Took truck in for initial service. Have a question about something I overheard

I recently took my 2022 Tacoma in for its 5000 mile service.

While waiting I overheard a service manager telling the guy across from me that his Tacoma had carbon buildup in some chamber. He explained that it was common and had to be regularly cleaned out. And of course they would do it for x amount of money.

I could not hear exactly where he said the carbon was but said it was from incomplete combustion.

I also do not know what year this mans Tacoma was but it was not that old. Possibly 3 years or so.

Is this an issue with the Tacoma?

Or, is this a way to make a quick buck?

If it is an issue, is there a way to avoid getting this problem?

 

Don't know, but never trust the stealership

 

Run good gas and give it an occasional Italian Tuneup. Let it hit the rev limiter. It'll scare you the first time, but the truck will be fine.

Its 'possible' the other person had a problem, but it's more probable it was a sales pitch.

 

Only if the customer looks like this

 

Carbon buildup over time is normal in ICEs and not something you usually have to deal with. Lookup walnut blasting. Not sure about Tacomas specifically.

 

So on any modern vehicle it has crank case gasses that are recirculated through the intake and burned to prevent emissions from escaping.

This is basically un burnt fuel (HC) aka hydro carbon.

So the carbon is reinjected in a dirty form back into the intake. This causes dirt in the intake, throttle plate, and intake valves.

Toyota combats this with the D4S system, it keeps the valves clean and reduces the bad carbon build up.

It's normal, and not a huge issue on Toyotas. Big thing is to clean the throttle body from time to time.

I don't sell EFI/Injection flushes unless there's an issue. Most have over 300,000kms.

To prevent carbon, simply run good quality fuel, and drive the truck like it owes you money.

Long idling, short drives, low RPM and bad fuel lead to the bad carbon issues.

TLDR: Don't do carbon cleans unless you drive a cab

 

Sounds like the typical service sales scare tactics.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn2IaQ7ECUY

 

The Italian tune up is likely an urban legend.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5C9Ie4BcYew

 

The 3.5 has dual port injection, This means it has direct injection and port injection. Intake port injection cleans the intake valve with fuel every combustion cycle, a possible problem with direct injection is that this doesn't happen and carbon can buildup on the intake valve. The 3.5 has both, so it gets the fuel economy benefits of direct injection, but still delivers some fuel to the intake port to clean the valve.

TLDR: it is dealer bs, your taco won't ever have carbon problems

 

This!!! All fuels have detergents that your throttle body injector will spray on the valve to wash it. That service manager was talking total shit.

 

"Where Does the Car Dealer Make Money? Mostly From Service, Not From Car Sales"

https://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/where-does-the-car-dealer-make-money.html

Sounds like the service manager is doing his job.

 

“it depends” is not the same as urban legend.

 

It's definitely about them making money. I was there for my 20,000 Mile Toyota care service today and had them do my state inspections which was a little over priced compared to what independent garages have Been charging.
Since I'm only at 18,000 miles by time this will be my last Toyota care service they were trying to push these two prepaid deals on me. And honestly if you aren't a do it yourself person and don't have AAA they might be a good thing as there is some saving over full price. They even let you make monthly payments on these service plans at $264 and $316 with sales taxes.

I honestly don't think I'm going to do it. I have an issue paying someone to do work I can easily do myself. I can also buy parts less than their cost.

 

Dealers love to recommend throttle body cleanings about twice as often as they're actually due on the maintenance schedule. The also love to sell some bs fuel injector cleaning. Until you find a service writer you can actually trust (and they are rare), if they recommend any add-on services ask them to show you where it is on the maintenance schedule. And don't let them whip out the severe service schedule and try to pass it off as "what they recommend" unless it fits your driving circumstances.

Remember, service writers are basically salespeople, just like the guy/gal who sold you your truck. The more they upsell you, the more money they make. A select few actually have a conscience and don't recommend unnecessary services. They make their money from satisfied, repeat customers and referrals. The best thing you can do is familiarize yourself with your maintenance schedule and assume anything that they tell you that you need outside that schedule is a lie until they can prove otherwise. Some of these service writers have a very refined pitch perfected, which is probably what the OP overheard.

 

Don't get carBONED by the stealership

 

I got offered to lubricate the driveshaft on my FJ Cruiser for $200 (at it's 5000 mile service).
I declined and told him my doctor does that once a year.

 

Carbon build up in the Combustion Chamber is part of what an internal combustion engine is.

Dealerships often try to talk customers into more services than they need.

Don't buy it, and be wary of that dealership.

 

What is the rev limiter?

 

It's a "safety" feature built into the ECU that does not allow you to push the engine above the red line RPM level and thus be in danger of blowing your engine. Push on the gas pedal as much as you might, the ECU won't let your engine RPMs go above that point.