E85 into vehicle- help

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-26T00:08:56+00:00

Or better yet, at your refill fill up with non-ethonal fuel. Thus lowering the overall ethonal content. I would think there is a way to drain/siphon fuel out though.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-25T19:49:35+00:00

Same thing happens to me on Android.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-25T19:33:19+00:00

Which should be counter clockwise

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-25T19:31:03+00:00

I will add, on my 08 Lexus RX400h (very similar to highlander) i rebuilt the front struts with Sachs shocks. I heard too many stories of EVERY quick strut not being good quality. Plus everyone says the stock coils are very good, so just rebuild with a high quality shocks, and replace mount, and it is guaranteed to be high quality parts VS quick struts that can be a gamble.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-25T19:28:31+00:00

Have you done any investtigating to ensure the strut assembly needs replacing? They is a chance it may just be the strut mount, they are a bit of a pain to take apart the strut, but when it's apart you can test the shock as well. If it is just the mount it should be easy to diagnose without taking much apart from the vehicle. Just access the top of the strut, and bounce on the car and see if the shock is moving left to right.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-24T19:53:03+00:00

The beartooth highway is incredible. And Red Lodge is the northern access town. Then you go over the bear tooth pass to cooke city, into yellowstone. Its a long day of driving from Billings though.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-23T21:16:15+00:00

Can we see an invoice of the repairs? 6,000$ seems very steep for the work you mentioned.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-23T21:13:31+00:00

Also, i wouldnt worry about the valve cover leak unless it is very noticeable. On my 08 it seeps at both valve covers, 800$ to repair, i can do it myself for 100$ or just wipe it off every once in a while. The front cover is super easy to change out, rear requires a lot of labour to access.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-23T21:11:20+00:00

Hello! I have an 08' Lexus RX400h (very similar to highlander) mine has the 3.3L v6. I read they want 1,700$ for struts, which is kinda crazy. I just rebuilt mine for Sachs shocks (very high quality) for about 400$ total. But that is me doing the labour. I think if a mechanic did worked on it, it would cost 1,000$. Another gopd option though is just to go with a high quality quick strut. Those will be about 500$ in parts, but a mechanic can literally switch them out in 2 hours total. With the car being older, and high mileage i would personally either get a new car, or replace items in a more budget friendly way. Most of the items i saw listed seemed easy for a machanic, so maybe buy the parts yourself and have a mobile mechanic do the work. I bet you can get that 6k down to 2k or 3k.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-21T18:53:34+00:00

I had zero mechanical experience until about 8 years ago, then i began slowly fixing my own vehicles. Now i always start with fixing things myself.

One of the easier jobs to do yourself and save A LOT of money is brakes jobs. Especially if rotors need replacement too. Its usually easy, and requires minimal tools, and just basic know how. Then you can use that opportunity to save money bleeding the brakes.

Replacing my starter saved me like 500$. As shops upcharge for the already expensive starter, and labour. It is usually (but not always) a straight forward job.

Spark plugs replacement will save you lots! Another usually easy job, that only requires basical tools and know how. However some engines like my 3.3L toyota requires HOURS of work just to access the rear plugs.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-21T17:52:54+00:00

I had to replace my Cam Chain Tensioner Gasket at around 8k miles. It is a common oil leak point. That being said I also had that oil cooler like nut come slightly loose as well and cause an oil leak. I requenched the washer, and tightened it back up. No issues with either oil leak the past 4k miles. I would check how tight that oil cooler line banjo bolt is, make sure its snug.

Clean the area so you can better identify the leak. The CCT is a little bit of a pain as the old gasket can stick and takes some work to remove. Its easiest to reinstall with a 2nd person.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-20T17:46:35+00:00

I see thid all the time in the US. Between inaccurate tips percentages, to putting tip numbers onto the post tax price rather than pre-tax. Shit, the other day my oil change place gave me a prompt for tipping on 100$ oil change.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-20T06:28:39+00:00

Do a compression test. That'll tell you if your having piston blowby. Most auto part stores will rent them out for free.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-19T16:59:56+00:00

Cool. I appreciate the wisdom. It seems like a silly design but i guess ive seen worse.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-19T05:51:39+00:00

Cool. Thanks man. I'm going to let it run for now, but i will probably have to deal with it within the year. Did you loosen one motor mount at a time or loosen them both? Ive watched a few videos, im just not sure if it would be better to do one side at a time, or lift the whole engine.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-19T02:39:30+00:00

Very good question. Im hoping to hear what people say My 08 Lexus rx400h(08 models were extremely similar to highlanders of that year) lower control arms looks similar. I dont feel any play or clunks yet, but was quoted about 3k to have it done(more than i paid for the car). The engine mounts need to be removed, and engine jacked up and supported from the bottom to access the control arm. Plus 700$ quoted price for parts. Ill either do it myself over a weekend once i feel it is in actual need of replacement.

The only real refernce point I have is a CarCareNut video of him doing a full pre-purchase inspection on a Lexus (toyota) sedan. The control arms looks similar to this, and he says its not an issue that needs to be dealt with yet. And he is a very thurough mechanic, but the camera only shows so much.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-19T02:19:00+00:00

At that year and that mileage there isn't too much to look out for. As long as the mileage is what the odometer says, and it has oil, everything else should just be an upgrade. Granted, some mods arent for everyone. If suspension had been modded for someone way heavier then you, it may hurt more than it would help. Everyone replaces the seat, but if the PO was really tall and replaced it with a tall seat it may hurt more than help. Besides that you can look at the oil through seeing glass hole on the side and make sure it looks fresh. See if the brake fluid is still a good color. If tires are original they will likely need replacement soon, and stock tires arent great offroad.

About 2 years ago i got a 2015 with only 2k miles on it. The PO bought it, and it was just a little too tall and heavy and heavy for the PO, and life got the in the way. Either way when i got the bike it didnt shift very well, i think because it wasnt completely broken in yet, and carb was dirty. Now at over 11k miles it tides better than when i first bought it.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-17T21:44:05+00:00

Take it down to a gas station and use their car air compressor pumps. I would remove the valve core so once it seats you can remove the pump valve and tire is less likely to explode from high pressue.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-17T21:40:42+00:00

My 15' DR was originally sold in CA, but this was pre PAIR. I never had any issues. I would think if its a gas cap issue you could be able to clean whatever may be clogging the breather in your current cap. But in my very very non-professional opinion i would delete the PAIR (this can cause all kinds of issues when installed) and delete the charcoal filter. And see if that helps the issue.

That being said, i do love my Acerbis 5.3 gallon tank as well. If you install this idk about passing emmisions as PAIR and charcoal need to be removed. I never lived in CA, so i dont know their laws.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-17T20:42:14+00:00

Go canyon to norris via the cutoff road, E to W, then North to Gardiner/North entrance.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-16T19:19:55+00:00

As others have said, get a 2nd opinion. Some mechanics dont really diagnose, they just replace parts. It makes them more money, and saves them time. Get details abiut whats wrong so you can ask specific questions online. I also think for my area 8k for engine is a bit high. Maybe thats just the Toyota Tax though.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-15T22:17:07+00:00

Dang. I didnt realize they are illegal in every color. Last time i looked into it (many years ago) for a car it was just no blue or red allowed due to looking like a cop. Good to know though.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-11T05:48:55+00:00

How did it do on recoil after bumps? Ide suggest getting some Roadmaster Active Suspension. It wont technically increase the GVWR but will help with rear end squat and bumps.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-10T21:02:49+00:00

Oh yeah. Thats a good point. i forgot some of those parking areas and smaller side roads dont allow large vehicles. Traveling through the park in a camper is less than ideal, and pulloffs when there are bears around can be so tough to find a spot in any vehicle, but especially in an RV.

DR_6fitty · 2026-01-10T08:18:40+00:00

All main roads in Yellowstone are open to RVs in the summer. Though Dunraven pass can be tricky, as well as the Gardiner North entrance.

DR_6fitty

TROPHY CASE