What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Magnuson moss warranty act is centered around upgrades and additions to the vehicle and does not apply to preventive maintenance. Even the wording shows it won't apply to things changed, but can't void a warranty that wasn't affected by the change. For instance, you lift the vehicle, CVs and shocks may no longer be covered, as lifting it affected those items, but your transmission will be covered under factory warranty still.


Failure to do preventive maintenance will void a warranty... And if you can't prove you did it, they can say you didn't and indeed void the warranty.

 

While @ 60k miles my F-250 experienced loss of power & while smoke out the tailpipe. I told the service writer. They drove it & replaced my headgaskets under warranty. Not once was I asked where I changed my oil. Hell, I have a tuner on the truck & they missed that.
Also, we drive Toyota's. Who has has a catastrophic failure unless it truly was your fault (running it with no oil).

 

I am not trying to fight. We all know that if it came down to it Toyota would make you pay. They have lawyers just for that.
I am however stating that I think Toyota is trying to intimidate us into paying an uneducated person to loosen a drain plug & filter housing to keep prices up.
I am personally more concerned with bulk oil out of a tank & tanker trucks not being clean. Now that I think about it; I told my salesman I would be doing my own as I hate bulk oil.

Why do I have a feeling that if we all called our dealerships in the morning we would have a dozen different answers.
Toyota wants to win & stack the deck like a casino...

 

Well I was doing my free-for-life oil changes at the dealer. Then I started getting a nasty smell while driving. Over filling oil? It calls for 4.3 quarts, Corolla. It was way up to the top and a lil over the dipstick dot. Now since I changed it myself with 4.3 it’s way below the dipstick dot where it should be...

 

Exactly. It is not commonly known but the oil level should not be to the top of the full line. You need to compensate for thermal expansion. As oil warms (especially if very cold) it will expand; putting the oil exactly where it needs to be.
This is information I have gain as a lawn & landscaping contractor. The smaller the engine, the more important the oil level! If a machine only uses less than a quart, you cannot afford for it to go low @ all. I check all my equipment daily when in service. I will admit I only check the trucks about once a month (small engines inherently burn oil as do diesels but the oil capacity of my ford is 15qrts (just short of 3 gallons of oil). Unless there is a leak, it won't get low!
In short; @ room temp (for the engine) the oil should be half way between the low & full hash mark's.

 

I’m just an old poop, but if my vehicle manufacturers say it takes 5.5 quarts, when i drain the oil, then refill with 5.5 qts. I take notice of where that puts it on the dip stick. I then maintain that until the next change, hence preventing under or over filling.

 

Ya it really gets tricky on sport bikes. I think mine holds 2.8 liters. Always have to double check, what the heck is a liter?

 

I went into our dealership. I asked our salesman about doing my own oil changes. He said to ask parts but tons of people do. He recommended a log book also.
Parts lady was able to get my current mileage on my receipt for my filter. Now every filter I buy is date & milage stamped. She said "you better ask a service advisor as I am just sales" duh! Lol
Service advisor understood what I wanted & why (no bulk oil). He said he would keep a logbook just in case. Then I told him of the milage notes on their computers when I buy filters.
Also, at this price; it is a no brainer!
Now I am getting ready to do our first oil change. One tech told me to drain the filter so I don't break the housing. Does anyone have any other advice for my first time on our T4R?
Eating lunch & going to buy oil then head to my shop.
Thanks in advance.

P.S. none of them had heard of a warrant claim being denied for oil changes. Even the service advisor that has been with Toyota since 1995!

 

They have a white Supra Launch Edition @ sticker. Plus, huge rebates on '19 Tacoma PRO's (apparently that never happens).
Nothing in Army Green on the lot. Also, the new Supra is tiny! Looks nice in person but it is small!

 

I used my phone camera... But then a friend of a friend edited it and made it look like that.

Here's the original...

 

They need to PROVE you didn't maintain the vehicle. Keep your receipts, it's really that simple. There can't legally void your warranty because you did your own maintenance, period.

 

picked up a Thule Motion XT in preparation for Christmas travelling.

 

Didn't someone here find color matched door edge trim? I have looked everywhere.

 

So we shall do this again, because I couldn't get rid of personal info.
I did our first oil change today. Just over 6K on the clock. It was fun learning about our T4R! The only thing that struck me as odd was the need to remove 16 bolts to get to the filter & housing.
*any first time oil changers, be aware*
It wasn't difficult; fun actually learning about our T4R'S. Just took a while to learn. I am very glad that the counter person told me about the filter drain plug. That is important.
Also, was shocked @ the price of a OEM filter @ the dealer (under $6 with tax). Got a new hat (just because) & installed new OEM LED fog lights.

 

Filter drain plug? lol, guess I need to read some more! How do you like the fogs?

 

16 bolts?

maybe my trd pro is different but it’s only
Like 6

 

Another silly/stupid observation. When buying the filter cartridge removal tool (Which I somehow forgot to buy on my first trip). Said it was applicable for nearly every Toyota, Scion & Lexus including the GX... I took it to the counter to inquire. Since I had all my skids off we tested it. Perfect fit!
It is seriously like Toyota really designed the 4runner to go to a dealer for maintenance. It doesn't matter what T4R you have they designed them to want you to take it in for service. They figure if we bought a T4R the maintenance is pocket change. Even if it was free (as would have been the oil change I just did). I know the SR5 doesn't have the skids...
I for one shall never surrender! I can figure it out or I know of a local real off road shop that can! Pending a recall or warranty work.
Do it & enjoy it! You will be rewarded with a sense of accomplishment! It is well worth it!

 

Actually 12 bolts. 4 per skid & 3 skids. I was counting the bolts I took out for the fogs.
Still 12 bolts is insane!

 

The filter drain plug is a plastic piece you put into that little aluminum puck you see on the bottom of the cartridge housing. Then install the plastic piece & it empties all the oil in the filter & likely more! It flows out. Very easy and worth the security!

 

I forgot to mention how I like the OEM black housing fogs. They don't throw light as far as I would like but I imagine that once I get HID's in there I will have full coverage.
Better the halogen & the LED's the LED's win hands down every day. The side spread is insane. They are a great upgrade for about $120. I would buy again.

 

There is no need to remove the rear skid plate. There is a small section of the skid that gets un bolted, 2 bolts, allows access to the drain plug. 4 for the front skid, 5 for the stupid plastic filler. 9 bolts total and you're done. Drain plug and filter housing don't count since every vehicle on the planet has a drain plug and a filter that needs to be removed. That just goes without say.

 

Hmm, I picked this up. Had threads on the bottom but the hole is sealed? Guess I'll see with the oem plastic one, just curious

 

I will learn. This was my first time so it took some extra time & patience so that I didn't break or mess anything up.
Thanks for the tip!

 

I imagine that if you don't release the pressure that oil would just squirt everywhere as you unthread the filter.
I also heard that the point of the drain plug was to prevent breaking of the plastic housing which is not a problem for you any more. I still see oil spraying everywhere.
Keep us all informed. I wanted an aluminum filter housing but my dealership couldn't find it & thought it was aftermarket. Stupid kids. I would still like to invest in a aluminum housing for longevity and pure robustness!
Thanks.

 

Did you have to change out the middle metal piece of the housing? That is one thing I saw online is that you must change the height of that stack.? Any info will help.
Thanks as always!

 

https://youtu.be/Nsql811cqIU

 

Lol, don't know, I traded the 19 less than 5k miles so never changed the oil. Maybe I'll just keep trading to avoid oil spraying out

 

Just make sure to sell me all your mods! Lol

 

Sorry to clutter this thread, found a good link for the metal housing. Thanks Ryan! I would have been stumped when trying to change the filter, lol
https://trail4runner.com/2019/04/17/genuine-oem-toyota-metal-oil-filter-with-motivx-tools-wrench/