2004 Tundra new owner

[Ed NC]

New owner of 2004 Tundra Dbl Cab with about 9800 miles. Will be changing oil to Mobil 1 5-30 this weekend. Using Purolator filter. Any opinions on the Toyota filters? Dealer has 1 for $6 or 2 for $10, so no too bad. Whats up with the paper gaskets?

Used to working on Saabs so I can do lots of stuff myself. I see in the manual that the tranny fluid (auto) never needs to be changed. I know that's gotta be BS and wondered what anyone else thought. I'd probably change at 30k if I stuck to what I used to do with our other cars.

Thanks.

-Ed

[ribakit]

Try to stick with the toyota filters. They have an in-built valve that will keep the oil up in the engine mechanizm. I usually buy the filters on line (about $4.00 to $5.00 a piece). An order of $50.00 or more is free shipping. Good luck with the new Toy.

[toto]

The Toyota oil filters are good filters, but be aware that they're made in several different countries, and they differ slightly based on where they're made.
The filters made in Japan are the highest quality, with a nice rubber gasket and good filter material inside. Those became quite expensive, though, relative to the others, so most dealers don't stock them.
Next are the filters made in Thailand. Those are commonly stocked by dealers and they're reasonably priced.
In third place would be the filters made in the U.S., which are rumored to be made by Purolator. They're the least expensive of the three, although only slightly less than the Thai filters.

Going rate on the Internet for filters is about $4.50 for the Thai filters; most dealers are carrying them under $7.00. Your prices of $6 for 1 or $10 for 2 are pretty good.

Most of the recent Toyota products claim that you don't need to change the trans fluid unless you do a lot of towing. I find that hard to believe, too. I've been satisfied with every 30K miles, but I know that many people still change it every 10K. I haven't heard of any reason not to change the fluid.

[Bakemono]

I stick with the Toyota filters. A local Toyota dealer quoted me at $4.90 each and if you buy 3 or more they go for $3.90 each.
As for changing the auto tranny fluid, if Toyota says it never needs to be replaced, why would you worry about it? Are you seriously trying to say that you know what your vehicle needs better than the people who designed it? If the manual says the fluid never needs to be replaced, you would be wasting your money in replacing it.
When I bought my F-150 it had 70,000 miles on it. There is currently 118,500 miles on it and I still havnet changed the tranny fluid. According to Ford, I should have changed it by now (they suggest every 20,000 miles). However, the fluid is still a nice pink/red color and it really doesnt look dirty to me. I was considering getting it flused and having the fluid replaced. However, do you know how much Ford wanted to drain, flush, refill the tranny and replace the tranny filter? $350!!!
Untill the tranny starts shifting hard or otherwise acting up, Im not going to worry about it.
Cap'n

[Ed NC]

I hear what you say, but always in the back of my mind I remember that the mfgrs are interested in getting the vehicle past 50 or 60k (whatever the warranty period is) and thats all. I'm interested in the next 100k miles. Thanks