250k mile tacoma - negligence

At least change the belt. The tensioner/idler pulleys should not spin freely, there should be a small amount of internal friction due to grease and grease seals. If they do spin freely but make no noise, take the trip and change them when you get back. My concern is about the belt breaking, which could wreck stuff underhood. A new belt will be slightly shorter but not create enough additional tension to cause a problem. I would freshen up the PS fluid, suck the reservoir empty then refill with fresh. Repeat in a few hundred miles. Don't worry about a leak, the fresh fluid will add more conditioners to the system.

 

Tell me your joking, please!!

 

No I’m not. My intervals range from 6000-7500 miles. Now it’s 10,000 miles.

 

For the power steering fluid, I just pull the lower hose on the reservoir every now and then, let it drain and refill with the recommended fluid. It doesn't change it all but it freshens it up some. I do it again a few months later and consider it good for a while. Just be careful when you're pulling that hose, that you don't break something.
I do think it would be a good idea to pull the belt off and check the pulleys for free play.

 

Unless you're working the PS so hard off road that you are heating the fluid, or running technical autocross courses (you're not, right? ) you can wait and do the fluid at your leisure. It's ATF serving as hydraulic fluid. In terms of maintenance PS fluid was never on anyone's list in days of yore, and the only time it was changed was when the pump or steering box wore out (pre rack days)

I'd change the belt.

If you stand at the side of the truck and the fan is not wobbling while running, and the weep hole is dry, the water pump should be fine. I mention the wobble because I've seen bearings fail causing that, but not to the point that the seal was compromised yet, thus the weep hole was still dry.

 

The tensioner provides

If functioning properly, the belt tensioner applies a pre-determine value of tension on the belt regardless if the belt is new or old/worn. Replace the belt and keep the old one as an emergency backup.

I would also replace the hoses and thermostat. Top off with fresh coolant.

If battery is near it's rated longevity, replace that also. Top off the cells with distilled water if the batter caps are removable.

If you'll be driving through rain, replace wipers as needed, and apply rainx to windshield.

 

The orange Rainx washer fluid is FANTASTIC. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. I put that sh!t in everything....

 

It smells good too...