On a more serious note

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 09/30/2018 at 22:00 • Filed to: 4Runner

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Change your damn oil!

An engine with 105k miles on it has no business being that crusty under the cap. We’ll see how it looks in 5k miles with synthetic in there. The (conventional) oil I drained out wasn’t terrible, but not brand new either. The sticker on the windshield claimed it was good for another 1500 miles but... no. It’s my car now so it does as I do.

In other news, I’m going to get parts this week to redo the brakes. They work but aren’t confidence-inspiring. Fluid is completely black, no reason not to think it’s original. Flex lines are starting to crack, a ll the bleeders are going to break (rusted in pl ace) , one (maybe both) calipers are dragging, and the rear shoes are wearing unevenly so I’m just shotgunning the entire system except the rear drums themselves.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MM54 09/30/2018 at 22:11

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I'm still not at all jealous. No sir. Who needs a 4runner anyway... Oh god I might need a 4runner anyway

vicali > MM54 09/30/2018 at 22:14

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1GR Tacoma’s have a habit of freaking out their owners;

This is normal. In winter that little plastic section condensed water and turns the water to milk. Short trips and not fully warming up make it worse.

nj959 > MM54 09/30/2018 at 23:10

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How does Oppo feel about putting Seafoam (or similar) in engine oil. I’ve never done it (never needed to) but I’ve heard varying things about its effectiveness and riskiness.

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > nj959 09/30/2018 at 23:30

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Personally, I’ll probably never do it. I’ve heard too often that it can clog your oil pump up. Doesn’t seem worth it since I’ve never had an problems from engine sludge, at least yet. 

slipperysallylikespenguins > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/01/2018 at 02:03

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No 4runner. xj all the way

Berang > MM54 10/01/2018 at 02:19

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pcv working right?

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > MM54 10/01/2018 at 07:35

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Hope it had Synthetic originally or you may have just opened a big can of worms.

Good luck.

MM54 > Berang 10/01/2018 at 07:44

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Unknown (I’ve had the car for 6 weeks and been on-site for work 4 of them) but on the list for maintenance catch-up.

MM54 > nj959 10/01/2018 at 07:47

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I use it in the gas tank now and then, and will even run some through the intake if it acts like it needs it - but I wouldn’t put it in in the sump. If nothing else, you’re thinning the oil out with solvent which isn’t exactly something you want. I understand why people do it (if the engine is really bad inside, it’s almost a “can’t make it worse” scenario) but I sure wouldn’t. A good oil should have an adequate detergent pack that after some time of appropriate change intervals it’ll clean it out fairly well unless it’s too far gone (at which point, throw in some seafoam or MMO or something, why not) .

MM54 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/01/2018 at 07:48

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Okay, Mr. Generic Internet Response to Using Synthetic Oil.

MM54 > slipperysallylikespenguins 10/01/2018 at 07:51

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I looked at XJs 5-6 years ago and even late ones had some serious electrical problems at a minimum. This 4Runner is from 1999 and other than a couple burned out bulbs in the HVAC panel, everything works as it should.

(Not to mention every XJ around here reached David Tracy levels of rotted-out years ago)

MM54 > vicali 10/01/2018 at 07:52

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That plastic neck looks like a nice cooling tower for the crankcase vapors!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > MM54 10/01/2018 at 10:08

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Educated response based off issues stemming from switching from conventional to synthetic on a few vehicles.

If it’s always had synthetic or synthetic blend, you’ll be fine. If it was conventional and you changed it, be ready to start replacing seals and gaskets as the synthetic finds its way out of them where the conventional wouldn’t.

Not hating on synthetic, just giving you fair warning from experience.

MM54 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/01/2018 at 10:43

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I’ve switched before as well; while small leaks may start to seep a bit more, I’ve never seen the sort of catastrophic geysers that The Internet always suggests.

Besides, a car not leaking anything would be very out of place in my collection!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > MM54 10/01/2018 at 11:28

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I’ve never had catastrophic failure either. But going from 1/4 qt between changes to 2 qts between changes is a big deal to me.

MM54 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/01/2018 at 11:30

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That’s a pretty big jump! Definitely worth replacing some gaskets at that point. The 4Runner had a slight weep at the valve cover gaskets (as they are wont to do) which I plan to keep an eye on, otherwise any leaks will be new. Time will tell!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > MM54 10/01/2018 at 16:02

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I wish you luck. 

MM54 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 04/11/2019 at 23:12

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Hello! Welcome to a reply to a post you made 6 months ago. The 4Runner is now due for an oil change (a little over 5k miles since the above) and I have not had to add any oil; the level has barely moved. The slight weep at the valve covers is still a slight weep, and it’s generally very strange to me to have a car not misplacing any fluids.

Just a follow-up since I happened to be in this post looking for the date when I changed it :)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > MM54 04/12/2019 at 07:06

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Here’s hoping this still holds true for many miles.