Recently I spoke with some highly educated people who have 4runners and we began to talk about how great they are, etc. I brought up how the rear window being able to go down is great, especially in the summertime and they told me how it can be very dangerous to have the lower window down because the carbon monoxide can get inside the car when the rear window is down. Is this true? Has anyone heard of this before? I have a 2000 4runner with the rear spoiler.

 

I really doubt the levels entering are high enough to be dangerous. The exhaust isn't even straight out the rear, it's off to the side.
MYTH BUSTED
Now if you're 4runner is smoking :

 

Yeah, it's true. My first gen was pretty bad with the exhaust blowing back in. My 3rd gen seems better to me thanks to the wing, but it still produces a smell of exhaust when I drive with it down.

Erich

 

How does the wing help any. I think it's just aesthetic.

 

i thought the spoiler was to deflect rain or something.

 

 

no its to deflect air down onto the back window to help it keep clean of dust and crap. (and it does work)

 

I know with my truck, I get the monoxide anyway, so I would think having the windows open would actually help me out a little bit.

 

Does anyone think it is extremely harmful to have it down halfway? A quarter of the way down?

 

IMO, if you have much of an exhaust smell you're risking trouble. I only drive with it down if I have something sticking out the back, and then I have the vents on and maybe crack my front windows.

And snap-on is right-on, the wing is to deflect air from the top of the rig down across the back window to blast off dust and rain. The 1st gens don't have it so you get some serious dust build up bombing down dirt roads

Erich

 

i drive iwht it down exept my YotaTech Sticker showing no problems. the wind deflector thing works.

 

I drive regularly with all 5 down and never so much as caught a wiff of my exhaust. I do have the rear spoiler, so I guess it's doing it's job?

 

I love having it down, screw carbon monoxide!

 

A vacuum is created behind the vehicle when you drive down the road, which will suck the exhaust fumes inside the vehicle.

 

 

but if i have the 2 front windows down, wouldnt the wind coming in blow it out before it could effect me?

 

 

x2

I have mine down all the time in nice weather...and I'm just fine....

 

think if it can "blow dust and rain" away it COULD also push the carbon away also. i bet it weighs less than dust does!

 

I wouldn't drive with just the rear window open. But it does relive the pressure when the front windows are open. If my fronts are open a little then I almost always have the rear open about the same. If the fronts are open all the way then the rear is also open all the way. I almost match the height of the fronts and the rear. I have also opened the rear a little to pull the A/C to the rear seat. I rarely smell CO. I love the rear window and think all cars should have one that opens.