I’m really enjoying driving my '23. I was going to get the '24 hybrid, but decided against it after hearing some things. I love the V6 and feel like I would’ve missed out. What can I do to keep this truck running for 20 years?
Nice! I’ve got a ‘19 with 110,000 miles and it’s been solid since day one. Make sure you stick to the recommended maintenance, and your truck will reward you. I’d suggest oil changes every 5k miles, even though some go longer. It’ll help the engine out.
Check out The Car Care Nut on YouTube, he’s a Toyota master tech and has some great advice on when to service your truck.
Totally agree with TCCN. Another good channel to check out is Team Oil Drop. He has tutorials for more detailed maintenance stuff.
Both of those channels are awesome. TCCN just put out a new video on making your car last longer.
How many miles do you recommend before replacing the transmission fluid? I’ve got a '23 Tacoma V6 with about 13,874 miles, had it for a year now.
I changed mine at 60k.
I did mine at 50k just recently.
At the rate you’re going, you’ll barely hit 90k miles in 20 years, so no worries there!
I’ve owned nothing but Toyotas for almost 40 years now, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Never had any major issues with them. My advice: keep up with the regular maintenance and take care of it, and your truck will last well over 20 years. I had a 4Runner for 24 years before I sold it, and it only needed an alternator once. My current Tacoma, which is almost 17 years old, just needed its first alternator. No complaints here.
How many miles were on your Tacoma when the alternator gave out? Mine died at about 148k, had to get towed for the first time ever.
Mine went at 115k. Luckily, I had a Scanguage II hooked up and saw the voltage fluctuating, so I was able to get to the dealer before it died completely.
Unfortunately, even Toyota is starting to have more problems lately. A lot of it comes down to the usual cost-cutting moves and inflation. The new GR86 is having major engine issues, and they’re handling it on a case-by-case basis.
If your truck is still under warranty, keep an eye out for these:
- Timing cover leaks (common with the 3.5L V6)
- Timing inspection cover leaks
- Rear axle leaks
Use Fluid Film, spray it before and after winter. It’s cheap protection. My 2016 looks great underneath, but rust is the biggest enemy for trucks in the long run, especially over 20 years.
I lost my '99 to rust, so I’m extra cautious now.
Should I worry about rust if I’m in Southern California? I’ve got a ‘23 TRD OR, and I bought Fluid Film but haven’t used it yet. I keep hearing all these rust horror stories and it’s making me paranoid.
If you’re in California, you should be okay. Rust is mostly a problem in states where they use road salt for snow. Unless you’re planning on traveling to those areas or launching boats in saltwater, you’re in the clear.
Yeah, the big issue with rust is mainly in the Northeast or other areas with lots of road salt. It’s not as bad as it used to be with the older trucks, and the new ones have better coatings and frame designs. I live in the Northeast, and my 2016 looks great after using Fluid Film. You should be fine in SoCal.
I drove my 2014 for 10 years and traded it in at 153,000 miles with no issues. All I did was regular maintenance and had the frame treated for rust under a recall. Whoever bought that truck probably got a great deal. I only traded it in because my wife couldn’t drive stick. I love my new GMC Sierra, but I worry about lifter and torque converter issues. If I hit 300k, it’ll probably need major work by then.
Here’s a great resource to start with: https://speaktacoma.com/
Stick to the 5k mile maintenance schedule, and don’t drive like you’re in a race. Treat the truck well, and it’ll last. Imagine you’ve got a passenger who gets carsick easily, drive like that, and the truck will live a long, happy life.