old truck needs new lube

Hey Guys,

I have an 05 manual dcsb with ~140,000 on it.

Long Story Short --> I'm looking to do some fluids and get the truck into better operating condition. I've done every other kind of basic maintenance I can think of (air filters, spark plugs, replaced steering intermediate shaft...etc).

I want this truck to last me a good long time but I don't think the previous owners put a lot of attention to the diff's, coolant, transmission oil.

Should I be changing these fluids if the previous owner didn't?
Will i be putting myself in a whole lot of hell(breaking seals, ruining dif or tran), or staving off future problems?

Seems like everyone has a different opinion on whether the tranny oil should be changed or if it should be left alone. Is there any consensus?

 

if diff, trans, coolant, tcase have never been changed, or you do not know.... CHANGE THEM

trans is every 60k, so is the diff. n coolant is like every 4 years or something like that.

 

Yup, some say change, others say don't.

Personally, with 140K on a 11 year old truck, I wouldnt touch the tranny.

 

It's a manual. No issue.

OP, yes, change everything. That way the truck will be 'baselined' and you'll know exactly what you are working with.

Keeping good records is key too. 'Cause believe it or not, in a couple years you might forget what you did this year.

I know there are fancy apps and stuff to do this with, but I made up an Excel workbook years ago, and still use it on all my vehicles. Comes in quite handy...........

 

Thanks Bill,

I've been keeping my receipts and the previous owner kept them too. I'm going to go through the services with a fine tooth comb and record everything before I get started with any thing else. I honestly forgot the past owner gave me those all piled up.

 

I'm about to do this same stuff this weekend. Mine is an 08 with only 32k miles. Since previous owner didnt make it to 30k I would assume nothing has been done on the almost 8 year old truck. Changing the coolant, difs, tcase, oil, air and cabin filters.

For service records I keep a log in the truck and a folder of receipts. Always comes in handy when selling a vehicle.

 

Wow. thats a really really low mileage truck! Looking to do some fluid changes after my christmas driving.

Thanks for the input gents

 

The truck was a fairy tale dream find on a back country road. I couldn't believe it.

I changed all my fluids except trans this weekend. All of them were very simple and easy. Used the Toyota super long life pre-diluted coolant,

$30 Mobil 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

Mobil 75w-90 for diffs and t-case, going to use redline mt-90 in the trans.

 

@bacollier90 do you have a manual trans?

was it really that much of difference?!

 

I have the 5 speed trans and haven't done it yet. Couldn't find the MT90 locally so had to order it. I read too many threads with too many people raving about the MT90 so I had to have it. I'll update you after I do that part.

For the diffs and tcase it seems to have made a pretty big difference. 4wd was slow/tempermental to engage before but now it is smooth as can be. Magnets in both diffs were full.

 

so its the 5 speed auto? I know they came out with a 5sd manual too but not sure if it was a second gen option.

 

I feel bad for my truck. I want to get under there and change out the fluids but I don't have any time before tomorrows drive.

 

Yes its manual and it comes paired with the 4cyl.

 

It's all a pretty simple and easy job. I'm not a very big guy but I didn't need to even jack the truck up. Shouldnt need to for the trans either.

 

great. I have some larger tires on there so I should be able to squeeze under and do some work over the weekend. Thanks for the input on your fluid change. Looking forward to hearing about the trans change, my old girl is sounding better every time I tinker with something.

Glad to hear someone has a manual 4. They're really hard to come by out here.

 

You will be good. I have done my diffs and t case without lifting the truck up and I am on the bigger side of life at 6'3" 260 lbs. I think manual 4s are kind of a rarity anywhere, few people want a manual and even fewer want the 4. Since August I have seen 2 at the dealership here, mine and a 3rd gen that they have there now.

 

I wonder if it'll be good or bad for resale?

 

There is an opinion on it from another thread that I wholeheartedly agree with. This should be taken with a grain of salt but my salesmen who drives a Tacoma said that the base 4 cylinder Tacomas hold their resale value the best. Even said it after the sale. But once again, salesman.

 

I'll never trust salesmen.... I do love my truck and I'm sure someone else will want it too eventually. 4 cyl is everything I need.

 

I almost bought a 4 banger in 2012 but passed up the chance because the salesman wanted me to look into a more expensive V6. Never trust a salesman.

--> I once had a salesman tell me that a fullsize spare weighed too much for a subaru to carry. He said it was a much smarter idea to carry a donut for emergency situations......... I think he was talking about survival food.