Required maintenance?

[Nmac65]

Okay so long story short I bought a 2008 v6 4x4 sr5 from an insurance auction for a hell of a deal. Replaced a few sensors and the truck runs completley perfect. I have been daily driving it for a couple of months now. This is my first toyota purchase and I am in love, the community and the truck are both so nice.
Now heres my question. The truck sat in that insurance lot for god knows how long. Should I flush all of the fluids and get some new fluid in there? I did an oil change myself about 2k miles ago and I've had no issues with the engine, trans, diff, etc. at all. I've also heard some stories about how bulletproof this transmission is and I just want to take care of her. Im just thinking of preventative maintence as I want to make this thing last forever. Thanks in advance!

 

[Bossman]

First, I would recommend trying to find out more information about the past service history of your new-to-you 4Runner:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/81381-just-checked-service-records-my-4runner.html

https://www.toyota.com/owners/

This may give you an indication of how well the previous owner(s) looked after the routine maintenance items.

You don't indicate the current mileage on the 4Runner, but I would be inclined to change most of the fluids (engine coolant, transmission, differentials) depending on your mileage. Engine and cabin air filters are easy enough to replace yourself.

I'd also be checking on the brakes (known brake caliper seizing issues), the battery (original; load test) and the tires (age/wear).

Some other resources:

https://www.toyota.com/owners/resources/owners-manuals/4runner/2008

https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/4Runner/2008/

 

[Nmac65]

Sorry, the mileage is 135,000. Got it at 133,000. The tires are in very well condition, bridgestone, probably bought them right before the previous owner lost the truck. The brakes are in deecent condition according to a mechanics inspection. I will also check and see the battery life.
I just looked up on the Toyota website and the vehicle had regular maint' up unitl 2014, so idk what that exactly means.

 

[Bossman]

Here is a thread for the 120,000 mile service:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/109080-120000-mile-service-2004-4runner.html

I'd be considering spark plugs, too.

 

[Nmac65]

Thanks for the input!

 

[Bossman]

While the Toyota service history information can be helpful, it does not necessarily paint the whole picture.

I bought my new-to-me 2011 from my local Toyota dealer two years ago, and it has not been back to the dealership since. Someone looking up the service history on the Toyota website might think it has not been serviced in 2 years! Truth be told, I take my 4Runner to a reputable mechanic with a much lower shop rate. I have all of my receipts, and my own records.

If it is the original Panasonic battery, pushing the 10 year mark would be worrisome.

 

[AuSeeker]

On the Toyota website you can view most all the service reports documents that were done at a dealer, if that dealer filed the documents with Toyota, to see what was done and when.

 

[YABA.DABA.TROUT]

First, I would recommend trying to find out more information about the past service history of your new-to-you 4Runner:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/81381-just-checked-service-records-my-4runner.html

https://www.toyota.com/owners/

This may give you an indication of how well the previous owner(s) looked after the routine maintenance items.

You don't indicate the current mileage on the 4Runner, but I would be inclined to change most of the fluids (engine coolant, transmission, differentials) depending on your mileage. Engine and cabin air filters are easy enough to replace yourself.

I'd also be checking on the brakes (known brake caliper seizing issues), the battery (original; load test) and the tires (age/wear).

Some other resources:

https://www.toyota.com/owners/resources/owners-manuals/4runner/2008

https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/4Runner/2008/

I'm considering doing a few of these fluid flushes myself. Would you recommend getting any of them done at a shop apposed to at home? I'm thinking differentials would be easily done at home but not sure about the others? Any advice?

 

[Bossman]

I'm considering doing a few of these fluid flushes myself. Would you recommend getting any of them done at a shop apposed to at home? I'm thinking differentials would be easily done at home but not sure about the others? Any advice?

Depends on what you type of fluid change you are actually doing - drain and fill versus flush and fill.

Last year I had my trusted mechanic do flush and fills for the engine coolant, transmission, transfer case, and front and rear differentials. While I'm knowledgeable about my vehicle and the service it needs, I'm just not equipped to do the work myself. That, and the shop I take my 4Runner to has the equipment to do these flushes.

The trade-off is of course the cost. Being able to buy the fluids you need and do the work yourself saves lots of $ on labour.

Some helpful threads:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/117482-front-rear-diff-fluid-change.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/78892-transfer-differential-oil-change.html

 

[YABA.DABA.TROUT]

Depends on what you type of fluid change you are actually doing - drain and fill versus flush and fill.

Last year I had my trusted mechanic do flush and fills for the engine coolant, transmission, transfer case, and front and rear differentials. While I'm knowledgeable about my vehicle and the service it needs, I'm just not equipped to do the work myself. That, and the shop I take my 4Runner to has the equipment to do these flushes.

The trade-off is of course the cost. Being able to buy the fluids you need and do the work yourself saves lots of $ on labour.

Some helpful threads:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/117482-front-rear-diff-fluid-change.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/78892-transfer-differential-oil-change.html

Drain and fill would be all I'm comfortable doing but not sure what requires a flush. Have read that a transmission flush can cause issues but not sure if that's true.
Thanks for the link to the write-ups saved those on the to-do list.

Transmission, power steering & coolant is where I was planning to draw the line to get done in the shop. I only have time on weekends and even though my 4runner isn't my daily driver, I don't want it to be down for any reason.

 

[woodman60]

On the Toyota website you can view most all the service reports documents that were done at a dealer, if that dealer filed the documents with Toyota, to see what was done and when.

My listing had a few services, but I actually found much more service history, including both Toyota dealers and other shops, on the CarFax report.

 

[Nmac65]

My listing had a few services, but I actually found much more service history, including both Toyota dealers and other shops, on the CarFax report.

I'm debating buying the car-fax myself. I want to know if the previous owner did maintenance like he should have. Is it worth it? It says there's a total of 58 history records, how much is this compared to yours?

 

[Bossman]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/161076-carfax.html

 

[woodman60]

Carfax

I'm debating buying the car-fax myself. I want to know if the previous owner did maintenance like he should have. Is it worth it? It says there's a total of 58 history records, how much is this compared to yours?

Mine only had 42 service records, but they gave me some good insight into how the first two owners had cared for the truck. I got it before I bought the car, but I would want it even after the purchase.