Just picked up my Taco after sitting for 6 months, what do I need to do?

So I was in an accident on Christmas Eve, some lady hit a wet patch of freeway and swerved 4 lanes over into the front end of my truck. After 6 months of repairs and waiting for parts to finally come in, I picked my truck up from the shop on Friday. They replaced the oil, coolant, and refrigerant. I was just wondering if there is anything else I should do before going back to daily driving/light off-roading? I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm just worried about it sitting for so long without being run. I just want to make sure she doesn't have any arthritis or anything. The shop owner also told me that I should get the rear diff and the transmission serviced as routine maintenance. Thanks in advance, and sorry for the paragraph. Here's a few pictures showing the progression just for fun.

 

Get some fresh gasoline in there asap, and toss a healthy dose of fuel system cleaner in there with it. Drain the old out if you can, otherwise dilute old gas with new as much as possible. Check the air filter and around the engine bay in general, make sure no rodents made a home out of it and/or gnawed up any wiring. Same goes for cabin air filter. Wouldn't hurt to change the diff and transfer case oil too, but not urgent as long as they're full and look good. Take it for a test drive, listen/feel for any squeaks, whines, grinds, abnormal stuff. If all is well by this point, take 'er out to some open road and stretch 'er legs! Good luck!

 

Beat me to it about the gas, get that old stuff out.

 

There's no need to drain the gas, if it was over 1/4 tank just drive it to around there and fill up. The gas, even with ethanol, ain't gonna go that bad in that amount of time, especially in a "sealed" system. Check tire pressures and take it for a long drive. There, you're good to go...

 

I've already used almost the full tank that she had. There is nothing abnormal about the way that she drives, except that it feels like she is very thirsty. I'll see my mpg when I fill up, but it seems like she is getting really bad gas mileage. I don't know if I am just used to the Honda Civic gas mileage that I had for 6 months, or what, but it seems worse that I remember.

 

She's my daily driver, so she gets about 300 miles a week

 

In that case you're good. Drive er' to work and don't even think about it.

 

If you are worried about gas mileage...ummm dont know what to tell ya...Im guessing its the same as it was before, you're just not used to watching the needle fall so quick after the Honda...and like the rest have said..squeaks, bangs, or knocks..if you dont have any..back to the good life! Nice looking truck btw!

 

Thanks! Thats what I was thinking abut the gas mileage. I'm used to the Civic which gets good gas mileage, and my brother's '04 F-150 that gets garbage mileage but has a huge tank. I forgot how fast the needle goes on my Taco.

 

So you go through a tank a week? 300 miles is a tank for me...

 

Yeah, basically. Its about 15 miles to my work, and 20 to my college/girlfriend's place. I go to and from enough to use almost a full tank a week. Plus my truck is now the family vehicle, so when we need to go out for anything together, we take her. She beats the F-150 and F-350 in mpg, and we don't all fit in the civic

 

I would worry more about critters setting up home in the nooks and crannies under the hood and elsewhere . Especially scrutinze the area of the intake manifold.
I wouldn't worry about 6 month old fuel. Before all of the shortages, some vehicles sat on dealer lots for longer than that.

 

The repair looks fantastic - Good for you

 

Turn the key

 

Checked, and everything is good. Thanks for the advice.

 

Yeah, I'm really pleased with the work that the shop did. I chose to take it to a mom and pop shop rather than a chain based off of some recommendations from people I trust about vehicles, and they didn't disappoint. It was well worth the wait!