Repair advice

[Matsui]

I got an oil change and transmissions fluid drain/fill done for my 09 GX470 (260k miles) at Toyota dealer. They came up with a list of issues that some I plan to address on my own and some probably through my independent shop. Their prices were just too expensive and I don't have that kind of money to spend.

1. Clean Fuel System ($294.08) Performed to Eliminate carbon deposits that develop in valve train, pistons, upper and lower intake manifolds.
2. Fuel injection service ($283.17) Fuel system has build up/deposits.
3. Coolant flush ($268.06) Tech found coolant worn and contaminated.
4. Ext Hsng Seal ($1,298.84) Transfer case pinion seal leaking gear oil - worn seal.

I obviously don't want to pay dealer money, so any advice on these especially for #1 - if just adding the fuel system cleaner is going to be enough or if there is anything more to it?

Also, #4 - I'm hoping it is just a seal replacement and not going to be too expensive (parts/labor)? What is actually involved in fixing this and what parts & part number if you know or based on your experience?

 

[M3GX]

1. Clean Fuel System ($294.08) Performed to Eliminate carbon deposits that develop in valve train, pistons, upper and lower intake manifolds.
2. Fuel injection service ($283.17) Fuel system has build up/deposits.

Bottle of Seafoam engine/fuel cleaner. Follow recommended guidelines and add to full tank of gas, and in oil. Change oil after about 100 miles.

They also have a spray that goes into the throttle body while the engine is running to clean internals.

Maybe also good time to check/change spark plugs

Sea Foam Motor Treatment | Sea Foam

Sea Foam Motor Treatment works in fuel and oil systems to clean and lubricate critical engine areas. Safe and effective when used in any gasoline or diesel engine.

seafoamworks.com

 

[M3GX]

3. Coolant flush ($268.06) Tech found coolant worn and contaminated.

Drain coolant from radiator. Remove bottom rad hose, drain that. Flush rad with distilled water.

You can also get a garden hose adapter and connect it to one of the heater core hoses. Run for 5 minutes or until clear. Alternatively use a 5 gallon bucket and pump with distilled water.

Have had to flush the heater core on my jeep several times.

 

[Matsui]

Bottle of Seafoam engine/fuel cleaner. Follow recommended guidelines and add to full tank of gas, and in oil. Change oil after about 100 miles.

They also have a spray that goes into the throttle body while the engine is running to clean internals.

Maybe also good time to check/change spark plugs

Sea Foam Motor Treatment | Sea Foam

Sea Foam Motor Treatment works in fuel and oil systems to clean and lubricate critical engine areas. Safe and effective when used in any gasoline or diesel engine.

seafoamworks.com

Thank you so much for this advice! Will definitely look into it and try it out. I've never added additives to oil, so it will be the first. Have you done this process and how did it turn out for you?
Spark plugs were changed about 40k miles ago so I think it should be fine.

 

[Matsui]

Drain coolant from radiator. Remove bottom rad hose, drain that. Flush rad with distilled water.

You can also get a garden hose adapter and connect it to one of the heater core hoses. Run for 5 minutes or until clear. Alternatively use a 5 gallon bucket and pump with distilled water.

Have had to flush the heater core on my jeep several times.

I think I'll let my indy handle this one. How many bottles do you think I'll need. I have 2 sealed Toyota coolant bottles sitting around for 2 plus years. Hopefully they are still fine...

 

[M3GX]

Two bottles of antifreeze should be fine. At least on the jeep it is. Haven't done either on my GX yet. But have done the seafoam on several vehicles in the past. Can't really say if I noticed a difference on anything but it also didn't hurt

 

[Rednexus]

You'll also need to open up at least one of the two block drains on the side of the engine to fully drain the coolant. You shouldn't need to water flush the cooling system on a GX, draining from the lower radiator hose and the block drains should get almost all of it (as long as the rig was turned off with the heat on).

For refilling, I'd suggest using a coolant refill funnel (so that air bubbles get burped out while running) or a vacuum-powered fill tool. The GX470 takes 3.4 gallons of coolant, and you should use the Toyota pink SLL coolant (buy 4 gallons total). Honestly, $270 for a exchange at a dealer is not terrible considering DIY'ing it will take around $100 in coolant plus a $30 fill funnel or a $90 vacuum filler, and it's a messy job that will require you to dispose of the old coolant properly (that being said, I do DIY my coolant exchanges).

 

[Matsui]

You'll also need to open up at least one of the two block drains on the side of the engine to fully drain the coolant. You shouldn't need to water flush the cooling system on a GX, draining from the lower radiator hose and the block drains should get almost all of it (as long as the rig was turned off with the heat on).

For refilling, I'd suggest using a coolant refill funnel (so that air bubbles get burped out while running) or a vacuum-powered fill tool. The GX470 takes 3.4 gallons of coolant, and you should use the Toyota pink SLL coolant (buy 4 gallons total). Honestly, $270 for a exchange at a dealer is not terrible considering DIY'ing it will take around $100 in coolant plus a $30 fill funnel or a $90 vacuum filler, and it's a messy job that will require you to dispose of the old coolant properly (that being said, I do DIY my coolant exchanges).

Appreciate your expert advice. Any comments on the other items?

 

[Rednexus]

I agree with a basic Seafoam treatment to remove carbon. Adding in a can of injector cleaner at your next fill-up won't hurt either. Dealer prices for carbon and fuel system cleaning are always insane. But, they can often be quite reasonable for coolant and transmission fluid changes (as they have fluid exchange machines that can do it quickly and easily).

 

[Mike NXP]

1. Clean Fuel System ($294.08) Performed to Eliminate carbon deposits that develop in valve train, pistons, upper and lower intake manifolds.
2. Fuel injection service ($283.17) Fuel system has build up/deposits.
   >>> These top two services are typical upsells. Doesn't mean your fuel system wouldn't benefit from it but you don't need to do it. I know from experience #1 just involves them dumping a can or two of the BG fuel system cleaner in. #2 sounds cheap if they plan to actually removed and clean injectrors, my guess again would be that they are putting additive in the system
   >> Honestly, you should ask them what that cost / labor covers for #1-2
   
   
3. Coolant flush ($268.06) Tech found coolant worn and contaminated.
   >> The tech found coolant worn out, hmm Did he test it ?? You can simply open your reservoir or radiator ( when cold ) and inspect coolant. You could even spend a 10 bucks and get a coolant tester if you wanted....If your coolant is contaminated I'd ask them with what and why is it happening .
   
   
4. Ext Hsng Seal ($1,298.84) Transfer case pinion seal leaking gear oil - worn seal.
   >> Now this is a bit of an issue. Doesn't happen often but I've seen a few people mention the need for repair. Its not a quick easy seal replacement and involves a bit of work to seperate everything to get it the seal .Pretty sure you need to drop the transfer case, do some Googlin'
   > I would try to better understand how much its leaking
   > I would also ask them to confirm that they DID indeed top off the gear oil in transfer case since they found a leak, or are ther hoping its low on oil and will blow up
   > Once you better understand how bad the leak is ( Crawl under there and look ) then you can react to it. If its just a slow leak / weep, could just top off fluid when necessary

 

[Matsui]

1. Clean Fuel System ($294.08) Performed to Eliminate carbon deposits that develop in valve train, pistons, upper and lower intake manifolds.
2. Fuel injection service ($283.17) Fuel system has build up/deposits.
   >>> These top two services are typical upsells. Doesn't mean your fuel system wouldn't benefit from it but you don't need to do it. I know from experience #1 just involves them dumping a can or two of the BG fuel system cleaner in. #2 sounds cheap if they plan to actually removed and clean injectrors, my guess again would be that they are putting additive in the system
   >> Honestly, you should ask them what that cost / labor covers for #1-2
   
   
3. Coolant flush ($268.06) Tech found coolant worn and contaminated.
   >> The tech found coolant worn out, hmm Did he test it ?? You can simply open your reservoir or radiator ( when cold ) and inspect coolant. You could even spend a 10 bucks and get a coolant tester if you wanted....If your coolant is contaminated I'd ask them with what and why is it happening .
   
   
4. Ext Hsng Seal ($1,298.84) Transfer case pinion seal leaking gear oil - worn seal.
   >> Now this is a bit of an issue. Doesn't happen often but I've seen a few people mention the need for repair. Its not a quick easy seal replacement and involves a bit of work to seperate everything to get it the seal .Pretty sure you need to drop the transfer case, do some Googlin'
   > I would try to better understand how much its leaking
   > I would also ask them to confirm that they DID indeed top off the gear oil in transfer case since they found a leak, or are ther hoping its low on oil and will blow up
   > Once you better understand how bad the leak is ( Crawl under there and look ) then you can react to it. If its just a slow leak / weep, could just top off fluid when necessary

For #1 & 2, I felt the same way that it is a hiked price to just add fuel system cleaner. I added a bottle of Seafoam (high mileage) this morning, and may also add it to to engine as well followed by an oil change.

Coolant flush - good advice. I'll have my indy mechanic check to see and figure out what to do. And if i need to flush it, i'll get it done.

Transfer case seal - I took a few pictures of it. Doesn't look too bad, but something that will keep bugging me. They did top it off when I took it for service and did not replace it while I was getting the gear oil replacement which included the F&R diffs and transfer case. They took some money off from the total price.

 

[Mike NXP]

Hmm , just make sure that is fluid and not grease from drive shaft.

Here is a video showing replacement of leaky front pinion seal on transfer case

 

[Rednexus]

That looks to be a rather minor seep. I'd add a few ounces of AT-205 to the T-case next time you change the fluid, which may be all it takes to dry up the seal leak. As long as it's just seeping and not leaking, I wouldn't worry about replacing the seals it. If it gets to be dripping and causing a loss of measurable amounts of T-case fluid, then I'd get it replaced.

 

[Matsui]

That looks to be a rather minor seep. I'd add a few ounces of AT-205 to the T-case next time you change the fluid, which may be all it takes to dry up the seal leak. As long as it's just seeping and not leaking, I wouldn't worry about replacing the seals it. If it gets to be dripping and causing a loss of measurable amounts of T-case fluid, then I'd get it replaced.

Excellent. That's a relief.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Back in early 2017 when I first bought my 2003 GX470, I went to the Lexus dealer to get an oil change and request a free replacement dashboard.

The Lexus service tech said he would do a 40 point inspection for free.

Well, the oil change back then was like $60 at the dealer, but I had a coupon for $40. He put me on the waiting list for the dashboard, and gave me a list of 10 items that needed service that added to $5000. I said I needed to think about it because I don’t have $5000 to spend on repairs.

I then went to my Indy mechanic and basically said I only needed new rear brake pads and rotors for like $250.

So, use the list from the dealer to check with your mechanic. The only thing in your list that may be worth verifying is the transfer case leak. And based on pictures you posted…that’s not even the transfer case…it looks like grease from the drive shaft u joints which typically/normally spews out when you add grease. So, very normal to see grease splattered around.

 

[Rednexus]

So, use the list from the dealer to check with your mechanic. The only thing in your list that may be worth verifying is the transfer case leak. And based on pictures you posted…that’s not even the transfer case…it looks like grease from the drive shaft u joints which typically/normally spews out when you add grease. So, very normal to see grease splattered around.

Some dealer service departments can be quite crooked. I don't really use dealers for service, but have a lot of family members who do, and have had to talk several of them through "issue lists" that are huge with recommendations that were borderline fraudulent (Subaru dealers are the worst about that - and they love to target older/retired people and women - hopefully Toyota dealers aren't as bad). Often times the service advisor and even the technician will get a commissions based on up-selling - so they financially benefit by making that list as long and as expensive as they can, and hoping the customer bites.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Some dealer service departments can be quite crooked. I don't really use dealers for service, but have a lot of family members who do, and have had to talk several of them through "issue lists" that are huge with recommendations that were borderline fraudulent (Subaru dealers are the worst about that - and they love to target older/retired people and women - hopefully Toyota dealers aren't as bad). Often times the service advisor and even the technician will get a commissions based on up-selling - so they financially benefit by making that list as long and as expensive as they can, and hoping the customer bites.

It seems like the service technicians are nothing more than salespeople taking advantage of the situation for a commission.

And that’s why a dealer maintained used GX470 could be a great purchase! A lot of replaced parts and unnecessary services already done.

 

[aztoytec]

Ouch….

 

[Matsui]

100% agree with HomersCanyoner and Rednexus. I take dealers recommendations with a grain of salt and to go over it with my indy. So far my he has indicated what you have said that it is not a leak from transfer case as much as it is the grease from the driveshaft. So far he has done a complete inspection and the only thing he has found so far is to replace the left wheel bearing and the hub because I was feeling vibrations when driving over 60mph (talked about it on my other thread). He also said that the left caliper (part of PowerStop brake kit) seems to be seized a bit and asked to check with RockAuto on the warranty. Based on my search it is a 2 year warranty and since I bought it in July, 2024 it should be covered so I will file a claim and see how it goes. He also said that the front shaft was dry and seemed like it was never greased so he greased that as well.

 

[Rednexus]

It seems like the service technicians are nothing more than salespeople taking advantage of the situation for a commission.

And that’s why a dealer maintained used GX470 could be a great purchase! A lot of replaced parts and unnecessary services already done.

It seems to depend on the dealer. A lot of the dealers around here have been bought up by big interstate conglomerates. Once the dealers lose local ownership, business practices can quickly to go downhill. The few local/independently-own dealers we still have seem to treat customers better.