MY new TUNDRA

[kennyd]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the oil changes since it does not have a traditional spin on filter.

My wife's '08 Sienna M/V has the newer (well, really older I guess) cartridge style filter. I was told "it's for the environment, less waste" by several dealers. Makes changing the oil a very clean job though, and my local Toyota dealer only wants $5.00 a piece for them...

 

[brandoro]

The first oil change on the Tundra was at the dealer but I won't be able to get in for the next one so bought oil and filter and brought with. I have heard that the filter is a pain to change because it is on the bottom. Also have to remove the skid plate. I'll know a lot more about it in a couple of weeks.
Mine is getting about 16-17 mile to the US gallon. I track mileage by the Imperial gallon, what I grew up with, and am getting 20-21 mpg the last few tanks by that measure.
My car uses a cartridge but is up under the hood and is too easy. Spin the cap off, old filter out, new filter and included new O rings in, spin the cap back on. Little bit of oil on one finger and thumb from pulling the old cartridge out. Far less to throw away, a bit of oily paper, no steel container. Filters for the car are reasonable price too.
Now that I think about it, the motorcycle uses a cartridge too, only the Dakota and the Kubota use spin ons.

 

[Kahuna]

I have a 2007 Tundra double cab 4x4 bought back in October. It has 5000 miles and I have had no problems. I am not getting as good a mileage as some but I seldom take any road trips further than 10 to 20 miles. Most of my miles are short trips to town from the farm. I am getting about 14.5 to 15 on the short trips and between 16 to 17 on the highway average. The biggest killer on mileage seems to be a strong headwind. One direction I may average 14 and going the other way with the wind it will bump up to 20. It is still better that the 2004 F250 5.4 gas I traded in. It was a consistent 10-12 mpg with no power. I did add another vehicle to my personal fleet. I just purchased a new Hyundai Elantra for times when I don't need to take the truck. It gets a consistent 30 mpg in town and 35 on the highway.

 

[RFB]

TexasJohn,

Give that f350 a little time and it will go...I had a 96 f250 blowing oil at 40,000, a 2001 F350 with 2 transmissions and an A/C at less than 10,000, and a 2003 f350 with 2 new transmissions, the first at 1,000 and the second at 1500.

I bought a 2007 4wd D cab tundra, now instead of buying problems, I wound up buying a solution. Well, almost. My wife was driving a Toyota FJ Cruiser and once she rode in the Tundra...well we now have two.

You will love it.

 

[Patches]

The filter is indeed a PITA. You first must remove the belly pan to access the filter. The manual suggests you use a special tool to remove the filter housing,but a small rubber strap wrench(Lowes/Kobalt) works as well.Be very careful with the housing sealing "o"ring,as its easily displaced causing a leak;don't ask me how I know Lastly, do not over-torque the housing as it is some synthetic material screwed into an aluminum fitting

 

[escavader]

Ionly have 1200 on my dbl cab,dealer insist going 5000 between changes.Im old fashion and do it at 3000,dont know if i will change or not.Even though i never have any one touch my vehicles ,i might consider having the dealer do it,depending on the cost.Its a funny weight oil[cant remember off hand] wally world ,and department stores dont carry it,so ill be paying a premium price for it.Dealer should have a bulk tank of it,so im thinking mabey i might not save a whole lot doing it myself,ill have to check and see.HOW COME IM THE ONLY ONE WITH PICS,WE WANT PICS!!!!!!
ALAN

 

[texasjohn]

Interesting re oil filter and change rate. Why can't you run 10,000 mi or so... particularly if one uses synthetic oil?? OK... forget I said that... no need hijacking this thread

RFB, You really have tested your Ford pickups... and I can totally understand why you have gone with Toyota. My F350 burned its valves up at 60000 miles...out of warranty, rebuilt engine installed. Also fell prey to disasterous front end problems which I had to pay for... subsequently there was a class action suit which proved manufacturing defect. Onboard computer also died early in its life, also manufacturing defect but I had to pay for it... as well as deal with the load of bulls I had just loaded to take off to sell. I won't even go into the problem I have had with the rear axle bearing seal.... replaced 3 times, still leaked, had to replace entire assembly. AC repaired multiple times, I finally gave up. Heater core leaks, I rerouted hoses. Now, no heat or AC or defroster. It'll stop starting one day and I'll get me a Tundra

Family has long had Toyotas. 5 Camrys and one 4runner. 1st camry ran like a top, no repairs until 100,000 miles when my son rolled it over. I gave my MIL one having 260,000 mi on it... it died at 296,000 because she/I didn't have the timing belt replaced. Another just died, 19 years old, automatic transmission started slipping. Still driving 2 plus 4runner. Camry MPG has been 30-36MPG, thus I only drive pickup when I NEED a pickup.

Good to hear several people indicating no Tundra problems. I know it's made in San Antonio... I desperately hope that the Tundra quality control folks are able to maintain the quality I have experienced in the smaller Toyota vehicles.

 

[wushaw]

Wasn't that on the Tacomas?

I wear a size 12 shoe and don't have that problem driving the GF Tundra.

I can see if a Beer/coke bottle rolled under the brake pedal then it would be difficult to stop.

I have changed her oil twice now and it takes a 64mm oil filter wrench, it's not that bad just takes a little more time for removal/install the skid plate.

 

[klm]

I hope they are good trucks cause they sure are UGLY!

 

[Charlesaf3]

i like the looks. not perfect, but I've gotten a lot of compliments from ford owners!

Size 13 shoe here, no problems with gas/brake positioning.

The wipers do cost an absurd amount to replace. $70 a set.

 

[Patches]

Ionly have 1200 on my dbl cab,dealer insist going 5000 between changes.Im old fashion and do it at 3000,dont know if i will change or not.Even though i never have any one touch my vehicles ,i might consider having the dealer do it,depending on the cost.Its a funny weight oil[cant remember off hand] wally world ,and department stores dont carry it,so ill be paying a premium price for it.Dealer should have a bulk tank of it,so im thinking mabey i might not save a whole lot doing it myself,ill have to check and see.HOW COME IM THE ONLY ONE WITH PICS,WE WANT PICS!!!!!!
ALAN

Wally carries it (5W20)Mobil 1 synthetic, in my area as well as conventional petroleum oil; Castrol and Valvoline and possibly others. I always change the oil/filter at no more than 1500 miles the first time. I had the dealer do that and it was $40 for their conventional oil/filter change.I'm now on their 5,000 mile regimen and will continue that until the warranty expires, and then go to extended intervals. Oil/filter change costs under $40 using Mobil 1;dealer wanted $85 for a synthetic service

 

[brandoro]

Just tried to attach a photo of my Tundra. First time to try this.
Double cab long box overlooking the Peace River in northern BC.
The only failure? my Tundra has had is the power steering pressure sensor. Not sure what its purpose is but it turned on the check engine light. The dealer has a new one so next time I am home will get it changed.

Looks like it worked. Can't see much of the river but about 20 feet behind the truck is about 100 foot drop to the river.

 

[wushaw]

Cool atleast you got the tow mirrors, that was high on the list of things the GF truck had to have, the only thing on my list of things she needed that is missing is the back up camera, I saw the advantage with the camera in hooking up trailers.

 

[brandoro]

The tow mirrors took a little getting used to, sort of like having bifocals. Now that I have them set and am used to looking at the right part of the mirror for what I want to see they are pretty good. Only the big part of the mirror is electrically adjustable, the lower convex part is manual so takes a few tries to get to just the right spot. Having the mirrors heated is good too.
I haven't hooked up to the trailer yet, I'm thinking the sonar on the back bumper might be some help. I backed up to a 4" round post one time and it picked that up.

 

[escavader]

Nice truck ROD.The box in the back.Ilove the truck,iam sick of snow though
Did any of you dbl cab guys,get the under rear seat box?Its sweet,holds all my on board tools and stuff
ALAN

 

[brandoro]

The box in the back is one I built for the Dakota, it was about as big as I could make for it. The toolbox looks small in the Tundra, being an 8' box and about 4" deeper than the one on the Dakota.
My Tundra has the underseat storage. I'm going to get some of that anti skid material to put in the bottom so stuff doesn't slide around as I'm driving. Not a big problem on the prairies but lots of crooked roads here in the mountains.

 

[peterc38]

Nice truck ROD.The box in the back.Ilove the truck,iam sick of snow though
Did any of you dbl cab guys,get the under rear seat box?Its sweet,holds all my on board tools and stuff
ALAN

I got the under seat rear box, it is a nice feature.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I've got trac Racks with the toolbox. very nice system.

 

[Patches]

One last comment before we put this to bed;The one glaring deficiency with this vehicle, and make no mistake, I do like the truck, is its' lack of a mechanical locking rear differential, even as an option Even though I had no problem getting around during the last, very snowy winter, I would really like having a locking diff. on board.The Auto-Limited-Slip feature relegates you to 1 wheel drive in the 2 wheel mode and 2 in the 4 wheel mode, as one axle is under braking should a wheel start to spin. Some are of the opinion this is a money saving decision, but I can't believe it's cheaper to employ the computer software, intergrating the anti-lock brakes/driveline sensors, etal, as opposed to an already existing technology of the locking diff I've contacted Eaton, manufacturer of OEM as well as after-market lockers, and they have nothing for the Tundra. To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement