Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen V6 (2016–2023) Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule for the third-generation Toyota Tacoma N300 with the 3.5-litre V6, sold for model years 2016–2023. Toyota replaced it with the fourth-generation Tacoma for 2024, so this guide does not cover the turbocharged or hybrid newer truck.
The third-generation Tacoma came in several engine, transmission, and drivetrain combinations. This page covers the 3.5-litre 2GR-FKS V6 and includes the relevant two-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, automatic, and six-speed manual maintenance items. See the fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner schedule for the related SUV.
The 2GR-FKS V6 has VVT-iW and Toyota’s D-4S port-and-direct fuel injection. It produces 207 kW (278 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 359 Nm (265 lb-ft) at 4,600 rpm in US specification.
The Toyota Tacoma truck is available in 6 trims: The base SR, mid-level SR5, TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport, Limited, and TRD Pro. Maintenance for all of them (other than attending to the tires, which vary in size) is the same.
Toyota updated the Tacoma for 2020 and added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The V6 drivetrain and its core maintenance schedule stayed the same through the final 2023 model year.
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Updates
- August 2026: Closed the model scope at 2016–2023, checked the schedule against Toyota’s final 2023 Warranty & Maintenance Guide, corrected normal and severe-use fluid intervals, and removed unrelated media.
What you need to service a Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen (2016–2023)
If you’re servicing your Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen (V6), you need the following maintenance parts.
| Item | Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen (V6) Spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Toyota recommends Toyota Genuine Motor Oil 0W-20, or another multigrade engine oil of ILSAC GF-6A rating. |
| Oil filter | The standard part number for the oil filter is 04152-YZZA1 for the Toyota Tacoma V6. |
| Spark plugs | For the V6 engine, Toyota recommends DENSO FK20HBR8 spark plugs. |
| Coolant | Toyota recommends Toyota Super Long Life Coolant, an OAT coolant based on ethylene glycol. |
| Engine air filter | The K&N air filter 33-5017 fits Tacomas from 2015 onward, both V6 and L4. |
| Cabin air filter | Try a K&N washable air filter, type VF2005 (for both V6 and L4). |
| Differential oil (for rear, or both for 4WD) | Use Toyota Genuine Differential Gear Oil LT 75W-85 GL-5 or an equivalent. |
| (4WD) Transfer case oil | Toyota recommends Toyota Genuine Transfer Gear Oil LF SAE 75W, or an equivalent, e.g. Red Line 75W-85 GL-5. |
| Automatic transmission oil | Use Toyota Genuine ATF WS fluid. |
| Manual transmission oil | Use Toyota Genuine Manual Transmission Gear Oil GL-3 or GL4 or equivalent, SAE 75W-90. |
| Brake / clutch fluid | Use Toyota DOT 3 brake fluid or another FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 fluid for both brake and clutch fluid. |
| Grease | Use lithium soap-based grease for the chassis. |
Maintenance schedule for the Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen (2016–2023)
Below is the full maintenance schedule for the Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen.
It’s adapted from the Toyota Tacoma’s Warranty and Maintenance guide, which lists individual service items as checklists. But the below schedule gives you a birds-eye view of the maintenance schedule.
Notes:
- The general service interval is 8,000 km (5,000 mi) or six months. Under normal use with the specified oil, replace the engine oil and filter every 16,000 km (10,000 mi) or 12 months.
- Major inspections for the Tacoma are at 30,000 miles or 3 years, and 60,000 miles and 6 years (where you start checking the drive belt, too)
- The below maintenance schedule goes up to 30,000 miles or 36 months (3 years). There are a few more infrequent items — see below.
- Follow the earlier of the time or distance based service intervals. E.g. the first service is due at the earlier of 6 months or 5,000 miles.
- Some items only need to be done frequently if you drive your Tacoma in high-stress conditions, e.g. in lots of stop-start traffic, on dirt roads or dusty roads (i.e. off-roading), or below freezing temps. See the legend below.
Legend for when maintenance should be performed:
- ✓ = Perform the service
- D: Perform the service if driving a lot on dirt roads or dusty roads.
- T: Perform the service when doing a lot of towing, using a car-top carrier, or loading the vehicle heavily.
- F: Perform the service if regularly driving below freezing temperatures (32 degrees F / 0 degrees celsius)
- L: Perform the service if doing lots of low-speed driving or idling, e.g. heavy traffic time, or driving as a police, taxi, or delivery vehicle.
| km × 1000 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 | 48 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi × 1000 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 |
| months | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 |
| Replace engine oil Reset oil replacement reminder | D,T,F,L | ✓ | D,T,F,L | ✓ | D,T,F,L | ✓ |
| Replace oil filter | D,T,F,L | ✓ | D,T,F,L | ✓ | D,T,F,L | ✓ |
| Inspect ball joints / dust covers for looseness or damage. Replace if necessary. | D | D | ✓ | D | D | ✓ |
| Inspect drive shaft boots (4WD) | D | D | ✓ | D | D | ✓ |
| Inspect engine air filter | D | D | D | D | D | – |
| Replace engine air filter | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect cabin air filter | – | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Replace cabin air filter | – | – | – | ✓ | – | – |
| Inspect steering gear, linkage & boots | D | D | ✓ | D | D | ✓ |
| Lubricate propeller shaft | D,T | D,T | ✓ | D,T | D,T | ✓ |
| Re-torque propeller shaft bolt | D,T | D,T | ✓ | D,T | D,T | ✓ |
| Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and body | D,T | D,T | D,T | D,T | D,T | D,T |
| Inspect drive belts for cracks, wear, or oiliness. Replace if necessary | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect brake lines and hoses for chafing, cracks, or damage. Replace if necessary | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect engine coolant | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| V6 engine: Inspect engine oil cooler hoses & connections | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect exhaust pipes and mountings | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect front differential oil (4WD) | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Replace front differential oil (4WD) | – | – | T | – | – | T |
| Inspect rear differential oil | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Replace rear differential oil | – | – | T | – | – | T |
| Replace manual transmission fluid | – | – | – | – | – | T |
| Inspect automatic transmission fluid cooler hoses and connections | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Replace automatic transmission fluid | – | – | – | – | – | T |
| Inspect transfer case oil | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Replace transfer case oil (4WD) | – | – | – | – | – | D,T |
| Inspect fuel lines and connections, tank band, and vapor vent hoses | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect fuel tank cap gasket | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect radiator and condenser | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect for leakage & fluid condition – Sealed transmissions – Differential(s) and transfer case (4WD) – Engine and inverter coolant | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rotate tyres | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check wiper blades | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check installation of driver’s floor mat | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check brake pads / discs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Other infrequent service items for the Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen (V6)
Below are some infrequent items you need to service on your Toyota Tacoma. Including these in the above table would make the table cumbersome to read.
| Item | Every |
|---|---|
| Replace spark plugs | 96,000 km (60,000 mi) or 6 years |
| Inspect drive belts | 1. First inspection at 96,000 km (60,000 mi) / 6 years. 2. Then every 24,000 km (15,000 mi) / 18 months. |
| Replace engine coolant | First at 160,000 km (100,000 mi) / 10 years, then every 80,000 km (50,000 mi) / 5 years. |
| Replace vacuum pump for brake booster (if equipped) | 192,000 km (120,000 mi) / 12 years |
About the Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen
The Tacoma is a mid-size truck (the little sibling to the full-size pickup, the Toyota Tundra), popular with owners who crave hardy Toyota reliability and don’t necessarily need a full-size truck. It’s built for and sold in the US and other North, Central, and South American markets.
The Toyota Tacoma 2016 model — the 3rd gen — is a complete redesign of the all-roads petrol-powered Toyota truck, a worthy upgrade from the 2nd generation, which ran from model years 2005 through 2015.
The 3rd gen Tacoma creeps more towards being an off-road-only truck (that you can of course drive everywhere), rather than a do-it-all urban truck that might be used by your local electrician. In fact, the 3rd gen Tacomas all come with raised suspension and higher ground clearance — irrespective of whether you have the 4×4 or 4×2 model.
The 3rd gen Tacoma comes with a variety of options, but at the core of it, it’s the engine that differentiates the smaller and bigger model.
The base model Tacoma has a 2.7 liter four-cylinder engine, identical to the previous generation’s motor.
But the 3rd gen Toyota Tacoma comes with a new engine, a 3.5 litre V6 that’s more powerful than the outgoing model’s 4.0 litre V6, despite the drop in capacity.
You can get either engine spec in 4×2 or 4×4 configuration.
Both the lower-spec 2.7L L4 and 3.5L V6 models can come with six speed automatic transmission, and the 4×4 models come with manual gearbox as well — five speeds for the L4, and six speeds for the V6.
The 24-valve DOHC V6 uses Toyota’s D-4S combination of direct and port fuel injection. This engine has a shorter spark-plug interval than some earlier Toyota V6 engines: Toyota specifies replacement every 96,000 km (60,000 mi) or six years.
One thing that reminds you that the Tacoma is intended for getting off the beaten track is the “Crawl Control” system that helps you navigate rocky paths at low speeds. It is a kind of low-speed cruise control, keeping you plodding along, and obliging you to do nothing but to steer. It is only available on the automatic models.
Toyota specifies a general service every 8,000 km (5,000 mi) or six months. Under normal use with the specified oil, the engine oil and filter interval is 16,000 km (10,000 mi) or 12 months. Dirt roads, heavy towing, extensive idling or low-speed use, and repeated short trips below freezing bring the oil interval forward to 8,000 km (5,000 mi) or six months.
The 48,000 km (30,000 mi) service adds the broad underbody, driveline, steering, cooling-system, and fuel-system inspections. Toyota calls for differential, transfer-case, and transmission fluid replacement at this interval only for specified severe use, including towing or heavy loading. Dirt-road use also brings forward propeller-shaft and chassis work.
References — Manuals and Service Information for the Toyota Tacoma
We checked the schedule against Toyota’s final-generation 2023 Tacoma Warranty & Maintenance Guide, earlier third-generation guides, the owner’s manual, and Toyota parts information.
The screenshots below show Toyota’s checklist format. The 2023 guide confirms the same normal 8,000 km (5,000 mi) inspection cadence and the special-use fluid work shown in the table, including transmission, front and rear differential, and transfer-case fluid replacement when towing or carrying heavy loads.
Like other Toyota vehicles, rather than provide an overarching schedule, the Toyota Tacoma warranty and maintenance guide has lists of items to check off. We adapted this to make the schedule above.
You can also find the 2023 Tacoma manual set on Toyota’s official manuals page.
