PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

Jennifer Anniston is still one of my crushes. Even though she’s 50, I’d still like a night with her!

 

I’ve said this before...

There’s a difference between a sociopath and an asshole!

 

I met Diane Sawyer once, and I’ve also met John Schneider (Bo Duke from the Dukes of Hazzard)...

I’ve also met a fairly well-known folk singer named Steve Forbert. Those are all of the celebrities I’ve met that I can think of.

 

Goddamn dog days of summer...

It feels a lot hotter than it actually is, especially in black jeans!

 

On September 29th of this year, I will be celebrating ten years of ownership. I am quickly closing in on 105K miles.

CLICK HERE for my 100K celebration post!

In almost 105K miles, my engine has needed absolutely nothing but oil changes and a set of spark plugs.

My truck is paid for and everything in it works (A/C, heat, lights, etc), so I have no plans to get rid of it ever. Everyone on TW probably knows about the courier from North Carolina who replaced the engine in his '07 AC 5-lug at about 880K and now has over 1.2 million miles on the truck itself. I am OCD about maintenance on my truck, and it still runs super smooth and quiet.

880K miles is obviously exceptional. I've seen a 5-lug RC auto with a refrigerated slide-in box (in the bed as opposed to replacing the bed) that was sued to deliver fresh seafood. The driver was an employee and not an owner, but he said said it had about 300K miles. This was a pre-2009 model, and I believe this encounter was in 2011 or 2012. I know it was after I got my driver's license (May 2011), but I'm 99% sure it was before I had the first stereo system installed (April 2013). What I'm trying to say is that even a 2005 would have been less than ten years old at the time, and this pre-2008 Taco 2.7L had 300K on it.

So, what I'm trying to ask is how many miles will my truck go before something catastrophic fails on the engine. This does not scare me in the slightest, because I have an independent mechanic who will install a junkyard/remanufactured engine in my truck for a little over three grand if my engine ever fails. I'm just curious...

 

I don’t know the answer to you question. But I have 115k miles and I’d be really surprised if my engine made it to 300k. Nothing is wrong with it now, but it just seems like it won’t make it that long.

 

Yeah, but yours is a V6. For some reason, it seems like the various V6s they've used in Tacomas over the years have never been as durable as the 2.7L!

 

Suggest a brake, power steering, diff, and transmission fluid change. Also PCV valve if never changed. Airfilter ever changed?

 

Depends, no one can know. I expect water pump and a few other things to go out right before 200k. That seems to be a trend. Do fluid changes frequently and that's all you can do.

 

No, it’s a 2.7L

 

If you do all the maintenance, and don’t drive it like you stole it, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if the engine goes at least 250k-300k. I’d say that probably includes 1 or 2 water pumps, 2 or 3 alternators, 2 or 3 sets of ball joints, 1 carrier bearing, 1 or 2 sets of drive shaft u-joints, and maybe a pair of hub/wheel bearing assemblies. Perhaps a starter motor and an AC pump. That doesn’t count wear items, like brakes/rotors/tires. I know it’s no fun, but staying out of mud and water makes things last longer too.

 

My truck is a 2010 RC 5-lug purchased new in September 2009. Never once did the original battery die or leave me stranded, but my mechanic replaced in late 2014 when it started showing signs of age. He replaced it with an Interstate Mega-Tron, which I still have. The Interstate shows no signs of dying, even after several brutal Northeast winters. However, I believe it says 6 years on the battery, so it's time to start thinking about a replacement.

While getting my truck inspected at the dealer (about the only thing I bring it to the stealership for anymore because I get a free loaner car), I overheard the service manager talking on the phone with a woman about her RAV4 that needed a new battery.

He offered her two choices; One was $150 plus a $30 install fee (bullshit). The other was $200 plus a $30 install fee, but it was heavier duty and included a lifetime warranty. This meant that the battery would be replaced for free, for life! Only the $30 install fee would be assessed at each replacement.

The RAV4 owner chose the $200 lifetime warranty battery.

I talked to the service manager after he got off the phone and found out that this deal was exclusive to this dealer (Thompson Toyota in Doylestown, PA). Should I go for it when I need a new battery?!?!

 

I'm at over 104K now, and I'm still on the original alternator. Does running an 8" sub and external amp shorten the life of the electrical system?

 

In a DCSB 6-lug?!?!

 

I left my crystal ball at home today. Predicting when or even if your truck will have a major brake down is kind of like predicting the lottery numbers. If you keep up on your regular oil changes and services, and do the routine maintenance there's no saying how long it could go. I would expect that along the way you may have to change a fuel pump, maybe a sensor or two, possibly an alternator, but as far as having to throw a new/used engine goes I don't think anyone could really give you a solid answer.

 

They don't offer lifetime warranties on parts that are guaranteed to need replacing out of the kindness of their hearts. On average, they expect to make money on that deal.

Check the fine print.

 

That’s awesome, and glad to hear! Generally speaking, I seem to get ~100k on most of the things I listed. If they go longer, that’s just $$$ in the bank.

 

So I should go with the Yellow Top like I originally planned?

 

I once grenaded a transmission on a new truck, less than 5000 miles on it. I also had a friend that lasted well into 300k before he had to change out any major part. So those are pretty much the extreme ends of the bell curve. I'm guessing you're going to be somewhere between those two values.

 

My parents bought a 2004 Honda Odyssey brand new, and had it for 9 years. It had over 130K miles on it when my dad sold it to a coworker for $3,500 and it ran fine. More than 6 years later, the van's pushing 170K and still runs fine!