is basic maintenence easy on the 3rd gen?

sparkplugs..are they buried under the manifold like my BIL's toyota camry?

how about the oil filter? easy to get to?



i've been warming my wife up to a new truck. i was just curious.

 

I have only done 5K service and oil change. Filter was a little extra work because I had to drop the skid plate. But only 4 bolts. Not that big of a deal.

 

Real easy....the dealer is going to do it for you free for at least 2 years.

Spark plugs going to last you a while and long while. Things like diff and tranny fluid changes are pretty easy... lots of room under there. I've already did my differential fluids.... next is tranny and transfer case.

 

sparkplugs. cant imagine anyone having done them already..but can you at least predict if they are accessable?

 

oil change is simple especially if you get an aftermarket skid like the RCI so you don't have to drop it to get the filter.


Thats all for sparks.

helpful video for oil change
https://youtu.be/oNfLLRzAMQc

 

You have to remove the skid plate. And the oil filter isn't the canister style most people are used too. You can buy a tool to remove the filter for about $20. Its actually not that hard to change the oil in the Tacoma. Lots of room to slide under the vehicle.

 

i am assuming the V6 has aluminum heads. i changed plugs on an aluminum head all i can say is, weird. loosing them it feels like they are stripping and when you replace them you must put anti seize on the new plugs. extremely easy to cross thread when installing plugs, think i would not even get close to attempting it, but that's me, at 71 years old seems everything i try to fix i brake!

 

thanks JOE23.

looks do-able.

 

That video is a little off the cuff. I have only done one change on the Tacoma but you definitely want to use the plastic drain insert for the filter housing that comes with a new filter. Just remove the plug from the bottom of the housing and snap in the insert. Give the housing about 10 minutes to drain. This will avoid the mess once the housing releases. Other than that, pretty basic.

On spark plugs with aluminum heads. When installing, rotate them counter-clockwise a few times and you will hear and feel a click at the same point in the rotation where the start of the thread ends overlap and release. When you have a good feel for it take it just past the click, talking just a few degrees, and start your clockwise rotation. Never had a problem with this method.

 

i changed the plugs for a friend on a 2006 T-Bird. the plugs were down in a deep hole and removing them was and event in itself, they never felt like they were loosing. half way thru it i thought what have i gotten myself into but did get it done without wrecking anything.

 

It is very doable, just depends on your competency level to turn a wrench and remove parts without whining and bitching because too many things need to be removed or too heavy to lift off.

Sounds like you're competent enough if you have had experience with the Camry!