Recent content by Vaca

I just changed the original plugs on a 2017 RAV4 with 103,000 miles last weekend (probably as you were writing this post). They were pretty tight getting them out. The plugs looked fine, but still glad I changed them when I did considering how tight they were. I used dealer-provided Toyota Denso...

Late to this thread, but here's an interesting one: my in-laws owned a nursery/florist up in Bergen County NJ and they had a couple of full size vans, one of which was an ~1988 Ford Econoline with the 300 cu. in straight six that had non-power assisted brakes and no power steering. And the best...

I'm a little late to this thread, but figured to share that I have a 2000 986 Boxster with manual transmission and it's been great. I've owned and driven a lot of cars, many faster, or more comfortable, or more practical or economical, but not many that are more fun to drive. You feel one with...

I don't always change air filters as often as owner's manual suggests. For example, I changed the original air filter on a bought-new Toyota at around 60,000 miles even though Toyota says to change it at 30,000 miles. But changed air filter at the recommended 60,000 interval on my son's...

The filter in this engine is vertical with the open end up so drainback will not be an issue, nor will using the slighly larger filter. I have a 2020 Tacoma with this engine and the OP has the same engine in his 2015 Tacoma. If it were my car having this issue, I would first change the oil...

I would still change the fluid and just use the proper fluid for that transmission. Sorry, I thought it would have had the ZF 8-speed.

I changed the ATF on my 2004 530i when it had about 100,000 miles on it. I used ZF Lifeguard 6 fluid. I changed it twice with a drive in between to fully mix the fluid. I sold the car recently with 240,000 miles on it and it was running perfectly - the transmission was still shifting fine. If...

I'll "vote' for a Bavaria. My friend has both a 3.0 CS and a Bavaria and they're both great driving cars. The Bavaria actually drives better with it's longer wheelbase and is much less expensive to boot. Those BMWs are actually pretty easy to work on too and parts are generally available here in...

I would use Mobil 1 ESP 5w-30 as someone else already mentioned.

I'd suggest an adjustment for boosted engines... like perhaps use 0.80 times the 50 times sump capacity times MPG or 40 x Sump in qts. x MPG. But I just made up the 0.80, but it should probably be something a little less than 1 since turbos and superchargers are harder on oil than a NA engine.

Since I bought a Tacoma new last year before the chip shortage began to push up prices, I've enjoyed a temporary negative cost of ownership since the price of the Tacoma is probabloy higher today than it was when I bought it. That coupled with low insurance rates and low usage during Covid...

One more to add here is the way many new cars are connected to the cloud - I'm not a big fan of the car manufacturers (and pehaps others) having the capability to know where my car is and under what conditions it's being operated.

I bought a 2020 2.7 Tacoma last year and find it to have plenty of power both around town and on the highway. I've been using SuperTech Syn. 5w-30 with Toyota YZZD3 filters (slighly larger than the stock YZZD1). As you and others here have written, I'd think most any decent oil will work fine...

I have an Audi Q5 with the 2.0 liter DI turbo that has a similar issue and I'm considering using that Valvoline Blue Restore 10w-30 oil that was developed for Cummins engines. It supposedly has a lot of esters or something to clean the piston rings. It's expensive (approx. $75 for 5 quarts). I...

Yeah, that's odd as it's the same engine. I can see the "Honeywell" stamped into the aluminum turbo housing up by the firewall.