Maintenance Tips For Your Toyota

Proper  Toyota maintenance can extend the life of your vehicle and help protect its value. This goes beyond following the Toyota maintenance schedule from the manufacturer, which is a baseline minimum. Your vehicle, however, deserves better than the minimum amount of care, and with a little extra attention, it will remain reliable, with a higher resale value, for years to come.

1. Follow The Owner's Manual

Every new car will come with an owner’s manual that contains vital information about Toyota maintenance. While used vehicles may no longer come with them, manufacturers can offer to order hard copies, or they can be found online for download. These provide the perfect point of reference for your vehicle’s “from-the-factory” configuration and recommendation. In the back, along with specifications for fluids and bulbs, you’ll find your car’s specific Toyota maintenance schedule. This will help with your vehicle’s basic upkeep.

2. Keeping To The Schedule

The maintenance schedule lays out maintenance that should be performed at certain milestones. These can vary from vehicle to vehicle, so you always need to verify your vehicle’s schedule in the owner’s manual. For example, most manufacturers used to recommend an oil change every 3000 miles, while now many recommend them every 7,500 miles. This schedule does more than help you keep your vehicle running with properly timed Toyota maintenance; you may be required to follow it should you need to take advantage of a warranty repair or extended service plan.

3. Use The Right Materials

While there are a lot of different fluids, filters, fuses, and bulbs on the market, only use the one your owner’s manual recommends. The wrong fluid could reduce gas mileage or fail to protect your motor. The wrong fuse could allow a dangerous short that damages your electrical system. Always use your manufacturer’s recommended Toyota maintenance parts unless you have been advised otherwise by a professional mechanic for a specific purpose, like using a different air filter after the addition of aftermarket airflow systems.

4. Watch Your Tires

Too many people don’t think about their tires until they give out. A tire issue can leave you stranded, cause damage to your vehicle, and potentially create an unsafe driving condition. Tires should be properly inflated, in good repair, and of the proper size for your vehicle. As part of your regular Toyota maintenance schedule, check your tires’ tread for wear or signs of a wavy pattern that could speak to an alignment or other mechanical issues.

5. Repair Irregular Maintenance Items as Soon as Possible

Preventative maintenance will take you far, but parts still wear out over time. When these parts need replacement, don’t waste any time. While some, such as a bad water pump, must be replaced for car function, others are tempting to “leave for later” as they don’t impact driveability, like lift supports on a hatch. Unaddressed, however, they can put additional stress on hinges—and on you, whenever you need to use them. Choose quality parts that are designed specifically for your vehicle and that come from reputable manufacturers.

6. Keep Your Motor Running

With a little attention and TLC in the form of Toyota maintenance, your vehicle can be one of the most reliable cars on the road. If you find a gas strut failing, it’s often a cost-effective fix you can perform without the assistance of a mechanic. Just select the right  Toyota strut for replacement and clear a few hours on your schedule. Choose from the large selection of struts at Lift Supports Depot today.