Top engine clean maintenance
- Thread starter CT_NGO
- Start date
Nobody Special
New member
:laugh:
EddieV4runnin
New member
But if you don’t have a 100% nitrogen you’ll lose MPG and your ride will suffer.
Rainier42
New member
Alcohol is the main ingredient in dry-gas. With E10, I don't believe one needs to add anything for water.
Agreed, as long as there is no phase separation.
SoCalRunner
New member
Existing thread?
There should be a thread for "Dealer services to avoid" like the $85 cabin air filter replacement.
There should be a thread for "Dealer services to avoid" like the $85 cabin air filter replacement.
LandCruiser
New member
The one cabin air filter they keep in the service department desk that isn't the actual filter they took out of your truck?
Jetboy
New member
I just did the fuel pump swap thing. Easy service. Drop off. Pick up in a couple hours. No rear seat removal like others have said. And no issues with my aftermarket skid plate.
Dealer wanted to flush my power steering fluid. "It's not burnt, but it's getting close." I'm not really even sure what that means. Dealer actually usually treats me pretty well overall.
And they wanted to do the same top end engine clean. Um... no thanks. This was the first time they've wanted to do this kind of stuff - maybe they're hurting due to covid? Normally they don't try to up-sell me on anything.
The strangest part overall for me was that I'm at 60k and bought a new air filter and cabin filter. And the air filter that is in there looks amazingly clean. Like maybe they swapped it at the last oil change on accident when they got the go-ahead from someone else's 4Runner to change it? Not sure. It looked so clean I ended up not putting the new one in and I'll keep it as a spare. I spend plenty of time on dirt roads and the interior gets full of dust. So either they did it by accident or somehow the 4Runner just gets some amazingly clean air out of the fender well.
Dealer wanted to flush my power steering fluid. "It's not burnt, but it's getting close." I'm not really even sure what that means. Dealer actually usually treats me pretty well overall.
And they wanted to do the same top end engine clean. Um... no thanks. This was the first time they've wanted to do this kind of stuff - maybe they're hurting due to covid? Normally they don't try to up-sell me on anything.
The strangest part overall for me was that I'm at 60k and bought a new air filter and cabin filter. And the air filter that is in there looks amazingly clean. Like maybe they swapped it at the last oil change on accident when they got the go-ahead from someone else's 4Runner to change it? Not sure. It looked so clean I ended up not putting the new one in and I'll keep it as a spare. I spend plenty of time on dirt roads and the interior gets full of dust. So either they did it by accident or somehow the 4Runner just gets some amazingly clean air out of the fender well.
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DougR
Member
Perhaps they breakeven on warranty work and hope you'll buy a flush so they can turn a profit. Just say, "Thanks for doing the warranty work."
By the way, I siphon out as much as I can out of the power steering fluid reservoir and add the appropriate fluid (Dexron III for my 2011). I did this 4 times at weekly intervals. I used a semi-translucent syringe with a vacuum line extension and I could easily observe the fluid becoming bright red. I now siphon the reservoir once every 6 months and observe the color. If it's still bright red, good, if not, I'll siphon it at weekly intervals until it is.
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JeuTheIdit
New member
Another good way to do this (which I have done before) - Disconnect the return line, turn steering wheel two full turns, fill reservoir to full, rinse and repeat until clean fluid comes out, connect return line. I try to do this every few years.
Dynamo
New member
This, but jack the front up so the front tires are off the ground and perform the procedure with the engine off.
1000MPH
Senior Member
I’m not sure if this is true but I’ve heard you need to leave the front wheels touching the ground a little to create resistance when winding the steering wheel lock to lock, otherwise the fluid won’t flow significantly from the res. This seems to correspond with my experience as well.
DougR
Member
My floor jack failed and I haven't replaced it yet. I'm wondering if I can easily turn the steering wheel if both front wheels are parked over plastic grocery bags on a smooth surface cement driveway. 4 layers of plastic film (two grocery bags) under each wheel might be slippery enough ... I think I'll try this tomorrow just to find out.
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Dynamo
New member
I haven't had a chance to do this on my 4Runner (it's a 2019) but I did it on my FJ Cruiser. I had the wheels all the way off the ground and the fluid pumped out easily and fairly quickly. I don't really see how creating resistance would make a difference other than making it harder to turn the steering wheel.
Just to be clear again, this procedure needs to be done with the engine off. If the engine is running it will pump out all of the fluid in a matter of seconds.
Dynamo
New member
Maybe put a piece of cardboard on top of the bags so the tires don't just tear them up.
DougR
Member
Plastic bags and cardboard works .... I can turn the steering wheel relatively easily. For cardboard, I used pieces of a USPS priority mail box because the corrugations are very small. I'm going to repeat the experiment using an Amazon large plastic shipping bag, which is coated and extra slippery when two layers are rubbed between the fingers. The smaller Amazon bags are less slippery (inside coating is darker).
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Occasional bottle of Techron, mostly since the pandemic. A tank of gas can last 6 - 8 weeks. Once every 4 -5 months I toss one in the 4runner and her Grand Cherokee when they are BOGO and O'Reillys.
