Tips on keeping an older truck running forever (or almost at least)

Question, as the tittle says, i was curious on any tips any of you might have on keeping a '02 Tacoma alive and running for a long time, recently ive kinda been having this fear of "what ifs" and i keep thinking about potential problems that could occur to my truck but id like to prevent them from happening, besides the obvious frequent oil changes when needed and not driving my truck to the grave, what are some things i could maybe fix,replace,add, or do that could help keep an older truck running like new for a long time, ive only had this truck for a year now and i love it, just worried that with older vehicles comes with a lot of care and attention from the years of wear and tear, thanks in advanced

 

Next to regular oil changes don't neglect the transmission or differentials. I think the factory recommendation for the diffs and t-case is 60k miles and Toyota claims the trans fluid never needs changed if driven under normal conditions which is complete bullshit! Change it every 60k too and put a new filter in, they're just trying to sell you a new trans or truck. I recommend switching over to synthetic lubes for everything, and with them, you can probably safely stretch it to 100k intervals (unless you're towing then stick with 60k) and it'll give you a bump in gas mileage as well. I changed out the original OEM trans fluid with synthetic and it made a huge difference in how smooth it shifts, even though the old fluid still looked good. I just used cheap Service Pro Global ATF full synthetic, can get a 12qt case for around $45. As stated, if you got a V6 they stay to change the timing belt and w/p every 90k, although I went to 127k on the original and the belt still looked good, the w/p was starting to seep though. It's a good idea to use synthetic engine oil too, I highly recommend Mobil 1, you can get a 5 quart jug at Walmart for $28 (as low as $12 if there's rebates going on through Mobil) any day of the week, I change it between 6000 and 8000 miles and still looks good coming out. OEM interval is 5000 miles if you use conventional oil.
Make sure to keep the chassis lubed to prolong u-joint and driveline life, this is a common thing that gets neglected. Make sure to have an alignment done every time you get new tires, this will help prevent premature steering and front end wear. Change the power steering fluid now and then too whenever it gets nasty looking, a pump and rack and pinion aren't cheap. This can easily be done at home if you have a turkey baster, just suck out the old fluid and put new stuff in, cycle it through the system, then repeat until it stays clean. I'm sure shops do it as well, but I've always done the baster method.
The number one killer of these trucks is frame rust, they're more likely to die of a rusted out frame than anything else. So keep it clean and try to avoid salty roads whenever possible! I wash mine once a week during winter. I've seen plenty of 1st and 2nd gens with over 300k miles with piss poor maintenance/care habits still running strong, they can take a beating for sure.

 

This is true of any long term vehicle, but buying the best quality parts is important. In many cases, the OE parts are best. Also, if you are not doing the work, find the best quality and trusted mechanic who will stand behind their work. Getting frustrated with poor quality parts and installation will separate folks from an otherwise good vehicle.

 

No need to overthink it, just keep up on the basics and you'll be fine. This is my second Toyota truck from this generation with well over 200k; I've really only ever replaced wear items like suspension, alternator, etc. As mentioned the ball joints are something you'll want to keep an eye on. I get alignments a bit more frequently then most people, and that helps give me a little notice when things start drifting out of spec due to wear. Frame rust is the big killer, as mentioned. Up here in wisconsin, I see a lot of these trucks for sale with drivetrains that run well but rusted frames. If you live in a state that uses salt and road chemicals, plan on spending some time underneath your truck when you change your oil to look things over. Get on the Fluid-Film train now if you haven't yet. Everything underneath my truck has a nasty coating of grease all over it, but it keeps everything minty underneath. That stuff works.

Really though, these trucks are pretty easy. I know there are plenty of vehicles that are hyped up for being reliable, and I've owned a few of them, but Toyotas from this period are second-to-none in the terms of neglect they can handle and still run respectably.

 

FLUID FILM Every Fall