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Comments
Higher octane (in an engine with higher compression ratio) can produce more horsepower. However the higher octane fuel actually has less total energy and should yield slightly lower fuel mileage in ordinary driving.
That presumes the engine is designed for the lower octane fuel and that you're not running the engine near it's peak horsepower. A good assumption, I suppose, unless you're trying to get a 4000 lb. trailer briskly up to highway speeds or up a hill!
I have to concur with corancher about MPG. I have calculated about .3 mpg better with 87 over the 93. It seems more logical that more performance and power=less mpg, but some will say otherwise, who knows...
Question: Is there any recommendation regarding the frequency of changing grades? (I'm talking Toyota specific here if anyone knows this engine really well.) I would like to experiment but again, I want to pamper my '03 and not be rough on her at all...
My wiper behaves poorly (only making contact with the glass for the outer-most 2.5 inches or so) in cold weather (below freezing). I had it to the dealer and they sprayed WD40 into the pivot joint. That didn't help at all from what I have seen since then.
I'm going to play with it this weekend and I'll report back if I learn anything.
-Eric
By the way, my light auto cut off system stopped working two weeks ago so I took it to the dealer this week. They reset the computer and now it is back to normal...I have no idea what happened. I sure hope rebooting my car computer doesn't become common practice.
SV
I, like burt2, use Kelley Blue Book research site to find all the options that I am looking for. Edmunds used to do real well at reporting all options. But this past model year, they are missing a lot, and not just on the 4Runner, but also on several other vehicles. Check it out to see what I mean. Use the 4Runner. You will really see the difference.
Do you guys have any influence to get this corrected? Sure would be nice. I do like Edmunds site.
My last 4Runner also had similar performance but it wasn't this bad. It may have something to do with a combination of wind lift and the way the off glass wiper parking position. There is also the fact that this is winter and the wiper rubber is cold.
There is some "Maintenance required" light that comes on at 7500 mile intervals. I have yet to see it, but read in my owners manual that the way you turn it off is by holding in the odometer"reset " button while the engine is off. Turn on the engine while holding the "reset" button until the "Maintenance Req'd" light is off. I had a 99 Honda that worked the same way.
I figured I would do oil changes at the 5,000 mile interval for severe driving conditions. I'm taking it to the outer banks in NC in 3 weeks, and may go play on the beach with it.
Even if that's not severe, I think 3 oil changes vice 2 every 15,000 miles is cheap engine insurance.
tidester, host
22. Why doesn't Edmunds.com list option prices for some makes and models?
Almost all Acura, Honda, and Suzuki options are dealer-installed. Some manufacturers, like Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volvo, will offer both factory- and dealer-installed options. Pricing for these items can vary depending on region and dealer. Therefore, it is impossible for Edmunds.com to list an accurate price for these items. Our experience shows that these items often carry a 100-percent markup in dealer profit. We recommend that you avoid buying dealer-installed options if you can help it.
FAQ
Steve, Host
As for the service intervals, I was told 7500 or every 4 months when I picked up the vehicle. On average, I'm not going to be driving it nearly that much. Is the timing important, or can I just go by miles? I've generally tended to do the latter with other vehicles. How will this affect the warranty? I might make more than 7500 miles this year, but in other years where I'm not doing 3 or 4 road trips, it may only be 5000 miles or so.
Steve, the options I am referring to are factory installed options that are available through out the country. Not dealer installed options. I am also aware of regions offering different options and packages. But, you know, KBB shows those regions different options. Why cannot Edmunds do the same? Or at least just give us the standard factory options available like they used to do.
I don't know how the data people keep up with all this stuff in the first place, not to mention trying to track all the incentives that seem to change every week.
Steve, Host
Has anyone else seen this problem ? I do not believe the spare was loose and sliding around. The steel frame members are just too sharp to be in contact with the rubber under pressure. There should be some type of shield at the contact points to distribute the pressure more evenly.
I would appreciate any feedback from others if you do or do not see this problem.
Thanks.
Steve, Host
I use Schaeffers #703 blend with an AC Delco UltraGuard filter every 8k because 4k changes would be a bear.
Good luck,
Jack
When I changed the first filter (new) it was the Japanese version of the filter and the filter cap did not work. I had to use a hammer and screw driver to get the #@#$ thing off.
I have also read some people take off the skid plates to get to the filter. I now have gotten pretty good at changing the filter. If you have ramps, it is best not driving all the way up, or you can even change it without ramps. If you get the 4Runner too high up, it becomes harder to reach. Bottom line, it is a real pain.
I would like to keep the door ajar buzzer though, i.e., when you lock it and the door is ajar it buzzes at you.
Oil changes...my '98 was a bear and so is an '03 V8. Your best to take off the skid plate, otherwise oil will drip on the plate and do a slow drip off that for a few weeks.
The only thing I will suggest is that you keep the Runner out of overdrive. That means 5th if you have the V8 and 4th with the V6. Even with a transmission cooler, you will be FAR better off in the long run. Your engine will rev higher but your transmission will work much less and stay cooler.
I wonder if dealers could download the codes that are available for Japanese 4Runners (they're called Surfs, I think) to allow the customer to open and close all windows at once using the remote control.
Does anyone have this problem?
SV
-Permanently remove the rear segment of the skid plate. This makes it much easier to remove and replace the part under the oil filter.
-I used a "cam-lock" filter wrench which would tighten up and grab the filter when it was turned counterclockwise. This slips on the end of the filter like a cap-type, and is driven with a 3/8" extension. With about 18" worth of extension, the wrench could be turned by inserting the extension through gaps in the rubber splash guard inboard of the left front wheel after fitting the wrench onto the oil filter.
I envy the new V6 owners their intelligently engineered oil filter location. I haven't changed the filter on our '03 V8 yet, but it looks about as much a PITA as the '98's was.
-Karl
Also, I noticed the rainbow effect on the rear wiper. It's intermittent. Not a big deal so long as they can fix it.
Those are the only two things I can criticize on this vehicle. Fit and finish are excellent. Quiet! The six has more than enough power and pickup. Very smooth shifting from the tranny. At 130 miles, I really like this thing. Hope I can say the same at 100,130.
As soon as I run some gas through, I'll be back with some mpg numbers.
JC
The plastic strip on mine matches your description as well in turns of it being loose. I don't know if this is a design flaw or not, but in my case, the part that is right next to the front wind shield physically came off. The dealer has ordered a new one to replace it. I guess we will all find out soon enough whether the strip will be a problem or not.
SV
Appreciate your honest thoughts. I am shopping, and off-road ability will count in my evaluation, unfortunately can't check this out on the test drive!
BTW, since this is still winter, I didn't get to try very difficult trail yet--just easy to moderate.
Handling was excellent with 2 people on board plus luggage plus tool case and spare equipment for my work just in case I got called out over the weekend (did not want to drive back to New Orleans to get company van and then back to Natchez or Vicksburg to do job). Did a good job on the 2 lane state roads which can be very curvey and in some areas very steep with hills close together like a roller coaster ride. It did shift to a lower gear on the longer steep climbs but then went back to OD when it reached the set cruising speed.
I will report back when we get our own vehicle which should be soon as the drive was mainly for my wife to evaluate the car (she will be using it most of the time and I get to drive it on vacations and special occasions). Now she is as excited about it as I have been and is willing to spend the money.
Roger
A few of our salesmen were asking me to explain DAC and HAC. I took three of them out with me. I put it into 4 LO but kept the center differential unlocked. I moved to the edge of the hole and idled over the edge. The bank is VERY steep and it took all the restraint I had to keep my foot off the brake. The system worked. Just as I was about to hit the bottom, my speed reached the threshold for the DAC to kick in. I felt and heard it engage and I made a nice, soft landing at the bottom.
Next, I turned around and took it out of the low gear range. I drove half way up the bank and stopped. I then released the brake but didn't hit the gas immediately. I did start to slip back but the brakes kicked in and slowed the backwards progress. When I did hit the gas, it was decidedly more controlled than if this system didn't exist.
I tried the same uphill experiment in the low gears range. There is so much torque from the V8 that even without touching the gas, I made forward progress.
Scroll back a couple of weeks for my description of how it handled this same lot after the big snow.
It seems like they broke from their "this is still a real 4WD with body-on-frame and 4 low" theme on this. Maybe they had to make the front wheel wells smaller to get the V8 in.
Thoughts?
-Eric
Hope that helps someone.
I also live in CO and have been wondering whether to use 85 octane gas or not. I assumed you have not encountered any problems.
SV
Am I missing something - can the rear window be closed from the remote or is your only option (from outside the vehicle) using the key?
I used to hang out in the vans forum when I had my Odyssey. It's like night and day.
I am really glad I bought a 4runner.
I do actually want to do some easy to moderate offroading in this vehicle. I'll probably get some guidebooks to Colorado trails first. If I didn't want to offroad, I think I'd have been better off in a minivan (yeech) - better mileage, more room, just as comfortable.
Unfortunately, my windshield has already developed a 10 inch crack in the lower left corner (probably due to being pelted with rocks and sand from snowstorms a couple weeks ago). The auto glass place says the windshield for the '03 with the special mirror on the LTD can only be obtained from the dealer, and they're backordered a couple weeks. Any idea why these windshields are backordered? Just because it's a new model? Thankfully, I have full glass coverage - learned that lesson after having the windshield on my Audi replaced twice within about 3 weeks due to rocks/cracks.