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

Dinosaur versus synthetic. 5k versus 10k... and go!

 

Very nice. Brand? I keep finding the middle height shelf, but not the top shelf. Is the center shelf one long piece or two bolted in the middle?

 

The Camry in the video was a 2015 model, maintained by dealers, oil changed every 10,000 miles, oil used was 0W-20 synthetic per owner manual (there is no 0W-20 Dino oil). At 120,000 miles it was burning 1Qt/1000 miles, dealer said this is normal. Oil consumption rate kept increasing and at 180,000 the engine was trashed. The video shows the damage due to oil failure.

The Car Care Nut, as well as other mechanics, keep saying that a 10,000 mile oil change interval is too long. Even a lower quality oil will survive 5000 miles but you’re taking a real risk pushing any oil to 10,000.

 

The issue that I have is that multiple Blackstone tests show that most synthetic oils are still completely fine after 10,000 miles.

 

"completely fine" is not operating at like new condition and is subjective. I have a classic, and even if I was running a full synthetic I would not push it anywhere near 10k. Although the oil is probably advanced enough, it's the vehicle's parameters it was designed around is what I would look at. It's kinda the equivalent of running premium in a vehicle designed for regular gas, it's just not necessary. On a newer vehicle with tighter tolerances and updated tech, maybe push it closer to that threshold. Oil changes are not expensive maintenance items, a vehicle's engine is.

 

Top quality oils test well but who knows what dealers use. This guy relied on dealer service at recommended intervals and it was inadequate.

Instead of adding $30-35 to each 10,000 oil change interval I just apply that cash to another oil&filter at 5,000 miles.

 

He was a tech at a Toyota dealership. In the video he lets the cat out of the bag and says we think the dealer uses Toyota oil but in reality they use the cheapest synthetic they can find. Do not trust dealers. They have a bad reputation for a reason.

 

You do you.

For every subject there are hundreds of thousands of opinions, and not a single one of them is objective. While I respect his opinion and knowledge, his opinion is just that.

And for that one Camry burning oil, there are 9 more on the road with 6 digits on the odometer doing just fine.

 

Yes. Everybody should do whatever they want. And maybe if they have special knowledge or useful opinions try to help others with good advice.

I had to look up the definition of the word “opinion”.
There are several definitions. Here are some from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:

noun
1. A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

2. A judgment based on special knowledge and given by an expert.

3. A judgment or estimation of the merit of a person or thing.

4. The prevailing view: public opinion.

I guess you have to pick the experts you want to believe.

 

“completely fine” was my terminology, not Blackstones. Their analysis shows if the oil is breaking down in any way (or not), if the engine is wearing prematurely (or not) and based on those analyses, they give you a recommendation on how often to safely change your oil without damaging your engine.

In fact, using Blackstones statistics would be even more prudent than blindly changing your oil every 5k because they can give you a recommendation based off your individual driving habits and the specific oil you use instead of just lumping everyone into “normal” or “severe” drivers.

So if someone is TRULY concerned with their oil change interval, why wouldn’t they get their oil analyzed by Blackstone? Cheap insurance, right?

 

One piece center shelf. Rado Designs.

 

I'm very familiar with Blackstone's oil analysis, which can even measure certain levels of metal in the oil (i.e. rings, bearings etc) and determine how they are wearing. Also blindly saying that everyone should extend their oil changes to 10k is not accurate, and not taking into consideration each engine is different. Oil changes are also cheap insurance to protect your engine, so an extra one or two a year is not an expensive venture.

 

Lmao you’re genuinely the most argumentative and know it all person on this forum. Not just this topic.

 

(Posting on topic, sorry to break the flow)
Did a rear camera relocate from Aiden James Custom and installed a TireSwing from Dirtcom

 

2nd oil change. Rotated tires. Replaced cabin air filter. Cleaned engine air filter (still looked clean). Lubricated propeller shafts. And a fresh wash!

 

Who's saying this?

We're on a 4Runner forum talking about the 5th gen 4Runner.......where the recommended oil change interval in the manual is 10,000 miles using 0w20 full synthetic under "normal" driving conditions and 5,000 miles under "severe" conditions.

I'm advocating to follow the science and go by Blackstones recommendation that literally takes into account YOUR driving conditions and the oil YOU choose to use for YOUR individual motor. How is that controversial?

 

Looks great!

The trd pro rack is growing on me.

 

I love my Molle panles/shelves.

 

Removed the stupid side steps, swapped wheels and tires from my wife's 4runner to the new 4wd 4Runner. Hers had some AT tires and my 2013 had some highway tires. Made since to put the AT's on the 4wd and the HTs on the 2wd.

 

I've always liked the pro rack look. I wouldn't want one, but I appreciate it on the pros

 

My rav 4 mirrors just showed up. Planning to put them on this weekend and probably get around to finally installing my replacement rear door struts

 

Do the RAV4 side mirrors have both the heating function and blind spot monitoring light up on it?

 

I finally got the low profile bumper and the clearance wings. SSO it is. Not sure about the Viper cut thing, but it is done.

 

Heating yes, compatible with 2020. Probably more years, too. Blind spot monitoring light, I don't know.

I have a 2020, so it was before blind spot monitoring. I put the Rav4 mirrors on mine a couple months ago. They're AMAZING. It took me a little while to get used to them, but once I did, oh boy!

 

I have not looked into that, what specifically do you like about them more than the 4Runner’s mirrors?

 

LOL…Forgetting the paddles.Classic

 

Wtf is Dick Cepek?

 

I can’t even begin to tell you how much safer these mirrors are for freeway driving. For the first few months I drove it the blind spot was a real issue for me. People drive so fast here that even if I turned to check, .5 seconds later someone was there going 90 mph. Really any road with more than 2 lanes is so much easier and safer to navigate with these. And installation is a snap. We’re talking 10 minutes and no tools. I saw a video where the guy took off the mirror cap. Don’t do that. Just swing the mirror around, pop them off, unplug the defogger wire. When you plug the wire in on the RAV mirrors you have to turn it 1/4 turn from what it was. I can’t remember which was flat and which was up and down but it only goes on one way. Super easy.

I bought mine here https://parts.olathetoyota.com/ Just get the part numbers.they were $126.54 when I got them. You won’t regret it.

 

Thank you.