The 4Runner is at 30K and due for an oil change.
Of course the dealership is offering a whole list of "Preferred Service" options including:

Front & Rear differential fluid exchange
Brake fluid exchange
Transfer case fluid exchange
Fuel injector service

Keeping in mind that I do intend to keep the vehicle for as long as possible, are any of these necessary or beneficial at 30K?

I could be wrong, but 30k seems premature for some of those?
Also, probably significantly cheaper to DIY the fluids. Unless it's a complementary service.

Oil and filter, rotate tires, drive on.

Diff fluid: maybe, if you do serious off-roading and especially go in deep water. Otherwise, too early.

Brake fluid: beneficial, but too early.

Transfer case: see diff fluid.

Fuel injection service: unless it has gasoline direct injection, not necessary.

Check the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual. I doubt if it calls for any of these things yet, or at all, unless you meet the definition of "severe" service.

quote:

are any of these necessary or beneficial at 30K?

IMO, marginally beneficial but not necessary.

I didn't do the Front & Rear differential fluid exchange and Transfer case fluid exchange until around 100K and it didn't look too bad.

Add a bottle of Techron or Lucas fuel injector cleaner every now and then.

What I've noticed is that dealerships advocate for more frequent fluid change than is prescribed by the manufacturer.

30K for brake fluid and differential fluid change? Why?

Politely decline.

When the differentials and transfer case are assembled, there is a possibility of machining material left inside. There is also some break in wear.
30k miles would be a good time to change it, if you're not off roading or crossing water, I wouldn't change them again until 100k or so.
No on the injector cleaning if you're using top tier fuel.
Brake fluid is hard to say, it will usually start getting a dark color.

Possibly brake fluid but I think that’s a bit premature. Axles and transfer case, off roading a lot or severe usage aka towing I’d say at 50k.

Injector flush, nope not as long as there is no performance or driveability issues.

And fluid exchange is a fancy description of drain and refill. The only time I’ve heard of that term being used was by a third party flush kit company that used that description in conjunction with their power flushing equipment as used with their transmission services. And those I definitely say run away from.

What does Toyota suggest in the owners manual for those service intervals.

It's a bit vague. There is no maintenance schedule in the Owner's Manual proper, it is in a separate Warranty & Maintenance Guide. It calls for inspection of differential and transfer case oil at 30K under normal driving conditions. Unless I missed it, the Guide does not specify changing out the oil through 120K(?).

None of those additional 'services' are necessary at your current mileage. Leaving things alone mitigates the possibility of human error...which is rampant.

I would schedule exactly what the manual states is required as normal maintenance and warranty compliance, the preferred sounds like it goes a bit past that, which ever makes you more comfortable.

There would be nothing wrong with doing the preferred services, certainly would not hurt anything to do them.

Have the same 2019 4runner, S5.
42,000.
Use that BG 444 once and awhile and never worry about injectors. It works.
Towed a trailer across the country and back, so I did the differential and cases. They were dirty. Same with transfer case.
Not even close on brake pad wear so I'll do fluid when that happens.

Of the things listed, the brake fluid is the closest to needing replacing. I change brake fluid every 5 years. The rest of the items listed I do based on mileage unless I screw up at the boat ramp and dunk the differential. Fortunately, I’ve avoided that so far.

I recently bought a 2020 Ford Escape from a large Ford dealer. It was a CPO, and allegedly had a full service prior to delivery. This was a couple months ago, and I have put significantly less than 1,000 miles. I just received an email from the service department at that dealer, urging me to bring the car in for service:

quote:

The Works®* synthetic blend oil change and more

• Tire Rotation and Pressure Check
• Brake Inspection
• Vehicle Checkup
• Fluid Top-Off
• Battery Test
• Filter Check
• Belts and Hoses Check

I did my front/rear diff and transfer case a few months back. I was NOT paying Toyota what they wanted for it. It's VERY easy and a fraction of what toyota wanted.

With that said, my 4Runner had about 90k on the ODO. My rear diff had a ton of shards on the magnet, the front diff and transfer case oil looked to be in very good condition.

quote:

Originally posted by MRBTX:
Oil and filter, rotate tires, drive on.

This.

Ask that dealership about their “wallet flush”.

What's the owner's manual say? Dealerships will sometimes give short intervals than what the manufacturer set.

Brake fluid is usually recommended every three years since it's hygroscopic. I used to never worry about changing brake fluid until about that but the last 10 ago. With the antilock systems and everything else it's cheap maintenance but I do it myself.

Some differentials use the break-in fluid and should be changed early. My Honda called for the rear diff to be changed at 12000(I think but something early). After the first change, it goes to a much longer interval.

I would follow the manual.

FWIW I’ve never changed brake fluid on any car. I’ve owned at least 4 cars with ending mileage at close to 200K and never had a brake issue.