service question & a little story

Hello Experts,

I have a 2013 Tacoma extended cab 6 speed man trans, about 70,000 miles.

I took into a Toyota dealer in N Dakota 2 months ago to have wheels aligned. While there, the mechanic gave me a 50 +/- item service, system, mechanical checklist.

He checked as needing service: power steering fluid change, brake fluid change, injectors cleaned, and differential fluid changed.

Another Toyota dealer I called last week, closer to home in ID - said there are 3 differentials - each serviced @ $65.00 if I recall correctly. Do I need the differential fluids replaced? Anything else to consider?

I took the truck in for wheel alignment, since I turned it on driver side in N Dakota badlands. Pretty remote, walked 6 mi to a ranch, 2 ranchers were kind enough to pull me back upright w chains and their work trucks, It bounced back on the tires, upright.

No glass damage, started it up and have driven ever since (now in shop for body work). Side airbags went off and cut the heck out of my left arm and gave me a large bump on my hand. tough little truck. pic near sawtooths, Idaho.

any info appreciated! Bill W

 

Just pull out the owners manual and follow the recommended service intervals and you’ll be fine.

 

ah the manual is in the truck, both 4 hrs away at shop. I'll check online for one. thx

 

Once you get out of the body shop look up the maintenance stuff and play catch up on anything might have missed and follow from now on, you’ll be good to go.

 

There is a high probability that the truck would go 200K miles with only engine oil changes. However, your truck will be much happier with regular fluid changes. 70K miles and 7 years old is a good time to just change all the fluids in the whole truck. The front and rear diffs, manual trans, and transfer case are a piece of cake to change yourself. The only thing that is a slight pain is that the front diff drain plug is easily stripped. The other fluids are slightly more involved. That's up to you if you feel comfortable doing those yourself.

 

um, pics of being on the side please!

 

Haven't tackled this one yet, any tips for not stripping it? What causes it to strip?

 

It's a 10mm allen hole in a giant drain plug. If you don't dig all the dirt out and use a good quality allen bit, the allen hole will round out. Some have rounded out even with a good quality bit. Then the choices are to use a chisel and chisel the plug it a rotating direction or weld a bolt to the plug. Once you get it out, replace it with a Lexus drain plug that has a 14mm hex head. 90341-24016

 

Power steering and brake fluid....No, I wouldn't say those NEED to be changed. I just did my power steering fluid at 135k. There was nothing wrong with it. Just gave me peace of mind. Brake fluid I've done, but only b/c I changed the lines. Otherwise, there really shouldn't be a need for it unless you boiled the fluid at some point.

I've never cleaned the injectors. They'll probably only put a bottle of fluid in your gas tank for that. If you felt so inclined, just grab a bottle from Autozone and do it yourself. I wouldn't bother though.

You can go a lot more miles on the current fluid. I changed mine around the same mileage you're at. About to do it again one of these days. I guess the point is, if you plan to keep the truck for a really long time, do some preventative maintenance and change the fluid. Rear diff fluid takes probably less time to change than the oil.
Heres a link for the trans fluid change.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-6-speed-manual-transmission-oil-change.287566/
Heres rear diff fluid change
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/changing-differential-fluid-a-step-by-step-how-to.24545/
And here's the front
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-diff-and-transfer-case-oil-change-howto.147631/

 

Great info! I'll go online & check out the procedure. I change my oil, etc. good mechanical aptitude I'd say front plug-heads up, appreciated.

 

awesome info!!! exactly what I was looking for!!! I enjoy doing the work, learning, saving a buck, and looking after my truck. thx.

 

After turning it on side, it was a b***h to get the seatbelt undone- the tensioner was locked down tight, there was an explosion beside my head, I was bleeding, and - confused. Stuff was falling on me.
So... left my phone (camera) in the truck. Considered getting the phone for pic later, but was a chance it would roll over completely.
My 3rd Tacoma out there in ND. 1st goof-up. learned you can disable the airbags, if/as needed. kinda a freak (stupid) thing. pic driving out.

 

When you change the manual transmission fluid, use Teflon tape on the drain plug, and be really careful you don't over torque the thing. I've heard they strip out easy and I'm not sure I didn't almost do it on mine last time.
The reason I suggest the Teflon tape is that if by chance you don't get it tight enough, the tape will keep it from coming loose and falling out.
Plus, it will help keep it from leaking.

 

My Tacoma is 2WD, so I haven't had this issue, but experienced it with another make of vehicle. Clean out the allen hole really good before you start and use a 10mm allen with a flat tip. They are available. Many have a somewhat dome-shaped end and are somewhat beveled at each of the 6 points and therefore do not lock well in the hole.
I failed to mentioned that 1/2" drive is what you want. Most are 3/8" drive.

 

Got it, good info. So are you saying that cleaning the injectors - is done by adding fluid to the gas? Not a mechanical disassembly & cleaning? Def going to do my trans & diff work myself! Great info, thx.

 

another question...any reason NOT to use Lucas 80-90 WT gear oil? vs syn?
I called Toyota dealer + they advise they use non-syn gear oil for this service...
thx.

 

I'm not an engineer, so I can't tell you why or why not to use a synthetic gear oil, but I can tell you a lot of members here are using synthetic gear oil and I don't think anyone has any problems doing so. Although I'm certain we have members that can give an accurate answer, this is a question probably better suited for a place like Bobistheoilguy..

 

I've never worked at a toyota dealership. But I'll say this. If they're charging in the neighborhood of $99 for an injector cleaning, they're not removing the injectors and putting them on a flow bench. I'd be shocked if there was even one at a dealership!

 

Great info. Finally got my truck back from the body shop in Boise ID.
They did a superb job.

I changed the engine oil after.
Mobil 1, didn't really need it, but hey, cheap insurance.

Also did the manual trans oil + front/rear differentials.

Just wanted to say thanks for the info provided here.

Just got hired on a framing job in central Idaho.
5 of 6 guys are driving Tacomas.
1/2 have some neat shocks, lifts, leaf upgrades, lights, custom cattle/deer guards.

 

Anytime man! Glad you got it all taken care of.

Congrats on the job too. ID is a beautiful part of the country. Just spent some time there this year. Hopefully you guys appreciate what you have there in Idaho.