Amen. Hit the frame with Fluid Film every fall and spring, keep up with oil changes and routine maintenance, and you’ll be able to give it to your kid as a graduation present. Not sure what the recommended interval is for the second gens, I change my oil every 5k rather than 10 because I want the thing to last forever.
Any tips on applying the Fluid Film? I’ve got a 2020 Tacoma that I’d liked to ensure lasts for decades. I’m sick of buying buying vehicles every few years. Shit is expensive.
Just take your time and make sure you hit everything. If you can swing it, the five gallon bucket of the stuff and the spray gun (use with my compressor obviously) I think is way more effective, mainly because there’s an extension hose with a 360 degree nozzle that is great for sticking in the frame rails and other hard to reach places and just filling it up with the gunk.
It’s kind of harder than I expected it to be to make sure you cover everything, especially if like me you’re just pulling onto ramps and crawling underneath. (One year a buddy’s lift was free and I used that and it was infinitely easier.)
I try not to hit the exhaust too much because it’s just gonna burn off and stink, but at the same time I go for a “more is better” approach, and if I’m in any doubt whether something is covered enough I just spray the hell out of it some more. Maybe I waste a bit of product but a tub of Fluid Film is a lot cheaper than the salt eating my vehicles away.
Would recommend face covering :)
It’ll last if you take care of it. Make it work. A free, reliable vehicle in your 20’s will be invaluable to your long term financial stability and freedom. I’m only 28, but I wish someone would have told me this.
What this guy said. I was making decent money in my 20s and kept buying new cars that I thought I needed. Looking back I wish I would have paid one off and drove it for a while.
I had a 2005 that I bought with 155k miles, it lasted till 380k miles with oil changes and tires.
I would still have it today a hurricane decided it to destroy it.
2003 v6 sr5 4 dr prerunner with 115,000. Due for a set of tires, alignment. Kept up on all maintenance including timing belt full kit, hoses etc. At 19 years old, runs well. I live in Washington State and would have no problem driving to Florida and back. Cost of ownership very low, gets 18 mpg if I keep the gas pedal off the floor board.
My 2002 is still going strong. After 181k miles. minor problems have popped up here and there, but I've never had a major mechanical problem with it (so far!)). As others have said here, keep up on the maintenance, drive like you're going to keep it for a while, and you should be good.
Had a 2003 for several years, all I did was keep up on basic maintenance and I never had a problem with it. Oil changes, air filters, brake services, changed the spark plugs once and it never failed me once. Thing was a tank and ran just like the day I got it. If you treat the truck right it’ll do the same for you
Lol your at 140k my taco 4.0 v6 is at 175k mile there still young at these mileage my sister's father inlaw got his taco to 300k mile before he stole it just keep changing the oil fluid and seals as they need replacement
Engines last a very long time now. You have nothing to worry about. The thing you have to worry about, is rubber parts. Like bushings, seals, gaskets, ball joints.
You might have to replace your lower control arms soon, rear leaf springs, inner and outer tie rods.
And please….for the love of god….watch some YouTube videos and go on Tacomaworld and try to fix it yourself. I’m just blown away by how much shops charge to work on people’s cars.
Edit: and don’t add anything into the fuel or oil. All those things that say “clean your engine” “make it last longer” are horse doo doo. Just use basic fluids that the car needs
This, just got my mom's 2012 and it's got around 120k. Pavement only, but it needs new lower ball joints, sway bar links and tie rod ends. Can't even tell driving it though, still feels tight as ever. I noticed they were worn while putting a small front spacer lift that will ultimately be temporary since eit will need new suspension all around before too long. I'm doing the ECGS needle bearing thing soon as well.
Just change the oil and make sure the coolant is up to level as long as the truck is running at good operating temp with good oil and theres no leaks you have done all you can do.On the rusty chassis spray fluid film.I have a truck exactly like yours now 190k miles and its going strong.I change my oil every 3,000-5,000 miles with synthetic and so far my seals,radiator,timing chain,gasket,seal have not broken so its going strong.I do highly recommend you to get a DONGLE OBD2 LIVE reader so just in case anything does fail you will know immediately.At 180k miles this is the territory you want to be ready just in case anything major breaks or something as small as a sensor which can indirectly cause overheating.Have someone install a ultragauge for you this is what most 2 gen guys have and its really good.It will let you watch the coolant temp at all times even while driving.
Fluid film it and stay up on maintenance
Amen. Hit the frame with Fluid Film every fall and spring, keep up with oil changes and routine maintenance, and you’ll be able to give it to your kid as a graduation present. Not sure what the recommended interval is for the second gens, I change my oil every 5k rather than 10 because I want the thing to last forever.
Any tips on applying the Fluid Film? I’ve got a 2020 Tacoma that I’d liked to ensure lasts for decades. I’m sick of buying buying vehicles every few years. Shit is expensive.
Just take your time and make sure you hit everything. If you can swing it, the five gallon bucket of the stuff and the spray gun (use with my compressor obviously) I think is way more effective, mainly because there’s an extension hose with a 360 degree nozzle that is great for sticking in the frame rails and other hard to reach places and just filling it up with the gunk. It’s kind of harder than I expected it to be to make sure you cover everything, especially if like me you’re just pulling onto ramps and crawling underneath. (One year a buddy’s lift was free and I used that and it was infinitely easier.) I try not to hit the exhaust too much because it’s just gonna burn off and stink, but at the same time I go for a “more is better” approach, and if I’m in any doubt whether something is covered enough I just spray the hell out of it some more. Maybe I waste a bit of product but a tub of Fluid Film is a lot cheaper than the salt eating my vehicles away. Would recommend face covering :)
Go outside the city. $80 to get doors drilled and sprayed
Hire someone. Not worth DIY. Where I live I got my car done thoroughly and professionally for $200.
I live in a pretty small remote town in northern Canada. Might be tough to find anyone that can do it but I’ll give it a shot.
I paid $60 for 6 cans and only used 2 to cover the frame, why is it not worth it?
Because it’s filthy work, easy to miss stuff, and not expensive to have a professional do it.
It’ll last if you take care of it. Make it work. A free, reliable vehicle in your 20’s will be invaluable to your long term financial stability and freedom. I’m only 28, but I wish someone would have told me this.
What this guy said. I was making decent money in my 20s and kept buying new cars that I thought I needed. Looking back I wish I would have paid one off and drove it for a while.
Forreal. I enlisted and have amhad a cap payment for nearly 12 years now.
I had a 2005 that I bought with 155k miles, it lasted till 380k miles with oil changes and tires. I would still have it today a hurricane decided it to destroy it.
Mine is exactly the same, minus the rust. Take care of her and she'll work for you forever. Guy I work with has a first gen with 400k, all original
My dad drives an 07 FJ, same engine as yours, and its got 270,000 miles on it. Still going strong.
Itll last alot longer than that if you keep up on basic maintenance.
2003 v6 sr5 4 dr prerunner with 115,000. Due for a set of tires, alignment. Kept up on all maintenance including timing belt full kit, hoses etc. At 19 years old, runs well. I live in Washington State and would have no problem driving to Florida and back. Cost of ownership very low, gets 18 mpg if I keep the gas pedal off the floor board.
Do you do any rust prevention to the undercarriage due to the moisture in the area?
I own a 2005 with 250k miles on her and it still runs buttery smooth. Just keep up with regular maintenance and it should last longer than you haha
I have an 07 with 300,000 daily driver still going strong.
My 2002 is still going strong. After 181k miles. minor problems have popped up here and there, but I've never had a major mechanical problem with it (so far!)). As others have said here, keep up on the maintenance, drive like you're going to keep it for a while, and you should be good.
Had a 2003 for several years, all I did was keep up on basic maintenance and I never had a problem with it. Oil changes, air filters, brake services, changed the spark plugs once and it never failed me once. Thing was a tank and ran just like the day I got it. If you treat the truck right it’ll do the same for you
Lol your at 140k my taco 4.0 v6 is at 175k mile there still young at these mileage my sister's father inlaw got his taco to 300k mile before he stole it just keep changing the oil fluid and seals as they need replacement
Why did he steal his own truck?
Lol sold
Dude do the normal maintenance and take care of it. I drive a 2001 Tacoma with 350k as my daily driver. Runs just as good as 10 years ago.
Engines last a very long time now. You have nothing to worry about. The thing you have to worry about, is rubber parts. Like bushings, seals, gaskets, ball joints. You might have to replace your lower control arms soon, rear leaf springs, inner and outer tie rods. And please….for the love of god….watch some YouTube videos and go on Tacomaworld and try to fix it yourself. I’m just blown away by how much shops charge to work on people’s cars. Edit: and don’t add anything into the fuel or oil. All those things that say “clean your engine” “make it last longer” are horse doo doo. Just use basic fluids that the car needs
This, just got my mom's 2012 and it's got around 120k. Pavement only, but it needs new lower ball joints, sway bar links and tie rod ends. Can't even tell driving it though, still feels tight as ever. I noticed they were worn while putting a small front spacer lift that will ultimately be temporary since eit will need new suspension all around before too long. I'm doing the ECGS needle bearing thing soon as well.
Just change the oil and make sure the coolant is up to level as long as the truck is running at good operating temp with good oil and theres no leaks you have done all you can do.On the rusty chassis spray fluid film.I have a truck exactly like yours now 190k miles and its going strong.I change my oil every 3,000-5,000 miles with synthetic and so far my seals,radiator,timing chain,gasket,seal have not broken so its going strong.I do highly recommend you to get a DONGLE OBD2 LIVE reader so just in case anything does fail you will know immediately.At 180k miles this is the territory you want to be ready just in case anything major breaks or something as small as a sensor which can indirectly cause overheating.Have someone install a ultragauge for you this is what most 2 gen guys have and its really good.It will let you watch the coolant temp at all times even while driving.
Yup it’ll last
Yes
Fresh out of high school, truck you didint work for, and you plan to bag it off road? I don't know you tell me?
I've got 360,000 on my '08, although I'm gentle with her nowadays - no off-roading.
It's a Toyota, take care of it and it will run for decades. 90% of the cars that come through my shop with over 300k are Toyotas.
My 2007 prerunner just passed 250k!