Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

4Runners never go bad, but the 4Runner owners... Now that's a different story altogether.

 

Depends on how much money you want to put into it, and if you want to slap a built LS in it.

 

My 4runner has a secondary air injection. As far as I understand, the factory foam filter inside it can fall apart with age as well, theoretically speaking.

 

Yes, you are correct. At that's what I've read. It falling apart can lead to a costly repair. It's it takes maybe 10 minutes to replace the stock filter with the Uni filter.

This is the stock filter.


And again, if I can do it, anybody can do it.

 

Maybe I will change the filter in mind just to be safe. Thanks for bringing this up!

 

Same here.
On a side note, I asked Grok the eternal question.

Is 2nd generation Tacoma the best gen:


Whether the second-generation Toyota Tacoma (2005–2015) is the “best” depends on what you value in a truck, but it’s got a strong case for a lot of folks. It’s often praised for hitting a sweet spot—bigger and tougher than the first gen, with a bulletproof 4.0L V6 option that pumps out 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, yet still cheaper and less tech-heavy than the third gen. That simplicity and reliability are why you’ll see so many still on the road, racking up 300,000 miles or more with basic care. Off-road enthusiasts love it too—plenty of aftermarket support and a rugged build make it a modder’s dream.

But it’s not flawless. The frame rust issue carried over from the first gen, though less severe, and early models (2005–2008) had some transmission hiccups Toyota later smoothed out. Compared to the third gen (2016–2023), it lacks modern goodies like adaptive cruise or a slick infotainment system, and the 2.7L four-cylinder can feel underpowered for its size. The first gen (1995–2004) has diehard fans for its nimble, no-frills vibe, while the newer fourth gen (2024) brings turbo power and hybrid options—though it’s too fresh to judge long-term.

Owner chatter backs this up: Reddit threads like r/ToyotaTacoma often crown the second gen as the durability king, with folks boasting about their 2014 TRD Off-Roads still crushing it. Data-wise, it avoids the third gen’s early transmission gripes (2016–2017) and holds value like a champ—used prices stay high because demand doesn’t quit. Still, “best” is subjective. If you want raw reliability and a platform to build on, the second gen’s a contender. If you crave tech or efficiency, you might lean newer. What’s your priority—durability, cost, or something else?

 

The outside cover just snaps into place.
There is 1 screw to remove, it's a #20 torx. Remove filter and remove round air inlet cover, it also snaps in place. Mount Uni filter to air inlet. Put it all back together. You should have 2 pieces leftover. The old filter and the air inlet cover.

$20 Uni Filter UP-107 1" Clamp-On Breather

https://www.amazon.com/Uni-Filter-U...filter&qid=1740586601&sprefix=,aps,407&sr=8-2

 

Won't that void the warranty?

 

We don't need all that fancy stuff.
2nd gen is a perfect example of what God created on the 8th day.

 

Maybe, if it was still under warranty.

 

It’s nice to see a picture of it. It doesn’t seem to have degraded much given its age. Did it feel crumbly? Does it break apart or seem brittle if you pull on it?

The sai is probably an “issue” because of the timing of when they can fail. It seems like it can last a long time, meaning that if it fails, it will be when the car is older. A big repair bill on an older car always seems to suck much more than the same bill on something newer.

If your filter still feels flexible and non-degraded, I might hold off on mine till it gets older.

 

I renew every time I get the call.

 

If you’re purchasing an “aftermarket warranty” I suppose it will be in the fine print whether or not something like the SAI is even covered. Some of those contracts can be quite picky, and function more like a insurance policy, where denials are what make them money.

Other warranties can be more along the lines of pre-paid service contracts where everything is covered (probably more expensive).

I’d leave it alone if you’re sure your warranty will cover it. And if you’re sure that you’ll still be buying a warranty policy when it fails.

 

I'll have to go trhough my pile of warranties. There are so many. I'm such a sucker for telemarketers.

 

The SAI probably falls under “emissions equipment”. If that’s the case, manufacturer warranties tend to have longer periods of coverage for emission equipment, as required by law. The manufacturer’s warranty booklet that comes with the car new explains it.

I think manufacturers have to cover most emissions problems up to 8 years since initial sale date IIRC. However, I have no idea if aftermarket warranties are legally obligated cover emissions at all, so it’s definitely worth checking.

 

It still felt good.
With 140k miles it's just a bit of preventive maintenance. From my understanding toyota does not sell just the filter. I may be wrong on that.

 

Good to know! I’ll probably wait till about that mileage too.

I also remember hearing the same about the filter not available as a separate part.

 

I've got some land to sell you.
It's 8 miles east of Sheboygan.
Beautiful sunrises.


Serious though. I saw a TV show where the person said they lived 8 miles east of Sheboygan.
Hollywood writers