2000 Tacoma with 250,000 miles

The 3rzs last a long time if they've been taken care of, just do your routine maintenance and use quality oil and filters. My truck has 220K and I use Mobil 1 full synthetic 5w-30 high mileage. I change it every 5,000miles. All my filters (air, oil and fuel) are OEM. Take care of her and she'll take care of you.

 

First of all, welcome to TW!

Don't rely only on an external visual inspection of the frame. As mentioned in many other threads here, the frames have a propensity to rot from the inside out, so the frame might look fine on the outside but could still be weak and rusty on the inside. Check specifically around the mounts for the rear leaf springs and shocks, as well as the insides near the catalytic converters. Those seem to be the most susceptible areas from what I've read.

A truck from TN may or may not have been driven on salt-treated roads in the winter seasons, so keep that in mind. Replacing the rear main seal will require the transmission to be pulled for access, just FYI.
I bought my 2000 SR5 with 215k on the odometer and never gave it a second thought - it runs and drives like it's still new. These trucks really were built to last.

It looks like a great little Taco from the pictures!

 

Well I bought the little truck and am loving it! My work schedule nor the weather has been too favorable to let me get outside yet and start changing fluids and crawling around all underneath it to feel good about "the underside". It drives like a champ and runs great. I can see from the top area of the engine compartment that it is very clean, and all hoses, lines, parts, etc. look like they have been carefully taken care of and replaced with Toyota parts.

I did have a check engine light pop on yesterday, but the code (PO 405?) from autozone says it has a clogged EGR valve and I am going to replace that this next week.

There is (a lot) of oil on the carriage/front drive shaft near the frame and around the oil filter. I am hoping I don't have a head gasket leak. It may be leaking around the front crank seal but I need some daylight to check further. Any other oil leak areas I should be aware of?

 

the valve cover gaskets leak. Check that first and hopefully that’s all it is.

 

Congrats on buying the Taco!

A leaky head gasket would be unlikely to show up as external oil leakage. Rather, you would find cross-contamination of oil/coolant internally as well as overheating symptoms and/or excessive fog and smoke from the exhaust. I would check the valve covers first, then work my way down from there.

If nothing else, you can clean the area really well and wipe it dry, then drive it once or twice and get back underneath with a really strong flashlight. This should help you pinpoint the source of the leak since you should have a track of fresh oil on an otherwise clean and dry surface.

 

east or west TN? east TN salts alot

 

Nashville area. The Carfax report showed the vehicle lived its whole life in Nash vegas. Bought new here and I know where it was serviced

 

You should be golden pony boy

 

What’s a good type and brand spark plug to use on these high mileage trucks?