What have you done to your 2.5 gen Tundra today?

Did you strip out the noise deadening foam underneath?

 

Snagged a fully loaded ARE cap that even matches color for a great price! Worth the drive.

 

Installed a Retrax MX tonneau cover.

 

Thanks!!!

 

Nope. Still there.

 

Front sway bar and heritage decal from TVD Vinyl.

 

Put a new set of wipers on after almost 5 years. Some Trico Force's from Farm and Fleet. Seem ok so far, the 22" passenger is a touch shorter than the OEM blades though, maybe 1/4-1/2" on the end (just judging off of the wipe arc, I didn't actually measure the arms back to back). Seemed ok with just the wiper fluid test, will see how they are when it rains. Kept the stockers in the back seat until I know they work ok. They weren't destroyed but in salt spray they weren't getting full contact anymore.

 

Finally got to use my ARB air up kit and JACO digital gauge. Helped the work car out of a flat.

 

Hyperdipped my bumper end caps. I would say it went OK. Two of the twelve mm bolt holes ended up messed up. One was hard to get out so not sure if it was cross threaded at the factory. The other was severely rusted but I will eventually re tap them and replace the bolts.

 

Had a little fun before the movies. Got some interior goodies on the way, can’t wait!

 

Bad ass truck. Love the DC with the shell. What size tires ?

 

looks like you've got a bit of an alignment issue there.

 

Went camping over the weekend.

 

Changed my oil for the first time. I have heard too many horror stories about Toyota dealership mechanics locally that it made me nervous about my initial appointment a few months ago. When I went in for my appointment, I was told it would be a 3-4 hour wait and that the kids area was closed (I had my toddler with me). Also, no loaner cars available either so I went back in my truck and left.

Anyways, I had such a nightmare with this first oil change (5,406 miles). I replaced the oil drain bolt with a fumoto and that was all good. Then, I switched out the plastic filter with a metal one as recommended by many on here which I felt went smooth. After adding the first 5 quarts of oil, all was good. Once I got to putting in the remaining 3 - 3.5 quarts, I started to hear a water fall and luckily my oil catch pan was at the right place catching all the over flow. Figured I didnt tighten the filter down tight enough so I tightened it some more.

Cranked the truck and holy cow a waterfall of oil started coming down from the filter area again. I turn off the truck and knowing my local NAPA was going to close soon, I picked up more oil just in case. After removing the oil filter and inspecting it I noticed the large O-ring broke! I swear I put it in the right place but I do recall when I first installed the oil filter housing, there was some strange resistance. I ended up re-using the old large O-ring for now and after checking it over multiple times I was happy to see all was finally good with the truck. The fun part was going back and forth checking my oil level. It appears the oil is a little bit above the high mark but all seemed fine.

 

What makes you say that? Genuinely curious.

 

Not yet, but Ima try again at cleaning up my bed liner... Dawn and purple power have not worked. So last night a picked up a big ass bottle of purple ZEP, that will get the shit off my truck for sure. Then itll kill all the fishies when I run it down a storm drain. Sorry nature, i tried the friendly stuff, now its time to get down to business!!

 

Thank you! The tires are 295/70r17. They’re a good compromise of looks and capability, without giving up too much power.

 

Are you trying to get it back to when you bought it condition or just cleaner than it is now?

 

Oil change mechanics truly are the fry cooks of the automotive world. Who is going to care more, the guy who is paid $15/hr to change oil as fast as he can all day long or the guy who spent $40k on a truck and really doesn't want to screw it up?

 

Trying to get weird neon paint off of it. I moved some lockers for a skating rink and have that nasty blacklight paint all over it.

 

If your asking me, I was the oil change guy and that $15/hr was paying for my $45k truck, my chow, and my home. I needed that job more than you know and wasnt trying to fuck it up. Sometimes shit happens, it happens to everybody, just in different shitty ways.

 

It was a rhetorical question. I've had more issues with other people changing my oil than I'm comfortable with. Mostly younger guys who are paid to get it done quickly. Wrenches left on the cowl under the hood. Filters half screwed on. Oil underfilled by two quarts.

The last straw was with my 4Runner when one guy put the bigger filter O-ring in the wrong spot (right up against the canister threads) and torqued the filter canister into the housing threads so tight he flattened the O-ring into a washer. I drove the 4Runner like that for two weeks until the first cold snap of Fall when the O-ring shrunk a bit and I walked out very early to a puddle of oil under my 4Runner. It was still dark, and I would not have noticed (I back in to my driveway) if I hadn't walked in front of the 4Runner to move one of my kids' bikes that was left in my way. I am never taking advantage of a free oil change ever again.

I'm glad you took your job very seriously. In my experience you're the exception.

 

Thanks!

 

Way back in the day I worked at several oil change/quick lube companies. They're sharks. Upsell, upsell, upsell. Jiffy Lube was the worst. Tear wiper blades to sell a set (during inspections was the prime time to do this), create dirty fluid samples to sell replacement services (flushes, fuel filters, etc). I refused to do these things so my tenure was short. I did end up at a dealership but realized the tech helpers there weren't much better unless they were on track to becoming mechanics.

Minute Man would give a cut to the pit guy and top man (dude handling engine bay) so the upselling was rampant there. My manager was a mostly decent guy except for slow months and days he wanted to push numbers up. He wouldn't screw over old folks and most women though lol.

I tell everyone I know to do your own maintenance. You have a much higher probability of doing it better via YouTube videos than some hack in Wally World who was doing housewares the week before

 

I used to change my oil in all my vehicles. Nowadays, it is a PITA to do it all, and the Sequoia and Tundra use more oil, and the prices at the local auto supply shop don't offset the hassle so I just let the dealer do it. I usually make an appointment, wait approximately 45 minutes in the lobby, they recycle the oil for me, and I'm done. I purchase the three (3) oil change packages for around $220 for the Tundra, and $199 for the Avalon.

I have no issues with my Toyota dealer...

 

I got tired of my Tundra coming back from the dealer missing the front skid bolts and retainers...

 

Let us know if you have any questions!

 

Those brackets won't work if there is a transmission cooler installed. The fit is extremely tight. I am against the grill and the cooler....I may end up removing the lights from behind the grill due to this.

 

thank you sir.

 

BEASTMODE!!!