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

Oil changed with a Fumoto valve install with a new metal filter housing.

 

Stock size?

 

Looks great! I love my KO2's. I had them on my last Taco also and they do great in the Colorado Rockies.

 

Got the runner detailed and then went into the mountains to take some pics

 

Well looks like the 4Runner is gonna get a little drive time. Been having some trouble with my lml recently come to find out it’s a blown head gasket, likely from a pretty wild night of dropping chains and burnouts off the rev limiter a couple months ago

 

Yes, sorry - stock!

 

I'm having internal discussions with myself over oil changes. I want to install a Fumoto and DIY them, but damn I hate changing oil when it's so cheap and easy to just take it in (after I take off the skid plate so the dumb shits don't strip the nuts). I'm due one soon so it's decision time.

 

Look great

 

I can beat the price from the dealer and it takes less time than driving and waiting. Totally up to you but for me, it’s cheaper and faster to do it myself.

 

I like. Just recently put on TRD Pro wheels (the "old" ones) and Nitto RG in stock size. Considered going aftermarket wheels but I've always liked the stock wheels over aftermarket (for perceived trade in reasons...I love aftermarket wheels on 4R's).

 

And not to mention the most important thing... you know it's done right. I'll likely do it myself.

 

If you're doing half the work, then it becomes an expensive oil change. You've taken the skid plate off, then headed over to get the the oil changed and finally, put the skid plate back on.

Besides, worrying about the skid plate but not the drain plug or filter is the wrong way to look at it-if the skid falls off, no big deal. If the engine seizes because the drain plug came out, that's way more dangerous deal.

 

True. But in all my years of driving (30+) and with most of those being me letting the dealer do the oil change, I've never had an oil change related incident once. Going by that trend I'd say it's probably safe to do. At this point it's a question of how well you know the dealer and how paranoid you are. And the skid plate is easy. Properly disposing of used oil is more of a chore. And they have great coffee at the dealership.

 

Drove to the beach in NC for surf fishing, three weeks driving in the sand. It was awesome! Then two days cleaning inside and out after getting home. Btw, even the original Dunlop tires worked fine.

 

Depending where you live, disposal can be as simple as putting the container out with the recycling or taking it to Jiffy Lube.

Regardless, you just made two points, in 30 plus years, you haven’t had an issue. Point 1) why take the skid plate off if you’ve never had an issue? 2) The guys at the dealership really aren’t dumbshits.

Edit: I should add that I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with doing the work. Especially if your skids are not factory. For example, I have aftermarket skid plates on my Tacoma. I would expect to be charged extra if they needed to be removed. The other thing is if the dealer strips the threads, that’s on them, not you.
Most oil changes are fixed price. So you are paying twice to do it.

Finally, shops make mistakes just as DIY folks do. I cannot tell you how many times someone has come in to have something they screwed up repaired and then ask for the repair be covered by warranty…

 

Looks cozy!

 

Cleaned up my solar wiring. It used to be white but mostly hidden behind my awning. I sold the awning so I wrapped the cable in black braided split loom. It's the small details that count. If you can't see it, then I did well

 

I’ve had others advise me that’s it’s easy to strip out screws on the skid. And I’ve never had a dealership have to remove a plate before. So I have no experience with that. Safe than sorry.

Dealership employees vary greatly from place to place. Even in the same department. I have it from here. Thanks.

 

Can I post here? The dealership does a superb job on my 4R. But the Corolla was a little different I don’t think they knew it takes only 4.3 quarts of oil.

 

You're free to do what you want. But please don't call the folks you've let work on your vehicles "dumbshits" when you haven't had any issues since you started driving.

 

Ok man thanks.

So, back on topic. I looked back in this thread and found some awesome ideas for a tissue holder in the console. Might be handy for anyone if they found themselves overly sensitive to something they read on the internet. I know I'm buying some to keep on hand.

As far as my own 4Runner, recent changes are blacking out any chrome with overlays, installing the Pro grill garnish piece, Pro wheels, Nitto RG's in stock size, and 1" lift up front until I decide which lift to go with (and I can find it in stock). Roof rack shopping now too, but not in a big hurry for that since it won't have to be used too often.

I won't count my weekly inspection of finding new paint chips and trying to fix them as "mods", but it almost qualifies.

 

I don’t want to bring myself down to this level. However, I will say this… you could be more considerate of other people online. If your defense is that it is just online and people shouldn’t be sensitive then maybe you don’t belong. We try and be civilized in these forums and kind. But as the new guy here and you are already stirring trouble I am thinking maybe you need to show a little respect. The fact is you just classified everyone that is a mechanic into a single group and called them dumb (won’t say the other word because I don’t curse). Fact is there are very smart mechanics. Most of the time the new people working as a mechanic get the easy jobs (ie: oil changes, tire rotation, etc) and the experienced mechanics get the more technical work like rebuilding an engine. So saying that you trust yourself more than a possibly new mechanic I can understand. But calling them dumb is not polite. I hope that you are more polite in person than you are online. Just because you are online doesn’t mean you should be any different. We are all humans and should all show each other respect.

Have fun blacking out your 4Runner. I hope it goes smoothly for you and it looks awesome in the end. Look forward to seeing some pictures.

 

I didn't mention any names, did I? I simply pointed out a cool mod. And being new to a forum hardly means I'm new to the internet or other forums. Now, that said, no, I don't care for people who seem hellbent on arguing over such a softcore comment. I come to forums to have fun. And if someone is offended, it's never my intent. Perhaps I'm so familiar with forums at this point that I feel comfortable on any of them. However, I don't know that I've ever had an experience like this before on any of them. Interesting.

And I mentioned I hadn't had any bad experiences yet with oil changes. I can certainly share some stories about what dealerships have done to my vehicles in other areas that would spark much more offensive language and backup my initial assessment. I'm well aware of good mechanics and even had a recent experience(s) at my dealership with two of them. Above and beyond quality of work, but I've also learned that's not the norm (many times). Hence my comment.

Thank you for the well wishes on the mods and I'll post pics at some point. Glad to move on to back on topic things at this point.

 

I've let the dealership do the first 3 free oil changes. They haven't messed is up that I know of, but I'm not sure why it takes them 3½ hours.

 

Washed both 4Runner's yesterday.

 

rolled over 80k the other day and missed taking a pic of it LOL.

 

The way I wash vehicles that would take me 3.5 hours. Two 4runners in one day is commitment. Well...assuming you meant hand washed. Well done if so.

 

That's the only way to wash, by hand

 

Installed the Heftyfab sliders

 

Have you tried a pressure washer and foam cannon? Exterior goes quickly!