OK, took my Tacoma in for first maintenance

No Problem !!! I always think it is Good to share Info and Advice !! Does not mean people have to take it just trying to be Help Full

 

So you're saying those of us with these wonderful automatic transmissions should expect to get 230K problem free miles out of our engine???

 

Funny....that was my dilemma with that particular car. How many trouble free miles did I want out of the engine while not being able to keep a working trans in it. I finally decided to let it go and bought my 08 Tacoma at the time. Point is still the same. Engines have all done very well with synthetic oil changed every 10k.

 

I followed a thread on a different forum from a guy who actually took all his oil changes to a lab for analysis. The guy posted the results and commentary each time (wish I could link it but this was several years ago). What he found were a fairly high level of contaminants and metals early on, which is consistent with the age-old advice to always do a break-in fluid change on all components. After the break-in period, the analysis showed virtually no degradation for a very long time. In this case, the manufacturer intervals were 15k, which proved to be fine. This is using synthetic of course.

From my own experience, which is useless but for 1 point, I first did a break-in change at 2k, then every 7,500 thereafter (2.7L 4cyl). I also changed the transmission and diff with redline synthetic at 30k. This first time, the magnetic drain plug on the diff was loaded with metallic particles. Second time at 60k, the diff still had some particles. By 120k, the drain plug was clean as a whistle. She's finally broken in! My motor burns zero oil, so I think my schedule is working fine now at 140k miles.

So for my own purposes, I don't care what Toyota might say to do, but I'm definitely doing a break-in change somewhere between 2-5k. I'd follow the recommendations thereafter - I think 10k is fine and my doing it every 7,500 miles is overkill. If you lease or trade often, forget it & do the bare minimum.