Rod knocking after pulling trailer up steep hill

Both rigs in their natural habitat.

 

I'm not so sure about that. I've towed our 3000lb travel trailer with a Duramax and got about the same mileage as I get with the Taco.... 11-12mpg. However, the Duramax did it effortlessly.

 

Okay, then there would be no fuel expenses to get ahead of. So he'd be even further ahead.

Sorry OP, don't mean to pile on, but I can't imagine flogging a Tacoma if I had an HD truck. Although it sounds like size and maneuverability may have been a factor here.

 

I haven't seen it asked. I think I've read the whole thread up to here...
OP, have you yourself, or allowed another to, put any kind of additive in your oil?

 

Have you created a Toyota Owners account and entered in the VIN?

If this truck had all its service done at a Toyota dealer, it will show all the oil changes and the odometer reading when they were done.

 

OK so many questions:
1. if oil and filter was changed every 10k can this happen? (don't think so right?)
2. If oil was changed every 10k and not the filter as often can this happen?
3. Was dealership sketchy and not do changes promised?
4. was oil and filter actually changed regularly?
5. Is there some other issue?

 

No oil additives ever. We have lots of trucks, they're usually pulling trailers so we don't have to with the Taco. Duramax rigs aren't awesome with mileage.

I this point I'm trying to nail down another engine and be done with it, hopefully soon.

 

Hey Silver, just asking to ask with so many vehicles at your disposal were you as diligent as you say about routine maintenance or is it possible someone (not you) just kept clearing the maintenance reminder when it came up every 5k miles?


there was a woman on the board that had a farm in california and bragged about running the same oil that the truck came from factory with it for 41k miles bought out the lease and then sold to a 3rd party.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...n-your-new-tacoma.707123/page-2#post-25102263

 

I suppose all things are possible. I've just never seen oil buildup take out a motor like that, probably had 10 Toyotas, some of them hammered to death and they STILL ran (94 4runner 22RE, almost no maintenance ever, tons of miles).

I think the issue would be hard to prove. The only thing I KNOW happened is I need a motor or block. I'm hoping this thread will serve as a heads up of what the internals look like on a teardown, and what to watch on your own truck. If I have to do a motor every (almost) decade on a truck...

 

I remember that one.

It is disappointing how crappy some people can be having no regard to the next owner and then bragging about it.

The first 2 oil changes are included with the truck.

 

i couldnt believe people liked her post bragging about it.

 

The dealer maintaining the truck should have a computer file with your visits and oil changes documenting the mileage. Also they give you a paper reciept with that info on it. (if you keep a personal file)

 

Agree.

I can almost understand blowing off the third oil change, the two free ones though - WTF...

The next guy could be you or I paying good money for something to get reliably to work for a lot of years.


You have to wonder about any other life choices from a person like that.

Situations like this make me think that fate, faith or karma all have a sense of humor -- the receiver may not find it so funny however.
Maybe she will discover that some day.

 

With the VIN any service department should be able to pull up (and print) any work done at any dealer.

 

You don't even need to be the owner .

Give anyone with a Toyota Owners account the vin and they can enter it.

I do it Everytime before I buy my next Toyota.

 

Thank you for this. It is most interesting. I also respect your perspective on this. You'd rather move on than blame, kick and scream.

 

You assume they care or don't already know.

Lube jobs are done by the newest lowest paid techs.
Best case scenario, lazy tech. Worst case, complicit service center or dealership that charges for work not done.

First few years of owning my truck I took it in for service. Paid the 4wd service needed for using in off road conditions. I suspected they never changed the diff fluid because it was too dirty/dry around the drain and fill ports also no extra grease around the u-joints. So I checked it, sent a sample to the lab and I was right, they had never touched the diffs.
Few years later that dealership group gets sued and investigated for fraud on exactly that, charging for services not performed along with other shady business practices. They had to change the name of their company after.

Not quite as bad as skipping oil changes on the engine though.

 

I found a lug nut while walking around my neighborhood a week after taking my truck to the dealership for it's 2nd tire rotation. 2 we're missing on one wheel at a few others spread around were loose. Called the dealership and crickets. They couldn't give a shit.

 

I tow a 3000# trailer often and been up many hills...
Re OCI: Since I tow I change every 5k miles, often at a local Toyota dealer. Check out youtube Car Care Nut, very informative,a Toyota mech... generally he emphasizes that one needs a 5k OCI if they want to make it to 200k. Generally there will be some initial increases in oil consumption at time progresses.

Re Oil flushes: Way back when I did some oil flushes. Looking at your pics I might consider a flush. I would definitely consider an OCI of about 2k for a few changes, and every 5k thereafter.

Re towing uphill at 4500 rpm: Yes the torque really kicks in about then. However, my tranny temps also frequently start to cook with high (4000+) or low (2000) rpms. On long 6-8% grades I will usually find a sweet spot around 2500-3500 rpms in either 2nd or 3rd where the torque converter, TC, will get to about 215 and the pan will hold at about 195. Higher or lower the TC will climb up quickly to 230'ish and the pan will start to climb too (I do have a large ATF cooler). My water temp stays very consistent no matter what (at least so far). Also, I do accelerate up to 4000+ rpms on occasion, especially when getting onto interstates.

While you have the engine out you may want to consider addressing future problem areas with the engine while out... again see The Car Care Nut for this... one of his customers did this... different model, but same engine I think.

 

Exactly, they say check the tire pressure, but they don't. I was in there for a warranty repair asked them to check the tire pressure. One was low from a nail in it. All they did was the warranty repair and scratch my paint. Bunch of idiots.