60K Mile Maintenance Costs and Thoughts

Definitely hats off for keeping up with the maintenance the way you do. When I traded in my previous ride getting the taco, dealer probably threw out my maintenance sheet I kept. I did all the maintenance and only saw the dealer for recalls (doing the same now). Made no difference in resale value. Private party sale is probably a little different but dealers don't care.

 

He recommends drain and fill only at 60,000 miles or 6 years for your transmission also...

 

Every time I see the cost of shop labor it shocks me so bad that I want to buy a socket wrench and teach myself how to do it...again.

 

Done it years ago and always did my own maintenance etc but as I aged now I pay someone to do it.
Which I can afford to do.

 

I'm not nearly there yet, but I am approaching the age of power tools. I have recently switched to removing lugs with an impact wrench instead of a breaker bar, and I'm contemplating the use of a quickjack over setting out stands.

If I get beyond that point, then itll be time for me to move away from vehicles containing fluids.

 

Thanks for posting. I'm still about 5,000 miles away from "the big one" at 60K but it's good to see some numbers to budget for.

 

I would say the coolant and trans, T-case fluid are all super easy tasks. Take your time, pay yourself, not for saving money, because you can do a better job than most.

You know the correct fluids are used, crush washers are replaced not reused.

The $20 funnel from Amazon works wonders on Toyota coolant. Don't touch the block drain cock, just the radiator drain and fill, do it 3 times, you will have most of the old coolant out. The Toyota pink coolant lasts a long time, I have run mine over 100k to 150k miles over the years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIp2TcaqXeQ

 

The OP has a manual transmission. It appears you may have been thinking of the auto.
The manual transmission is not "sealed"...just a drain and fill procedure.

Cheers

 

Each trans and environment is different. Mitsubishi dual clutch automatic...due every 20k. 3rd gen Tacoma automatic...I would go every 50-60k. The OP's transmission, you can't flush it so your only option is a drain and fill.

 

What is the rationale for not draining the block?
This is a basic maintenance procedure for getting all of the coolant out of the system.

Cheers

 

IF the drain cock breaks or leaks, you are in, possibly, for a big hurt. If you break the radiator drain, which is very unlikely to begin with, replacing a radiator is whole lot cheaper.

I've had 2 vehicles with 3.5 with original coolant passing 120k and 150k miles. Had both tested for PH and contamination, all turned out good. Pink coolant is good stuff.

I use a suction pump to remove all the coolant in the overflow reservoir, drain the radiator, fill, bleed. Run it for couple days, do it two more times, let the water pump mix it.

 

To be fair, I was referring to the OP's transmission, I did miss the Manual trans part, my bad on that...

But the TC-SST is more of a manual than an automatic by design anyway...

And heat IS the killer of an automatic, so if towing or hauling heavy load a lot, then I would change my automatic ATF every 30K...

Yes I have built many transmissions....

 

I just did my wife’s 60k mile service on her 4Runner. YouTube and a good day in the garage, not too difficult. I had maybe $650 in parts and a few tools. Good luck

 

I chose working on my truck at a gas station