so i have been doing alot of searching on the site and keep getting mixed answers so im trying to see if anyone else can help. i have a v6 and just over 100k.

1. i keep getting P0420 and P0430 codes i replaced all 4 o2/af sensors and still not gone (maybe figuring my cats are bad?)

2. i am losing coolant, i refill my reserve tank about every 2 weeks. i dont see any leaks under my 4runner though. also when i pulled the cap on the radiator my "pink" coolant had turned a orangeish brown color. i have read people saying they lose coolant and have oil on spark plug #6. i am going to try and pull that plug when i get a chance. also i want to change my plugs out since im at 100k and dont know if it has been done. what type of plugs are best?

3. when driving at 42mph i feel a like pulsing feeling in the vehicle it happens at no other speed than 42mph. never herd of that problem and have no clue?

4. also i want to do a tranny flush but it has never been done in my vehicle. i herd that it could be bad to do one now since all the dirt a debris has collected in there. so should i just drain and fill or actually flush?

5. any other recommendations i should do to make me 4runner last for a long time?


thanks for any help you all have.

 

[snowbrdr033]

In response to #5: At each oil change, I like to put a bottle of lucas injector cleaner into a FULL tank of gas. I don't do it any sooner, but have heard nothing but good things about this product and used it on my 3rd gen and now my 4th gen with never an issue. It's only $4-6 at a local auto parts shop and highly recommended. From what I've read, there are a bunch of guys on here that run it not only in their 4R's but also on other vehicles too!
Hope that helps a little.

 

[wrestler157]

i actually have started doing that the last 3 oil changes! but thanks for the help! now i need help for everything else

 

[ClockWork]

The coolant sounds concerning. Have you checked your tranny fluid. You may have the dreaded pink milkshake syndrome which I believe is called by a radiator leak that mixes with the tranny fluid. Search Pink Milkshake. If you have that issue, you need attention quickly to avoid replacing a tranny. Not to freak you out, but if I had those symtoms, that's what I would be checking along with the other code issues. Best regards, Doug

First....maintenance.

That is a 3rd generation issue. There has not been one reported incident of this on the 4th gen. Another member had similar issues and it was deemed that his WP was leaking. If it's not the WP it might be something more serious like the V6 HG issue.

This is the 2nd piece of wrong information that you have written today, Doug.

 

[wrestler157]

First....maintenance

:moon: haha but thanks for that correction i mispelled that a couple times i dont know what i was thinking.

and what is the WP? im sure ive herd it before but my brain isnt working the greatest right now if you couldnt tell from spelling

and yea i was reading up alot about the HG issue and really hope its not that

 

[ClockWork]

:moon: haha but thanks for that correction i mispelled that a couple times i dont know what i was thinking.

and what is the WP? im sure ive herd it before but my brain isnt working the greatest right now if you couldnt tell from spelling

and yea i was reading up alot about the HG issue and really hope its not that

Water Pump. You should be able to tell if its weeping by looking under your truck.

 

[wrestler157]

Water Pump. You should be able to tell if its weeping by looking under your truck.

ok yea i was reading up on that this morning. hopefully i can get to look at it this weekend. thanks for the help

 

[Dougtoms01]

Hey Clock,
I deleted my response.
I didn't see a year of his vehicle listed.
I also didn't claim to have any definitive answers, I was simply directing him to additional information to try to figure out what his issue was.
I will try to do a better job of making it clear I am not one of the technical experts on here, just trying to be an active member and direct people to threads that may be helpful.
Hopefully that's better than only coming on here to solve my own problems and not giving back.
Best regards,
Doug

 

[ClockWork]

Hey Clock,
I deleted my response.
I didn't see a year of his vehicle listed.
I also didn't claim to have any definitive answers, I was simply directing him to additional information to try to figure out what his issue was.
I will try to do a better job of making it clear I am not one of the technical experts on here, just trying to be an active member and direct people to threads that may be helpful.
Hopefully that's better than only coming on here to solve my own problems and not giving back.
Best regards,
Doug

Fair enough...check out is avatar pic for generation info.

 

[settytb]

Clock, Doug's just trying to help. The pink milkshake was very famous in the older 4runners. Like Clockwork said check the plugs, hopefully it is a leak like a hose or water pump as those are much cheaper than the head gasket. Anything under the 4runner over night (leaks)?

 

[wrestler157]

Clock, Doug's just trying to help. The pink milkshake was very famous in the older 4runners. Like Clockwork said check the plugs, hopefully it is a leak like a hose or water pump as those are much cheaper than the head gasket. Anything under the 4runner over night (leaks)?

nope no leaks i even stuck a piece of cardboard under there to see if it leaked over night and there was nothing.

even when the coolant gets low the vehicle never overheats actually runs on the cooler side

 

[Red]

I'd read up on the head gasket issue

Is it possible that coolant could be leaking into the exhaust? which would eventually cause those sensors to start acting up? would explain why there are no puddles.

Your coolant is off color but is your oil ok? any wierd coloration to that?

Just a thought. If I'm out to lunch I'm sure someone will correct me.

 

[wrestler157]

my oil i just changed last weekend and it was dirty i switched to synthetic oil this oil change and i checked it the other day and it was fine still clean. i will look when i get back in town

 

[Red]

my oil i just changed last weekend and it was dirty i switched to synthetic oil this oil change and i checked it the other day and it was fine still clean. i will look when i get back in town

that's good, I just remember when I had head gaskets problems on my 1984 Toyota Celica GT, the oil was milky after the coolant started leaking into it. Doesn't mean it isn't a head gasket though, but it is good that coolant isn't leaking into your oil.

It has to be leaking into something though.

 

[empty403]

nope no leaks i even stuck a piece of cardboard under there to see if it leaked over night and there was nothing.

even when the coolant gets low the vehicle never overheats actually runs on the cooler side

Fill your coolant, remove your skid plate and go for a 20min drive then place the cardboard underneath, try to get a white cardboard or use white paper.