Just brought home my new to me 87 4runner, and I want to do the usual go through and clean up on it. Most of it's fairly obvious (new tuneup parts, oil, filters). However being new to Toyotas, I am wondering what the best fluid and parts would be. I know on many vehicles asking this can start religious wars between one brand of fluid/filter and another. But if someone could at least tell me what the major "factions" are here that would be a help. Also, any advise regarding synthetic fluids vs the old ones? I know on many older motors/trannies/diffs/brakes, putting in a synthetic for the first time can cause leaking seals. Thoughts on this? Anything else I should be renewing here? TIA

 

i am also pretty new to toyotas but what ive picked up is that a Haynes Manual for your year can help you out a LOT, K&N air and oil filters are (supposedly) the best because they last the liftime of your vehicel, and its not terribly important as with other cars what brand fluids you use because the 22r and 22re engines (im guessing this is what you have?) can stand up to pretty much anything. ive even accidently driven mine with NO oil for a few miles and since then ive put 10k on it wihtout a problem. good luck!

 

OEM!
OEM!
OEM!

theres a reason our trucks can last so long. toyota did a pretty damn good job designing them and theres no reason to stray from oem parts.

Synthetics are pretty much all personal preferance. I run good old dino oil in my truck and it treats me well. I'd rather not chance old seals and synthetic for no reason.

on a side note wix oil filters are probably the best for the money. lol

 

I like synthetics because I don't like changing my fluids. The change intervals are a lot longer on synths. Amsoil's is 25K on oil/filter and that's what I use (tranny change interval is 100K w/ Amsoil). Redline, Mobil 1, and Royal Purple are other good brands of synths.

Sometimes you'll lose a little oil thru the rings/seals the 1st time you change over to synth, but it doesn't continue for long. Once you go synth, you're supposed to stay w/ it, but I've done it w/o any problems.

 

I'll tell you that you need to put in there what Toyota recommends. My truck has never had an oil leak in its life and still as of today does not. Amazing huh? Well its a toyota treated well.... and it runs conventional oil..... it has ran it since day one. Only because toyota said so. OEM OEM and more OEM..... If you replace plugs and wires they better be NGK or OEM or your going to be sorry..... You don't have to change all your fluids.... just check em and i guess ur oil you can change.... check fluids and keep them full. Don't put anything else other than what your manufactuer recommends. If it was off the dealers lot or rebuilt you could get by with putting synthetic fluids for its life.... its really up to you i supose... sythetic provides a lubriacation and lasts longer than reg oil.... but an engine not used to it will react... A K&N airfilter is ok for a yota i run one myself and it does fine.... but anything else don't bother....