2007 Tacoma PreRunner AccessCab TRD Off-Road (V6, Automatic), 238,361 miles.
Out: M1-EP 5W-30 (Previous fill: May 2020, 228,914 miles) (OCI: 13 months, 9447 miles)
In: 3 qts M1-EP 5W-30, 2.5 qts M1-AP 5W-30, Fram Ultra (Had a few qts of the AP left over from the 2019 Auto Zone clearance).
I did take a sample and will be sending it in this week. I’ll post in the UOA section when I get the results.
Also recently replaced plugs (NGK V-Power copper), and replaced coolant (drained just under 8 qts from radiator, reservoir, and both block drains). That leaves about 2 quarts I didn’t get, but what came out didn’t look too bad, especially since it had been in there since Oct 2012, when the truck had ~ 100,000 miles.
And what I’m really excited about is a set of 2021 Tacoma TRD Off-Road shocks and struts I just bought from a guy on the Tacoma World Forum. They have less than 400 miles on them! These are a direct bolt-on replacement, and should not only improve handling and ride, but also raise the front of the truck and reduce the stinkbug look it’s always had, but which has gotten worse in the last couple of years as the stock springs have sagged a bit. The 2021 units have a slightly higher spring rate, I’ve read.
The guy bought the truck and then almost immediately installed aftermarket suspension. He advertised them for $200. Unfortunately he’s in Las Vegas, so he charged me another $175 to ship them, but I still consider it a steal! Should be one heck of an upgrade in ride and handling, considering that im still on the original, 238,000 mile suspension!
Im debating whether to get an alignment after replacing the struts & shocks. The truck has never needed an alignment. We’ll see how it tracks after replacing those shocks & struts, I suppose.
This has been my daily driver for 14 years this month, since I bought it new in June 2007!
An interesting fact (and one that’s kinda sickening, actually) is that I’ve now spent more money in fuel to run this truck, than what I paid for it (238,000 miles, @ 17 MPG = 14,000 gallons of fuel, @ $2/gal = $28,000).
Its never had anything but Mobil 1 in the crankcase. Still runs phenomenally, and uses no appreciable oil over 9-10K OCIs.
Only a few slight issues:
- Seeping valve cover gaskets and timing cover, but they’ve never leaked enough for a drop to hit the ground (Or the exhaust). That’ll be my next project. Want to get it cleaned up.
- Slight torque converter shudder (I imagine that’s what it is, as I’ve replaced u-joints and carrier bearing recently). Most noticeable when I accelerate hard in first gear. I’ve heard a product called Lubeguard might fix this, or, a different fluid (I’ve changed out fluid twice, at 100K and 200K, both times using OEM WS fluid).
- Intermittently, the cruise control will fail to work. I think it’s the switch, which is a pretty easy fix, from what I can tell.
- Soft brake pedal. May just need a good bleed to firm up. Been a few years since I flushed the system. Wouldn’t hurt to do it again. Maybe this fall.
Other than that, I love the truck. I just washed and clayed it today, and used some Ultimate Compound to polish the hood, where it had some hard water spots from the sprinkler. Used some of the Griot’s Garage 3-In-1 Spray Wax that the guys over on the Detail & Wax section talked me into buying. Also got some of the Griot’s Ceramic Detailer Spray to use as a drying aid and to boost the protection after every wash. Should be an easy system to maintain the Black Sand Metallic finish, which still mostly looks good, despite door dings and paint failure and the resultant rust on the roof that I need to address. Need to Polish the headlights again, as well. Did it once, with the 3M kit, and they were perfect, but then I didn’t use any protectant, and they oxidized again.
Well, if you’re still reading, this is the result of being overcaffeinated at 2:30 am!
Thanks for reading, and happy oil changing!
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