Maintenance after sitting for a while?

Alright guys, looking to get some insight on maintenance for my Tacoma that sat for a while before I bought it.

2008 Access cab SR5 4cyl 4x4 5speed. Had just under 24k miles when I bought it.

I bought it about a month ago from a woman who had a stroke about 4 years ago. Her family kept the truck around and drove it very rarely when they needed a 4x4. Unfortunately she never got better and they had to sell it.

Since I bought it I have done the following:
Oil Change
Air Filter
Cabin Filter
New tires (Cooper AT3 265/75/16)
New wheels (Level 8 mk6)

Tires were dry-rotted (an excuse to get rid of the steelies, too ). I found a mouse nest in the cabin filter , and the thing had a pretty good layer of caked on dirt everywhere. I've been getting about 19 mpg on mostly highway driving with no change when I put on the new wheels/tires.

So, my questions are.... what other fluids should I change? Throttle body cleaning? MAF cleaning? 30k mile maintenance would seem to be an obvious thing. Should I expect better MPG?

Thanks in advance!

 

Subd, I have some of the same questions mine will have been sitting for 9 months by the time I get back to it

 

Did you run any fuel injector cleaner through it? If it sat a lot, who knows what kind of sediment or old gas was run through the injectors. I'd do that at least, probably a couple times. I'd probably change all the fluids (brake, radiator, tranny, diff, transfer case, etc.) just to be safe. When oil and fluids sit that long, they start to break down.

 

Look at the maintenance schedule and look at the times (months/years) between services rather than miles and do all that stuff. That's probably the 30k mile maintenance as you say, but double check what happens out to 60k based on time rather than mileage. You are at 7 years which is over 60k for most any "normal" vehicle. That's going to be most every fluid in the vehicle probably!

Doing all those changes is also a good way to spend some time under the truck seeing if there are any other issues to get sorted before they get worse (e.g. torn, worn or degraded boots or seals).

 

Thanks. I like the idea of doing the 60k mile maintenance as well. Funny thing is when I took it to the dealer for state inspection and an oil change (so they would give it a once over) they didn't suggest any type of additional maintenance!

 

I would change plugs and all fluids

 

I would wonder about the age of the gasoline.

 

x2. Just bite the bullet and do it. Then you know whats been done.

 

I'd change fluids for sure. Plugs, maybe if I was feeling real froggy.

 

This. Drain tank and clean out the gunk.

 

Any suggestions on best method to do this? Would rather not completely drain the tank. Any additives?

 

Even though plugs in the 4 banger are good for 120k?

 

A gasoline approved siphon. Modern gas separates over time, especially ethanol blends. I've dropped quite a few tanks in my time and you'd be surprised at what settle in the bottom. before cleaning the fuel system, clean the tank. No additive can replace doing it the right way. I siphon out as much as I can then drop the tank. pull out the pump and put in a couple of gallons of fresh gas, swirl it around and siphon it out. Without dropping tank, just siphon dry, add a couple of gallons of fresh, drive it around the block and siphon that out then refill.

 

I would, but that's me

 

A spark plug change is totally unnecessary. For those that would disagree, please explain to me how the plugs could possibly deteriorate from sitting in what amounts to a sealed chamber for an extended period.

If this was a carbureted motor with a leaky float, sure the plugs could get wet. But that isn't the case here.

But changing all the fluids and getting the fuel tank as clean as possible would be a good call.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World Bryce & congrats on the purchase! The truck looks great with the new wheels.

Engine oil/ gear oil does not break down or "go bad" from sitting. I would say what you have done to the truck is sufficient for something that was not driven regularly. I am sure you have driven it enough so far to get fresh gas in it.

 

I hope they used the 4x4 often enough. If not used often the parts of the gears not in oil will eventually loose the oil layer(as it travels back down to the case). That could cause a problem. I'd give it a good run in 4x4 to get that gear oil back on all the places that might not have seen it for while should be OK unless they drove in really dusty places or had the truck in a situation where the case got water in it.

 

Moisture condensation is what causes the oils to "go bad", as this introduces oxygen which can oxidize various components in the oils. This isn't a worry if the vehicle is driven regularly to drive off the moisture. In a closed system (plastic jug) gear/motor oil will last indefinitely. But once in the truck, its subject to oxidation.

 

He has been running the truck long enough to calculate MPG, so that's at least a tank. Why bother to "drain the tank" after whatever was in the tank is already been used. That might of been prudent before, but no reason to bother now. If there is any gunk it will be already picked up and all over the screen(or fuel filter)

Make sure you grease your fuel door, that apparently is the most important thing you can do to you 2nd gen Tacoma!

 

Definitely check all fluids, especially your brake fluid, that's probably needing a change, as I read somewhere you should change that every 2 years or so. Check for Rust on the frame too, and while you are down there grease the zerks.