Have a ‘17 XLE with about 115K, no issues to date. I know it’s approaching the spark plugs/coolant drain+fill/transmission fluid, differential fluid, etc. suggested maintenance items.
Question is - for an average wrench jockey like myself, what’s worth doing myself? Anything mission-critical at this mileage? Toyota calls it ‘lifetime transmission fluid,’ and some say don’t bother touching spark plugs unless there’s an issue. I see the value in preventative maintenance but don’t want to get in over my head.
Coolant, transfer case, and diffs at 30K. Spark plugs and transmission at 50K. If nothing has been done yet, do plugs, coolant, and transfer at 100K, but don’t touch the transmission. Watch ‘The Car Care Nut’ on YouTube for solid recommendations.
@Mars
I do coolant, transmission, transfer case, and diff fluid every 30K. These 8-speed transmissions are not the best, so regular maintenance is key.
Start with transfer case/rear differential, transmission, plugs, and coolant. I’ve done the drain/fill on my '17 Highlander four times now (currently at 125K) using Amsoil OE fluid. It shifts like new.
If you have iridium plugs, change them at 100K. Don’t forget fuel system maintenance—use a fuel additive. Replace all filters (oil, air, and fuel) and have belts, radiator, and AC checked.