Tacoma Lifespan

I vote for sell both and get a new DC Tacoma. You'll have a bed, haul people if needed. And depending on your age and the miles you drive. You may have to buy another vehicle for many years if ever.

 

You are fine as you are. keep both vehicles.

 

Not to derail....but there has been 2 comments on timing chains @ 200K. I have heard of issues with but not specifically @ 200K. My '06 just turned 165K so you have me wondering. Can you point to this magic mileage/issue? Tks

 

Timing Chain isn't as big of a concern as a timing belt. A Belt will just fail and your engine will be Toast! (Unless you have a clearance motor)
Timing Chain, they normally give a lifespan of 190K for replacement due to stretching and wear of the chain. But it can go much further with less risk than a belt. (I've never seen a chain actually Fail)
As it wears and stretches your tune of the truck and the ability of the ECU to regulate how well the truck runs may be compromised. (If it stretches far enough I guess your valves could "theoretically" Contact your pistons in a Non-clearance motor)
As with all thigs nothing last forever.

 

My brother’s Ford Escape had a transfer case that went bad at 90,000 miles, and it was serviced at the appropriate intervals. Dealer said it was a common failure and that he should expect his new one to go bad as well. Keep the Taco, stay on top of maintenance and you’ll be good to go.

 

Pretty sure most, if not all, Toyota motors are non-interference motors? I think there may be one or two that are but the model numbers are escaping me at the moment.

1GR and 5VZ definitely were/are non-interference, not sure about the 2GR-FKS

Edit - nevermind, there are a few. Here's an incomplete list of Toyota motors.

http://yourcarangel.com/2014/07/interference-engines-complete-list/

I'd love to see some solid confirmation on whether the 4.0L is non-interference or not.

 

Around 400,000 miles seems to be the benchmark for a Tacoma to go before major repairs are needed. Some don't make it that far, some have gone 1,000,000 miles on the factory engine/transmission. But I see a lot of Tacoma's out there with 400,000 miles on them with only minor parts replacement.

Other makes are a different story. Some econo-box cars are designed to be driven 200,000 miles and trashed. It isn't worth the effort to repair them. Most full size trucks will start needing some money to keep them running after 250,000-300,000 miles.

No need to change the timing chain, ever. When the engine goes at 400,000-1,000,000 miles you'll get a new timing chain with the new engine. The older versions that had a timing belt. The belt needed to be replaced at around 90,000 miles. That is a major repair bill and an even bigger headache if you don't change it and run it until it breaks

 

I know previously Toyota would use Belts on Non-interference motors, and Chains on interference motors. (Makes sense)

But yeah I can't confirm if our engines are actually interference motors or not.
But the periodicity for replacement is standard for belts or chains. (Nothing last forever)

 

No mention of timing chains being replaced in my earlier post referencing a few high mileage Tacomas.

 

Basically if you take good care your taco and taco wil do the same to you.

 

255,500 miles if you have the misfortune of a bad batch head gasket leak on #6 cylinder! That's were mine was in March when I had to have a new one put in. It's not cheap, but I think with the overpricing of trucks at this time, the better option. All parts removed were replaced with new ones. (water pump, timing chain, guides, tensioners, belts, plugs, etc.) After about 2 tanks of gas, it has reverted from 16.5 mpg back to 18+ mpg. They are good trucks.

 

That's a lot of new parts. How much did it end up running you? I'm not too worried in my '09, but it's not like I can't end up needing it done.

 

About $4k, it also included oil and filter, coolant and thermostat. It stung, but not as bad as the sticker for a newer or new Taco.

 

I also have a 2005 that is sitting at 230,412 miles. I have already done the head gaskets. I also bought a second vehicle to keep some miles off the Tacoma. But I bought another truck. I went with a 2013 Ford F-150 Lariat with the 3.5 EcoBoost and it is also 4 wheel drive.

My thoughts are, Keep the 2005. You aren't going to find another one lol. And if you have had yours and long as I have had mine they become part of the family.

 

If it were me, I would keep the Tacoma. My ‘08 Tacoma base truck is all original including the drivetrain and has 418,000 miles on it. I have no intention of selling it.

 

Tin can optima? Throw in trash where it belongs

how long will a vehicle last?
Over a million miles if you keep it on the road

or, if you sell the Optima to someone determined to buy a tin can,
that gets you a lot of gas money

if it gets good oil changes probably doesn’t need a chain.

there should be a way to check the current wear and stretch level of the chain and tensioner

 

I skipped reading any response, just your original post. Those miles, timing chain should be done, I would go ahead and tack on a thermostat, full flush etc. Go back to the basics and toss plugs in because why not, unless you just did. You're gonna be pre-airpump nonsense so you don't have to worry about that. IMO comes down to how nice the the body/frame? 200K, yeah on the higher end, but if it's decent enough, will keep it's value ok and I wouldn't worry much about longevity. Without knowing what wear and tear items have or have not been replaced, anything from CABs, tire rods, wheel bearings, the usual high mile things. If nothing of the above has been ever done, and depending on your area, I would dead reckon guess $5k just to bring all of the wear and tear back to new, and get the chain done. An 05 with 200k with a pretty clean body would hit 14k region here assuming 4wd. If you have any money into any of those areas, toss a few bucks to do the rest and enjoy the next 100k.

Edit: Time proves all. I've had more than one vehicle that broke down every tuesday that was an even number and always the 3rd wednesday of the month and never saw the light of 80k. One of the reasons I'm not very enthused about buying a latest and greatest. I'd rather seek out the tried and true put 500k miles on vehicles. Rust is probably the only thing a 1995 corolla couldn't withstand 20+ years later. I have a last of the pump duse TDI, was coming up on 300k before I had trans issues I just recently figured out. Plastic bushing... high ticket item.

 

My ‘08 with 117K on it isn’t going anywhere. I don’t put many miles on it . 7 miles to work. Wife sometimes says get a new truck and keep the 08 for taking things to the dump . I say if I do it will be a 15 or if I get a third gen I’ll put a tune on it. But, I just don’t want a payment, even though I can afford it .

 

I would absolutely get a GMC K2500, if it was in good shape. I just can't justify a gas guzzler as a second vehicle.