Cost Effective Tips to Make your new 2nd Gen last forever

Ok, looking for what I can do now with my new truck to 1) make it last longer and 2) reduce the cost of long term ownership.

Example - I have seen posts about LCA bolts not being lubricated from the factory, resulting in siezed bolts that will prevent a good alignment and the need for new control arms. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/217265-lca-question.html

Lubing the bolts when new and periodically would seem to be a cheap and easy way to prevent this problem.

There must be a bunch of other things that can be done like this to make my Tacoma last longer and make ownership cheaper and easier.

Lets hear some more examples.



List So far: (if you have links to posts on anything please post below and I will add them)

1) Lube the LCA bolts http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/217265-lca-question.html


2) Add extension hose off air con condenser drain line to prevent drainage into frame channels

3) Extend rear diff breather - allows diff pressure to equalize and prevents hot diff pulling in cold water through seals if you go through water

4) Frequently inspect underside, paint and lube, maybe seal with Fluid Film or other such sealant. Wash off after exposed to road salt.

5) Periodically lube locks and hinges

6) Change brake fluid and clutch fluid every two years. It's easy, cheap, improves braking performance, and prolongs the life of brake components. (Also power steering fluid)

7) If you have 4wd, you need to engage it occassionaly - owners manual says 10 miles/month - But - you should not do this on dry pavement as you may do more harm than good.

8) Keep engine bay clean. A clean engine bay looks nice, but it also makes it much easier to identify problems early, it inhibits corrosion, and it's much nicer to work in a clean space.

9) Install an Oil Catch Can http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/231227-oil-catch-can-install-guide.html


10) DON'T FORGET TO GREASE YOUR DRIVESHAFTS! http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/te...ntire-drive-shaft-u-joints-5-zerks-total.html

Other maintainence issues to be aware of:

1). Blower motor chirp http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/28355-blower-motor-squeek-chirp-low-fix.html
2). Needle bearing replacement http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...nt-differential-bearing-vibration-thread.html
3. Wind whistle noise. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/189392-2012-whistling-sound-indentified.html

 

I don't personally know for the 2013 Tacomas, but for 05 and 06 I know that just driving it and using it for its intended purpose (as a truck) worked for people that kept on regular maintenance. I know an 06 TRD Sport v6 that has probably 300,000 on it now (haven't seen it in a long time) that was just kept up with oil changes, plugs, air filters, and other routine stuff and the only other things that needed to be changed were tires and shocks. Was used as a work and hunting truck. Work was for seamless epoxy floors and hunting in the New England and PA areas. I know there is a guy on the forum that uses his early second gen as an overland truck and it has a lot of miles on it

 

Yeah, I know they are supposed to last - but want to make sure - the post above about the LCA bolts would definately seem to be a good move because no one wants to spend $1000 if it can be prevented and seems the prevention would be close to free, and yet it doesn't seem like common knowledge or would be considered routine maintenance. Looking for other such tips.

 

I like to crawl under my veh with some spray paint and hit as much as I can to keep the rust down. I also lube all the hinges and locks

 

Adding an extension hose off the end of your AC condenser drain line to prevent it from draining into the frame channels. Thats my big one.

 

Good idea!

I extended my rear differential breather.

Also, either keep up with rust like Billy mentioned or have the truck undercoated early.

 

Proper maintenance and don't cheap out on what fluids and parts you use. If you don't want it to wear and tear faster don't lift it . . .

 

Great!

There are 3 more good ones -

1) Extension hose off AC condenser drain

2) Extended rear diff breather

3) maintain chassis with paint/lube or maybe fluid film?

 

Keep it stock and keep up with maintenance. Hit 700k in no time lol.

 

thats a good idea. I havent heard of that one before.

 

I tried telling this to many New Englanders on this forum before. No one seems to understand that you can't make a truck rust-proof, especially in the New England environment. I did exactly like Billy mentioned at least once a year when I was in Cape Cod. When people come on here bitchin about rusting frames, I'm sorry they get absolutely no pity from me.



I'll take a shot of my AC drain extension, it was one of my first mods and first rust spots that developed on the frame.

 

Fluid maintenance, mechanical maintenance, washing the truck are things I like go keep up to date. Gonna do my spark plugs again.

 

I actually bought a fluid film kit to undercoat my truck and am second guessing it. It is a great product and will protect the frame but, because it never dries, it collects road grime and crap on your frame. This isn't an issue as far as protection, it's just doing it's job but it means if you have to get under the truck to do work, if you touch anything, you get a layer of thick black crap all over yourself or whatever you're wearing.

I'm not trying to bash the product, it does it's intended use very well from what I have seen, I just don't want it everywhere on my underside.

 

Yeah - I have heard that as well. Have been debating this one with myself as I am not in a super high road salt area. For me, maybe just periodic inspection and touch up, spaying off road salt would be effective enough and more pleasant for getting under the truck.

 

Id say use a dry lube like teflon for that. It should last longer and not attract dust and dirt.

 

Now that sir is a great idea and I look forward to seeing your mod for it.

This is a great thread, keep um coming. LCA will get done this weekend along with ac drain.

 

Would be great if you could do a thread with pics on these......

 

X2, how are you supposed to lube the LCA bolts? Just spray some dry teflon lube and jack the truck up and down? Doesn't seem like it would penetrate very far.

 

I am going to mark the cams then pull them out and use neverseize

 

You have to pull the LCA bolts out, apply neverseize or grease, and stick them back in. Make a mark from the cam bolt to the frame so you can re-align everything when you're done.