Advice for new taco that will be driven 5 miles a day?

Worked at same place for 30 years and drove about same distance as you with a variety of vehicles. In snow belt and roads are heavily salted for about five months of the year. Current ride is an 11 Taco and just follow recommended service intervals and undercoated every fall. No issues with oil contamination or other engine problems. Replaced oem battery last year after 9 years. Once every two weeks or so I would go for a drive on the highway to get everything up to temperature just in case there was any condensation buildup. Worked for me! And for those who might be wondering "Why not walk or bike to work"? Well, I did during summer time when I didn't have to jump over snowbanks, drudge over unplowed and slippery sidewalks, subzero north winds, blinding snow and sleet. Not goin at it!

 

My commute is about 2 miles. I drive until the engine get to normal operating temp. Above freezing 2 miles is enough. As it gets colder I have to add distance.

I have been told not warming the engine fully results in more internal condensation.

I only idle to warm up if it is 10 F or lower and I'm taking my kids (feel bad putting a 1 year old in a completely cold vehicle). My truck never gets to full operating temp by idling alone.

 

Kinda consider that short commute as severe service and change the oil 2x's a year or take the dog and your wife for a ride, the dog will enjoy the ride and the wife will enjoy the conversation.

 

Welcome to the forum congratulations on the new truck. It sounds like a scooter or a ATV would work really well for your commute.

A good Cosmoline job will help protect against rust along with washing the underside when you get decent days during the winter.
If you let the engine run for 60 seconds before moving the oil has gotten where it needs to go, just don't drive it like you stole it when cold.

Your commute will not allow the battery to be fully charged which will severely reduce battery life. Invest in a battery tender and plug it in overnight once a week will help. You can get a NOCO Genius 1 for about $30.

Try to get out once a week and drive until everything is up to full operating temperature, 30 minutes or so, this will ensure that the lubricants get up to full temperature and any condensation evaporates off. Toyota recommends a 6 month oil change interval for vehicles driven on "Repeated trips of less than 5 miles in temperatures below 32F/0C".

Enjoy your new ride!

 

Fluid film is ok as long as you repeat doing the entire chassis every year. With cosmoline its basically once with minor touchups depending how much serious roading you do.

 

Undercoatings are truck savers in certain locations.

That said, when someone else is doing the undercoating, they are going to take shortcuts. For sure. Unless you are specific and can get under the truck to expect, don't expect them to actually cover what needs to be covered. Especially if it's a dealer doing it. They sent mine to Line-X and first thing I did was got under to inspect. It's going back to Line-X on the 5th and I am sitting in the waiting room until it's done, then with it still on the lift I will inspect it.

In all honesty, if you are taking short trips to work, you may be better served by a more efficient vehicle. If you need AWD or a 4x4 there are plenty of options. What made you want a Tacoma? Do you need a truck?

 

A lot of people are working from home these days and not driving as much. Just keep the battery topped off with a float charger (I like ctek chargers) and change the oil more frequently. Follow the owners manual for the rest of the maintenance and you'll be fine.

 

I live in Ohio and drive 4 miles to work. I pressure wash the frame once a week in the winter or sooner if in a lot of slop and change the oil once a year. Everyone says fluid film it but I just keep mine clean. It is a 2017 model with 30K and so far so good. Also did the Toyota frame recall rust treatment which is a joke.

 

I can’t help but think people are overthinking everything. I bought my 21 in September, I put about 10 miles on it a week. I travel for work and am only home on the weekends. It sits in the garage while I’m gone, won’t give it a second thought. People abuse these trucks in fleets, on trails, I really don’t think they are fragile enough to worry.

 

Take the long way to work. If not every day, then every other day. Thrash and spackle it on the weekends.

It'll do whatever you make it do. And it will last as long as you want it to last. Maybe give it an Italian tune-up once in awhile.

 

Expect to see under 10mpg

 

I'm noticing that a lot lately...I must be spending too much time on here...lol.

Common practice is not the same for everyone...and experience with owning a new vehicle (at least 2+) give ONE some level of knowledge as to how to treat your new vehicle. I'm giving plenty of benefit that new car owners read their owner's manuals at least once...which would lead to more times.

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1900 miles a year

 

This was my answer for a 2 mile commute. Took the Jeep when weather sucked. And I did it just because I knew it would kill a vehicle

 

Granted my daily commute is slightly more (5 miles), I’m still on the stock battery and never have topped off or jumped. Most of the time it sits on the weekend.

 

I'd personally take the long way home once a week or so, probably benefit both the truck and you.

 

A motorcycle is great but trips home always take a lot longer than normal. At least they did for me.

 

Very good point.

My wife left her job in mid December...would have been 7 years in Feb with the company...but the stress level was weighing on her and started affecting our family at home.

Quick story...this weekend, wife asked if we could take her 2017 Elantra to grocery shop...it's been sitting because the Taco gets more attention...ooops!

I go to start it and...click! No dice!!! So we end up taking the Taco.

During our drive, I remembered I have a battery tender (Cen-tech Deluxe Battery Maintainer & Float Charger) that's used for my Husqvarna 42" Lawn Tractor. I set it up and give it a couple of hours but the RED light is still on which made me inpatient.

Son-in-law text me a HF coupon for a Viking Battery charger with 15% coupon. I get to Harbor Freight and see more selections of battery chargers.

Cen-Tech Jump Starter - $59.99
Cen-Tech Portable Jump Pack with Air Compressor - $84.99

Soooo, I ended up buying the Jump Pack w/air compressor. Initial charge (according to the owner's manual) says 48hrs...I'm like, WTF???

Periodically while watching the Packers/Vikings game, I check on the tender & charger to see if there's a change. The Jump Pack was fully charged and works to perfection. It's about 9pm so I decide to take my wife's car for a 10 mile drive through residential areas and then the nearby highway to reach speeds of 50+ mph. I was gone about 15-20 minutes and immediately plugged the battery tender on the Elantra. The light is RED. Before I go to to bed at 11pm, the light is still RED. I left it plugged in through the night.

This morning at about 5am, I check the light but this time it's GREEN!! I disconnect and close the hood, all checks good.

I'll connect the tender and let it charge until it turns green again a couple times this week. It will probably be time to buy a new battery since my wife's car turns 5 years old and still has the original battery.

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Nice on all points except the viking game. That was a waist of time

 

Walk? Bike?