Hi Scotty!
I recently purchased a 2013 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 Access Cab V6 with automatic transmission and 134,000km.
I want this truck to last a loooong time so I looked up the recommended service schedule on the Toyota website. Every 16,000km it lists "lubricate propeller shaft" and "tighten propeller shaft bolts". What is this? Does it really need to be done that often? Could I do it myself? Thanks!
What is this?
It's a drive shaft that connects your transmission to the wheels, making your truck go.
Does it really need to be done that often?
If the people who designed your car say so, then probably, yes. Fresh grease helps keep moving parts lubricated, making them last longer. It definitely won't harm it.
Could I do it myself?
Absolutely. All you need is a grease gun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seEQ06-UKdA
(Scotty needs to make a video about greasing zerks.
Hello. Thank you so much for your helpful videos. I have a 2018 Toyota Highlander AWD, 16600 miles. The car's maintenance manual suggests to re-torque propeller shaft bolt every 15k miles. Is this really necessary?
Thanks!
why would a CAR need a PROPELLER bolt anyway, right? Silly engineers. 🙄
Specifically I'm looking at a 2018 Highlander SE, V6, AWD - just bought it a few months ago with ~40k miles, up to 46k now.
The internet community appears indifferently mixed about whether or not to bother with this, this isn't the 4Runner they say, it's not truly necessary like relubrication the 4Runner drive shaft needs, etc. Me, I like doing things when they're supposed to be done, but I'm also a fan of not doing extra work and fixing things that aren't broken.
Do we need to re-torque propeller shaft bolt, and how tricky of a job is it to reach it on a 3rd-gen AWD non-hybrid Highlander such as my own? I'm fine doing my own transfer case and rear differential fluid changes, easy stuff there, and I have a couple of good torque wrenches for going between ~10 - 90 ft.lbs I know how to use, so I'm not terribly worried about it, but I also can't seem to find any good guides anywhere on doing it, and between the lack of instruction sets and the forum communities suggesting it's not necessary, I can't help but be suspicious if I should be getting on that, or not?
Thanks in advance!
Where do I find the videos re retorqing those bolts?
prop shaft overhaul:
As part of the maintenance, Re-torque propeller shaft bolt is called for frequently. How do you do this?
Find the factory specification for torque on the bolts, set a mechanical or digital torque wrench to that value and attempt to tighten them. Work in a criss-cross pattern like lug nuts. When you hear a click or beep, the torque is correct. I would go for a digital wrench with a quite audible beep, not a mechanical wrench that clicks.
