Worst Problem with 5th gen??

[spooln30]

I would NOT try a thicker oil. Toyota designed this engine for 0W20 oil. Thicker oil will likely not flow as well through what could be some very tight passages. Just live with the noise.

Toyota did not design their engines to only use 0w20 oil. Not sure where your getting this information from but it's incorrect. Like I stated in my other post 0w20 and even 5w20 oils are solely used for fuel efficiency reasons and the gain in fuel economy using these weights of oil is so minut that you wouldn't even notice the difference if you switched to a thicker oil. It is also false if a dealer tells you using any weight of oil besides 0w20 will void the warranty. Here's some information from Amsoil, which I consider to be the best oil on the market by far.

Truth about 5w-20 and 0W-20 Motor Oil - technical facts

 

[spooln30]

Clay bar is your friend. All cars have this, but it stands out more on white paint. The rust is not from the vehicle, but from the metal dust that got embedded in your paint. Get a clay bar (please, please, please follow the directions), and then wax it. After a good clay bar job, the paint will be just as smooth as when you drove it off the lot.

As for following the directions of the clay bar, do not drop it on the ground. Last thing you want to do is drop it and get a stone in there. Rubbing a clay bar with a stone in it will definitely scratch the paint.

I had these "rust spots" which is actually industrial fallout. I tired clay baring it and it didn't work at all. If these spots are fresh the clay bar would probabky work but once they embed into the clear a little it won't work. What does work and works great is CarPro's IronX. Desolves this crap in 5 mins. Great stuff.

 

[STX4Runner]

Toyota did not design their engines to only use 0w20 oil. Not sure where your getting this information from but it's incorrect. Like I stated in my other post 0w20 and even 5w20 oils are solely used for fuel efficiency reasons and the gain in fuel economy using these weights of oil is so minut that you wouldn't even notice the difference if you switched to a thicker oil. It is also false if a dealer tells you using any weight of oil besides 0w20 will void the warranty. Here's some information from Amsoil, which I consider to be the best oil on the market by far.

Truth about 5w-20 and 0W-20 Motor Oil - technical facts

If they didn't design it for 0W20, why do they say to use 0W20? I know it's for better MPGs, but couldn't they do the EPA testing with 0W20 and then tell us to use 5W20 or whatever? Why does everyone on here want to second guess the Toyota engineers and change their oil every 3,000 miles and put in 5W20? Use whatever you want, use melted chicken fat. :tongue: Why try to fix something that's not broken, other than some minor noise at idle?

 

[1engineer]

What's wrong with not wanting my 53k engine to sound like it's got a rod knock? Manufacturers only use the 0w20 oil now days for fuel efficiency and not for any other reason. The 0w20 oil is like fn water. I'm only planning on running a 5w20 synthetic next time so it's not like I'm going to run straight 50w. Btw automotive engineers aren't always the smartest people. It's usually the technicians/mechanics like myself that see the every day problems vehicles have and can probably come up with something better then what the so called engineers designed. Obviously there's something not right with the 4.0 engines in the 4runners for them to make such a noise at idle. I am not the only person who has noticed this knocking sound. Toyota engines are usually quiet and you really only hear the injectors clicking at idle. Hell my dad's 99 Avalon with 250k is quieter then my 2012 4runner at idle. I used my stethoscope to pin point where this noise is coming from and it's mainly around the cylinder head area. More noticable near the front of the engine so I suspect it's coming from the timing chain or its components.

Toyota did not design their engines to only use 0w20 oil. Not sure where your getting this information from but it's incorrect. Like I stated in my other post 0w20 and even 5w20 oils are solely used for fuel efficiency reasons and the gain in fuel economy using these weights of oil is so minut that you wouldn't even notice the difference if you switched to a thicker oil. It is also false if a dealer tells you using any weight of oil besides 0w20 will void the warranty. Here's some information from Amsoil, which I consider to be the best oil on the market by far.

Truth about 5w-20 and 0W-20 Motor Oil - technical facts

1. 0W-20 Synthetic is not only for fuel economy man. Read a bit http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/109588-oil-change-0w20-wtf.html
Yes, you can use a DIFFERENT VISCOSITY, not WEIGHT. Why though? Have you compared the VI of each and determine something that would be more optimal than 0W 20 for your region? What is it and why? I am curious.

2. Your engine makes that noise for a reason http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ange-5th-gen-how-lots-pics-5.html#post1085018

3. You are going to believe a tech oil publication is going to be non biased when it's produced by the company that sells the oil? Are you for real? Go here - Bob is the Oil Guy - Bob is the Oil Guy and get an education.

4. It's easy to come here and blow smoke up someone's ass like posting a dyno run from a vehicle that doesn't even have the same engine as ours by the guys who are trying to sell a product to you but there are a few of us who will actually question data and when we post we have relevant data to back it up. So if you have a reason (besides noise, never heard of an engine failing because it makes a noise. People usually fix what is making that noise. In this case you need to design a new cam and lifter lol instead of thinking changing oil viscosity will fix it) to change oil viscosity then post that reason and post the spec of the oil you choose.
Last thing: On Monday I will be looking at a blank sheet of paper as I am starting a new circuit design utilizing our latest hydrostatic transmission. This will be a totally new concept. Can I just send that blank page to you and let you do it? You are smarter than me after all. You posted it.

 

[spooln30]

What a joke. You post a link to a site, which I've been on before learned nothing I didn't already know, and try to say why believe a publication on site of which they're trying to sell you a product. Let's get some of Bob's wisdom.

"Unlike most private motor oil web sites, Bob Is The Oil Guy is not about selling you something; It’s about educating you so you can make informed decisions about the life blood of your engine: motor oil."

Why is this funny to me? Well because your Ol buddy Bob's site is sponsored by Pennzoil! Seriously? Yeah he's probably not bias at all.

Far as the dyno graph I posted. I just posted what I was told and in any case adding exhaust manifolds and exhaust would still net good hp/tq increases on the 5th gens. How much exactly well have to wait for some to post dyno results. I wasn't blowing smoke up anyone's asses. Honestly I didn't think the two engines were that different but after researching the link you posted Toyota had made nice improvements to the newer engines. IMO the improvements still hasn't made that much of a difference in real world MPGs. But none the less it was good info Thanks for the link.

 

[4RunnerAU]

I've wanted to post ITT for awhile now but whenever I do, my mind goes blank. There's nothing major about my 4Runner that I absolutely hate. Yes, I wish it got better MPGs. I hate the GPS. I hate how the brake calipers prevent me from getting any wheel diameter smaller than 17".

But for some reason, driving it has been the best part of my day for the past 6 months. If I weren't obsessed with getting the avg MPGs above 18, I would drive it more.

 

[4RunnerAU]

All the money I spend on accessories & mods!:flipoff:

Yes - definitely this too!

 

[delloro]

... Btw automotive engineers aren't always the smartest people. It's usually the technicians/mechanics like myself that see the every day problems vehicles have and can probably come up with something better then what the so called engineers designed....

You are high.

 

[Blue15]

Two things that bug me are 1st, the small seats, I don't have a big ass but the seats are small and cushions too hard. My back and ass hurt after 20 miles.

2nd, the radio on regular FM signal fades in and out.

 

[Bilbo]

If they didn't design it for 0W20, why do they say to use 0W20? I know it's for better MPGs, but couldn't they do the EPA testing with 0W20 and then tell us to use 5W20 or whatever? Why does everyone on here want to second guess the Toyota engineers and change their oil every 3,000 miles and put in 5W20? Use whatever you want, use melted chicken fat. ...

I tried running chicken fat. Foxes were really attracted, but the chicks found it disgusting.

 

[oljedi11950]

Not a problem but more of a gripe "rear spoiler" I wish these were removable w/o all the hassle , to much of a cost if something happens to them not sure their necessary IMO !

 

[ECBMCC]

Big ass antenna.... fixed by buying a 2015.

Sat radio reception... sucks azz

So your 2015 no longer has Sat radio issues now?

 

[etc.]

The hard lower cushions of the front seats. Sporty feel, but they start to hurt after a couple 100 miles on the road.

Secondly, the loud road noise at highway speeds. I have seriously been contemplating tearing the interior out to install sound deadener throughout the cabin.

The low beams leave a lot to be desired.

 

[LandCruiser]

Seats stand up to abuse, but the dash (and all interior plastics), headliner, and carpeting don't.

I'm experiencing problems with my driver's door lock actuator.

Lots of rattles.

Salty places make the undercarriage look like a Ukrainian trawler. Paint chips are also rusting already--but the panels are surprisingly dent resistant.

Trailer harness has gummed up with road salt and quit working, will have to replace the entire thing if I plan on towing again.

Stock skids are pretty decent, but do dent and deform easily compared to dedicated trail armor.

I'm getting a burning hair/plastic smell from the passenger rear wheel well which I hope is a dead cyborg rat rather than some bearing that's going to self-destruct at 80mph.

 

[rydr1]

Has anyone mentioned that the worst problem is getting a TRD Pro stolen even with an immobilizer system?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=201638

 

[tristero]

I'm getting a burning hair/plastic smell from the passenger rear wheel well which I hope is a dead cyborg rat rather than some bearing that's going to self-destruct at 80mph.

:lol:

I have the same issue coming from the left front wheel well

 

[06_Limited]

I have not had mine very long, but the instrument cluster leaves a lot to be desired... looks like it belongs in a toy, not a Toyota...:suspicious:

 

[spooln30]

You are high.

Ah I don't do drugs. Lol.
Actually I can recall 2 occasions where a fellow Tech at a Toyota dealership I was working at had a problem that was new and Toyotas techs/engineers didn't have a resolution yet. He came up with a solution and Toyota ended up using his fix and introduced TSBs for both problems. Average people who don't work on vehicles for a living probably would have a hard time believing a tech/mech could come up with a better solution to a manufacturers defect or a crappy design. It happens more then you'd think. Mind you when you work for a great company like Toyota they invest in our educations so we can produce the highest quality repairs. Engineers are people too and I've came across a lot of things over the 15 years I've been wrenching that I didn't agree with from a engineering stand point. I did study engineering in my younger years because I knew it would be beneficial for my career. Understanding it really does help you in real world applications in my field.

 

[spooln30]

I have not had mine very long, but the instrument cluster leaves a lot to be desired... looks like it belongs in a toy, not a Toyota...:suspicious:

Really? You have Limited right? I honestly like the 14+ Limited clusters more then my 12 Limited. I'd rather have the blue light instead of the red like I have now. Plus the 14+ have the information display as well, we're mines doesn't.

 

[spooln30]

Wow reading some of your gripes it's surprising for sure. I agree with the seats being to hard but my 99 4Runner Limiteds seats were just as stiff. Interior rattles I've yet to have any at 54k. My interior is also very quite on the highways and city streets. I also love how bright my headlights are, LB/HB, when I'm up in northern WI on my atv trips I can easily drive in the pitch black night only using my low beams with the fog lights on of course. For a standard bulb set up my 4runner Limited HLs are by far the brightest I've ever owned and probably brighter then most vehicles out there.
Another thing I'm not a fan of but forgot to mention it is the carpet. I think Toyota started using these cheap thin carpeting to save weight for better mpgs. I'd rather have the old plush carpeting Toyota used to use like what was in my 99 Limited. Cleaning it scares me because of it being a thinner material. Probably the main reason why i purchased WeatherTech floor mats right after i bought the truck. Yku still get a couple areas that salt finds and cleaning salt of this type of carpet is a pia. I doubt the weight savings with this new carpet is really helping our mpgs that much and I think could contribute to some of you guys talking about road noise.