Top 10 maintenance procedures for maximum tacoma life

Hey all:

I'm a new member, and I have a stock 2008 double cab 4.0L 4x4 short bed with 150,000 miles, mostly freeway. My truck is in excellent condition and I am hell bent on making her last to at least 300,000 if not more. So here I go, time to open up a nice can of worms with this question:

What, in all of your opinion, are the top 10 or so things to do for maintenance to maximize the life and wellness of my truck? Obviously, fresh oil/oil filter and air filter are probably #1 and #2 on the list, but other than that, what are some top maintenance procedures that should be emphasized to make a tacoma last forever? I'm thinking serpentine belt, spark plugs, differential fluid, tranny/brake/coolant/PS fluid......am i missing anything?

Lets hear it! Thanks everyone.

 

Frame rust prevention if you live in snow/salt country.

After that, it's just a vehicle, and needs the same care that any vehicle needs.

Regular recurring maintenance with reasonable quality products, replacing wear items and things that break with OE or better grade parts and you should be just fine.

 

Best guide to that will be found right in the glove compartment...in the owner's manual!

 

Except for the transmission fluid, it needs changing way more often than the manual suggests.

4wd owners are lucky that there's grease zerks for the driveshaft, us 2wd owners don't have that option with the original u-joints.

Always keep an eye on coolant level too, these Toyota Aisin water pumps are known leakers. My 09 Tundra started leaking at 55k and my Tacoma around 95k. You won't know it until you see the coolant level gradually going down. I'm not saying it's a huge problem, but just be aware of it.

 

Keep it boring stock, says the guy who's stock truck in the shop an an regular fluid changes.

 

If you just follow the maintenance guide in the book your truck will be better maintained than 90% of the vehicles on the road. Most people get their oil changed kinda close to the stated interval and don't do much else. Considering most cars go 200+ thousand miles now a days with owners like that, if you follow the book you will be golden.

 

1) Don't wreck it.

Can't believe nobody added that one yet.

 

This two!!! Just noticed yesterday the coolant level!!! Tomorrow she's going to have a check on the system...

 

Get a Haynes repair manual they're only about 20$ and it tells you what you should do and how often to do it right in the front

 

air filters/cabin filters, brake fluid, coolant, replacements

 

http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old/files/05FSM/repair.html

 

That is awesome definitely a lot more information than in the Haynes manual

 

My 02 TRD was stock, followed the manual like my mechanic suggested. 200,000.0 trouble free miles, sold it for $8000.00 , kid got a great rig. Hope the 15 will be as good.

 

great advice already given...
although not maintenance related IMO how you drive your truck will make a huge difference in how long it lasts.

 

Damn... I beat the shit out of it everytime I can... LOL... I like to have fun and the truck seems to like it, as well

 

Damn I roll over speed bumps that's the most off-road my truck has seen lol

 

Thanks for the help ya'll

I assumed it was mostly just keep up with all routine maintenance and follow the owners manual, i just wasnt sure if there was anything in particular that anyone noticed in their tacomas.

 

1. Oil change
2. Oil change
3. Oil change
4. Oil change
5. Oil change
6. Oil change
7. Oil change
8. Oil change
9. Oil change
10. Last but not least. Oil change.

11. OEM parts only.

 

Keep it garaged...will keep it looking new.

 

1) Keep on top of your fluids.
2) Search problems on TW & read up
3) Enjoy a reliable, relatively simple, decently laid out truck without setting unrealistic expectations of it. Also, 1GR-FE = solid, if unspectacular engine design, don't break it in the name of power & torque.
4) Drive it enough to know when something has gone awry.

Lastly: do not let TW talk its way into your wallet/bank account

Welcome to TacomaWorld!