Anyone else "over maintain" their truck?

Here's my shedule below.. all done by myself since buying the truck new in 2014. I even skipped on the free dealership jobs because I rest easier knowing everything was done right (at least to my knowledge so I can be the only one to blame).

2,500 miles (next at 97.5k)

Tire rotation (94.7k)

5,000 miles (next at 100k)

Oil change, oil filter change, and engine cleaner (95.5k)
Lubricate driveshaft assembly (95.5k)
Power steering fluid drain/fill (95.5k)
Cabin filter (95.4k)
Intake filter and MAF sensor (95.5k)

10,000 miles (next at 100k)

Differentials & transfer case (90.2k)
Oil catch cans (95.5k)

20,000 (next at 100k)

Transmission fluid drain/fill from pan (95.5k)
Brake fluid (86.2k)


There are a few other bigger maintenance tasks that I do as necessary.

 

Some people will post "You are wasting your money". It is YOUR truck. You can change whatever you want, whenever you want. I'm OK with it. Why should I get upset over someone else over-maintained or lack of maintenance. My guess is your probably enjoy it.

 

My wife tells me I over maintain everything.

 

My procrastinating nature about anything other than oil changes is a huge part of why I'm buying Toyotas. I bought my 07 Tacoma in 2010 with 28k. I bought Mobil 1 extended performance so I could go 10k+ between changes, changed the fluid in the differentials once around 130k, cabin filter at 100k, intake filter twice ever. Never changed the plugs or coolant. Transmission had no service interval (sealed) so I didn't. I never touched the suspension. I did have the recalls performed.

I had a $17k damage wreck, and hit 3 deer over 9 years time.

The only things that ever went wrong were the overhead display fuse, which I *eventually* fixed, and the driver front wheel bearing, which I also fixed myself. I did replace the 8 year old OEM battery.

It ran like a top until the day I sold it, which was a day after that last deer obliterated the entire front end. 6300 in damage and still not totaled. I took 5800 after deductible, and sold it for $3,100 in 6 hours after posting on facebook. It still ran and drove perfectly with the radiator smashed-in and the new owner drove it 60 miles home. 160k nearly perfect miles.

Hats off to your discipline. I'd like to have about 30% more myself.

 

I tend to procrastinate when it comes to maintenance. I always tell myself: "Nah, it's still good, I will do it next time". The only things that I do consistent is Oil, lube & filter and tire rotation every 5,000 miles. I do not do the transmission oil, radiator flush, brake line flush etc... hardly at all.

 

I honestly used to be as anal as anyone. I’d wax the trucks once a month. Detail the interiors all the time. Change the oil at 5K or less using Royal Purple, Amsoil or whatever the best off the shelf I could find. I’d buy the most expensive oil filters. Replace the tires with 1/3 tread life still left. Then I had kids. I just didn’t have the time to do that stuff anymore. But back then, I honestly got a great deal of satisfaction from it and hats off to you for doing that stuff.

At this point in my life, I follow the manufacturer recommendations. It saves me time and money. I don’t keep my trucks a million miles anyway. I did the math once for doubling my oil change interval with Royal Purple and premium synthetic element filters and over 100K miles I was spending an extra $1,000 or so (plus my time) just on oil changes. I would also do the diffs and transfer cases as well as the transmission every 30K or so. Maybe the next owner got some benefit from it, but honestly I don’t think I ever did. Then again, it made me happy at the time. No regrets.

 

I live the peace of mind that it comes with. My real weakness is trying to get the truck like new again. I go hunting around the truck to find worn or cracked rubber pieces, missing or broken grommets, shit previous owners removed that made no sense, and then chase it all down in the parts fiche. Knowing the truck inside and out helps me figure out when things start to feel differently. I go nuts over those pops and squeaks that I can’t put a finger on and it usually involves replacing a bunch of random parts until it’s gone. Like a previous poster said, as long as it makes you feel good in the end. We all blow our money in various ways.

 

yep...over maintain all my vehicles.

 

I perform services based on the “harsh” conditions or whatever is the earliest recommended. Ironically, I’ve never kept a truck longer than four years or 75k miles, so it’s been pointless.

to each their own.

 

I follow the maintenance schedule located in my owners manual, but I usually rotate my tires more often than recommended.

 

My delays are well-intentioned. I always plan on doing all the stuff, but I don't often have the time for anything that takes over an hour. Now I have even less time. Both kids are in sports and I assistant coach them, plus weekend tournaments, etc. I love it but it never ends. Hence why I picked a bulletproof truck with terrible gas mileage over a questionable truck with decent gas mileage but very likely won't stay trouble free for 150k.

Plus the Tundra just looks better.

 

Same here on the harsh conditions maintenance sched. Except I tend to drive my trucks into the ground. 10 years ownership minimum.

 

Yeah, but with what you put your truck thru it makes sense for you

 

There are quite a few people on this forum that take such good care of their trucks I'd think it qualifies as "over-maintained."

I love my truck, but I don't maintain it like that. Oil and tires every 5k, pretty much everything else I'll let slide at least 50% beyond the recommended interval. Time and money are finite resources, and I just choose to allocate mine to other endeavors.

Vehicle maintenance is a funny thing though. As owners, a lot of us think like me. But as buyers (of used vehicles) we all want everyone else to be like OP.

 

Generally follow the guidelines but I do oil changes and rotate and balance tires every 5k

 

Yep! Oil changed today 3K miles, but it was 6 months..

 

Nope!

 

Even her?

 

Say's the guy with Dr. Rockso as a avatar... jk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbJABjVH-0k

Every 5k oil.

 

My philosophy is...if the vehicle is going to be neglected, I wanna be the first to do it.

I also am exceptionally honest and forthcoming when I sell something, so no one is getting trash dumped on them.

 

I've had mine since 2009 I have done oil changes at 5k.....rear diff at 30k ........trans every 60k......clean engine air filter weekly when I wash the truck. Spark plugs at 110k. Serpentine belt every 60k. Truck has 145k now. Water pump has been swapped out twice

 

I have done my oil changes at 5000 mile intervals and sent every oil change sample to Blackstone laboratories and even they are saying that I am changing it too early to try and start going further at 7500 or even doing the 10,000 mile interval that Toyota recommends.

I even sent my rear gear oil at 30,000 miles and there is still a lot of life left in it even though I do tow my trailer and camper on occasion.

 

I don’t know that I’d call it “over” maintaining so much as preventative maintenance. Especially knowing what your truck is doing I think it’s all smart. There’s a big difference between being broken down on the side of a road vs out in BFE Johnson valley. Any thing that helps prevent that I say is a good investment.