First 5,000 mile/6 month service check up Saturday, anything extra I should ask the dealer to check?

Plan on telling them to check/service the following:

1. Trans Fluid
2. Grease U-joints
3. Change Oil.. obviously
4. Rotate/Balance tires.

Anything else should be looked at?

 

If they follow the book, they won't do an oil change at 5k. It's a 10k interval under normal use. Others have reported low diff levels as well.

 

Toyota specifically says to have it serviced at the first 5k miles or 6 months. They even send out reminders in the mail to do so.

 

Read the fine print. There is a small #2 next to guide services. At the bottom is says Excludes service items listed as special operating conditions. In the manual, oil changes at 5K are listed as special operating conditions. Which are not covered. Only oil changes at 10K and 20K are covered.

So yes maintenance is covered every 5K with oil changes at the 10K and 20K intervals.

The trucks come with 0w20 full synthetic which has a change interval of 10k unless the vehicle is operated in special operating conditions like off-roading, dust, etc. then it is 5K but that is not covered as stated.

Typical misleading document with the fine print.

 

Front diff, rear diff, transfer case fluid levels. Torque propeller shaft bolts and leaf spring u-bolts.

 

Ok sheesh had my 5K service - its an OIL CHANGE, rotate tires and top off all fluids. The LUBE at 5K is a special service thing - I had asked my dealer to do the lube - they did not do it and specifically put on my receipt the LUBE was not covered by Toyota care and was not performed. I had to do it myself with 10+ pumps into each zirk. Ask them to do it if the u-joints empty its free if the u-joints were lubed already then you pay, they will be empty.

5K service is an OIL CHANGE. After that you're good until the 15k service on oil.

 

nope, the 5K service is NOT AN OIL CHANGE! It says so right in the maintenance manual! Your dealer may have mistakenly given you an oil change at 5K, because that used to be the norm. But don't be too surprised at your 10K that they say well you have already used one of the 2 oil changes you get, do you want to pay for the next one or use the last free one. Oil changes at 5K are recommended by Toyota for special operating conditions NOT covered by Toyota care.

Many have already taken the trucks in for the 5K and got no oil change. Some requested that they use one of the free ones at 5K. But at the end of the day the 24 month 20K mile Toyota care will give you 4 service checks and 2 will be oil changes.

 

Ok I took a look at my receipt from the 5K service. Oh and BTW the warning on the dash is for a OIL CHANGE...

So on my receipt is does say

"*** 5000 miles or 6months Svc (No Oil Chg) at 5000 ***

under that part of the receipt it then has the following"

"5 . 000 MILE SYNTHETIC SERVICE"

I checked my dip stick and there was new clean oil on it, and I checked before I went in for service and saw the dirty oil.

They charged me $33.99 for the oil change and gave me a credit for $33.99
so I got a free oil change - I went in for service expecting an oil change and asked for that as well as a lube. They didn't do the lube but changed the oil for free anyway.

So yeah you're right about the 5K not being the scheduled time to change the oil but its probably a great time to do so imho - my mistake... I'd still get an oil change anyway even if I had to pay for it. $34 = peace of mind.

I change my oil in the spring and the fall every year all vehicles, I don't care what the manufacturer says, oil breaks down even synthetic oils from heat and cold cycles and other variables, proven fact there. Costs me more to change it myself than to have someone do it for me, glad Toyota stepped up to the plate and did the right thing for free. I'll be going back for more service at my local dealer. Doesn't hurt that the service mgr owns a 2015 TRD-Sport DCMT same as me cept mine is a 2016.

Next time for the oil change I will tell them to "lube EVERY OIL CHANGE every 5K miles put it in my permanent record I'll pay if I have to".

 

Yep, it can be pretty confusing. Toyota will "always recommended" oil changes at 5K. But Toyota Care only pays for 2 in 20K. That saves a lot of money for them. Prior to 2016 I believe Toyota care paid for oil changes every 5K which could explain dealer and customer confusion.

When owners think 5K service, we think oil change because that is the big reason we take vehicles to service, and Toyota Care says free service for 20K which is 4 service visits and they list the "recommended items", so it implies we are getting oil changes, but of course the fine print says otherwise. And of course this is perfectly legal misleading technique by them, which is unfortunate standard practice today by companies.

I remember years ago a class action lawsuit was brought against Best Buy for advertising really low prices, and having the unreadable fine print "after mail in rebate"

 

they just want you to get into the habit of doing $$$ syn oil changes at 5k so they can make more money

 

I just spoke to my service mgr, I had my bill in my hand, he said it did not include an oil change!! I checked the oil prior to visit - I know for sure it was changed. I explained the issue with the u-joints and I want my truck lubed and oil change EVERY 5K - write it down.... I don't care if I have to pay. Done.

They get one more shot, then it's DIY. The paper work is seriously mis-leading.

I asked what does the "5.000 synthetic service" on my paperwork actually mean, he said "yup you you have synthetic and it only gets changed every 10K, we did not change the oil."

Wait what??

I didn't want to argue so I told him to service my truck the way I want it serviced. I off road some so its heavy use, make it so.

Sheesh does my truck look like a Prius?

 

April fools?

 

Your right, I do know the last time I brought in my truck prior to 5k the service guy mentioned to not forget to bring it back for the oil change at 5k miles. I guess its just a 10 year old habit from working with tacomas.

But... I do have some free oil changes, I guess if they do it I wont cry so long as I'm not charged.

I am curious as to why the maintenance reminder on 3rd gens is set at 5k and not 10k miles.

 

it isn't that confusing. look at the milage then the bullet points under each, it clearly says what will be done at each service.

 

hummm mine is up for service according to them but im not at 5;000 miles yet i wonder how much i should expect to pay when i go lol

 

OK Kids - I verified with Toyota Care that lubing the u-joints is a assembly plant responsibility. So I'd ask your dealer to PLEASE check and lube my driveline. They are not doing it at dealer prep and its not a scheduled maintenance thing until 15K - by that time your u-joints will have burned up and your tranny and or rear diff could have toasted too! Crazy..


Quoted:

"Mr. Brown,

Based on your inquiry, I did research and confirmed that the grease fittings should be filled during production. Checking them is not part of the pre-delivery inspection vehicles go through on their delivery to the dealer.

Your particular situation has been documented along with the information you provided from the blog you are a member of. Even though you have now filled the fittings, we would recommend having the vehicle inspected. They can also check other similar Tacoma vehicles on their lot to verify no one else will experience what you have.

You can be assured that Toyota has and will continue to take appropriate measures to address any defect trends that are identified.

Respectfully,


Toyota Customer Experience Center"