Home maintenance of your Toyota Tacoma truck gets more difficult with each new model as the engines get more complex. Most work on truck parts is best left for a professional to replace when needed. However, there are still a few fluids and parts you may be able to change yourself at the recommended intervals.
The engine oil usually needs to be changed every 3,000 miles; however, this can be done every 7,500 miles provided you don't frequently drive in dusty, polluted, off-road or short stop-and-go conditions. Let the engine run to normal operating temperature before you change the oil, since the oil will drain easier. The crankcase/oil pan is often covered by a skid plate; remove the plate by unbolting it to reach the drain plug. It's best to use a closed-end wrench to remove the drain plug; make sure your drain pan is positioned under the plug before removing it. Replace the drain plug after all the oil drains, then remove the oil filter. Depending on the filter's position, which can vary depending on the year, you'll need either a cap or strap-type filter wrench to remove it. Coat the rubber gasket on the new filter with clean oil before you install the filter. Add 4 qt. of oil through the filler neck under the hood. SAE 5W-30 oil is recommended, especially for trucks driven in cold conditions.
You should rotate the tires about as often as you change the oil. If your Tacoma comes with a full-size spare tire, rotate them from the left front to the spare, the left rear to the right front and the right rear to the left front. If it doesn't, rotate them from the left front to the right rear, the right front to the left rear and the left rear to the right front.
The transmission fluid should be changed every 25,000 to 30,000 miles, regardless of whether you have manual or automatic transmission. A Tacoma with automatic transmission should have a drain plug on its pan. This means you can drain the fluid without removing the pan, unlike in many other vehicles. A truck with manual transmission will have the drain plug on the transmission. Draining and refilling the fluid is just like changing the engine oil but with the transmission fluid's drain plug and filler neck. Let the engine run for about 20 minutes beforehand so the fluid will flow easily.
Change the engine coolant every two years to remove rust and deposits from the system. The engine must be cold, meaning it should be off for at least three hours; overnight is best. Remove the radiator cap to allow air flow, then drain the coolant into a container for disposal. There are two places to drain the coolant at: the radiator and the engine block. When refilling the coolant, pour it at the radiator's filler neck. Use ethylene/glycol antifreeze and mix it with an equal amount of water.
