How often are you guys looking under your hood/underbody ?

If anything is leaking, there will be a puddle on the driveway. I actually check/fill the windshield wiper fluid more often than anything else. I will usually check oil at that time. I'm under it every 6 months or 10,000 miles to change the oil and look at the bottom then.

 

On the way home from each trail ride, I stop at a coin-op car wash and hose off all the dirt and mud from under the truck. I wash under the hood too with the wand at the low pressure setting. I do a visual inspection at the same time.

 

About as often as logging into TW and coming across a thread with someone suffering from issues, I go out and check if I have the same problem.

Gone through most of the lemon Tacoma checklist.

Other than that, every 5k for oil change.

 

You can find all of this in your owners manual.

 

It seems like at least monthly I’m either underneath or have the hood open, so I always take a look at what I think is important.

If I was off road more, it would be near each time, depending on severity of trail / conditions.

I’m low mileage, about 7500 a year

 

Check for paddles - every day leaving the driveway. Once over before any long trip or trail ride. And I look over my tires every time I air down/ air up. Found an embedded nail that way as I was airing down for a trail ride. Luckily it wasn’t leaking air.

 

I give it a good look at tire rotations, 2.5K & oil changes at 5K

 

I had a possum check under mine just yesterday morning. Looking in the rear view mirror, it looked like he gave me the thumbs up sign.

 

I watch the driveway for oil spots and visually check underneath after off road trips.

 

I do more listening than looking. Things don’t really get out of place on their own and leaks show up on the driveway.

 

When I need washer fluid. maybe 6X/yr

 

i usually check the oil level every week or two and have a quick look around the engine bay mainly for rodent nests, obvious fluid leaks, or things out of the ordinary. for some reason i tend to squint or try to avoid direct eye contact. i guess it is more of a quick glance.

i take a more thorough look when i change the oil about every 2-3 months. i make sure to check for oil and coolant leaks at the locations often mentioned where they occur. so far so good.

 

Thanks for reminding me, I keep forgetting to check under the hood...last time, it was in the early fall of 2022 when I changed the oil. I check the chassis for any rust starting every late spring which has been a non factor with cosmoline. On another note, I'll just wait another month, or so to look under the hood...my yearly oil change is coming up.

 

I pop the hood open for a quick peek just about every time I fill up the tank. Been doing this for over 40 years. Overkill these days I'm sure, but old habits are hard to break.

 

Your going to wear out the hinges at that rate.

 

Not enough for me to spend money on hood struts or lights to see the engine... If nothing is broken then I have no reason to be in there.

 

Lol my phone has a mind of its own sometimes

 

Wait! What? You mean the hood actually opens! I thought the lines were just for looks. But seriously I take a look at fluid levels, etc at least once a month.

 

I check my oil and coolant levels every other week or so. 180k on my Tacoma. Seems like it burns oil unevenly. Always keep an extra bottle of oil and coolant in my truck.