Car care for your older vehicle

 Is your vehicle starting to get up there in years? Just because a car is getting older doesn't mean it isn't reliable or valuable anymore (especially if you drive a Toyota, which are renowned globally for their long lifespans. Anywaaaaaaay). However, to keep your car in the best shape possible and fend off any future issues, you do have to put a little extra car care into your ownership routine. We've got tips straight from the experts at our Orlando Toyota Service Center on how to keep your older car running like new. 

Six car care tips for older cars 

Tip #1: Stay on top of routine maintenance. We know - we're always on you to stay on a routine car maintenance schedule. And it's not because we want to make money off of you - in fact, we'd make more if we didn't tell you to get routine car care because things would break all the time and you'd have to pay us to fix them. Taking care of routine oil changes, battery checks, tire rotations, and brake service will keep your Orlando Toyota in the best shape possible and help fend off future problems. 

Tip #2: Don't skip tune-ups. Tune-ups are a must for older cars and although they can be a bit pricier than other routine car care, you shouldn't skip them. They address smaller issues like belts, hoses, spark plugs, etc. that can interfere with daily performance and also turn into much bigger issues in the future. 

Tip #3: Have belts and hoses checked regularly. As your car ages, things start to wear out (just like anything else). It's a good idea to have your belts and hoses given a once over when you bring your car in for maintenance just to ensure nothing needs to be replaced. 

Tip #4: Get your cooling system flushed. It's also a good idea to occasionally get your coolant system flushed in an older car - this will remove rust and debris from the system, pushing it out and keeping things clean and also preventing damage to the system over time. 

Tip #5: Replace the water pump as needed. You may also need to replace the water pump in an older car to ensure the engine stays cool. This part circulates coolant through the engine to prevent overheating, so if it goes bad you need to replace it ASAP to fend off major damage. 

Tip #6: Don't avoid the timing belt replacement. We get it - a timing belt replacement is no cheap feat. But it's 100% necessary, especially if yours is going bad and about to break. Without a timing belt, your car is going nowhere fast (literally) and if it breaks while the car is running, it can actually do damage to other parts. 

Schedule your car care at Toyota of Orlando

Want more car care tips for older vehicles? Call us today! Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500 and we're conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall. Reach us at (407) 298-4500 to learn more about the car care we offer and our auto service specials to save money! 

Toyota of Orlando's car care tips for spooky season

 Spooky season is upon us, friends! It's the perfect time of year to get festive and celebrate all things scary, but it's also important to ensure that you take care of your car through the season as you celebrate. Toyota of Orlando's expert service techs are here to offer tips on caring for your car through spooky season like a pro. 

Five tips for spooky season car care 

Tip #1: Check your headlights. Are your headlights, taillights, turn signals, and all other lighting inside and outside of your car working and shining bright? Replace any burnt-out bulbs and deal with any restoration that you might need to get your headlights looking like new again. Not only will you likely be out and about on Halloween night, but daylight savings time also starts the week after which means shorter days and a higher likelihood of driving in the dark. 

Tip #2: Make sure you're up to date on brake service. When was the last time you had brake service? Is your stopping power what it should be? If you're planning on hitting the road on Halloween, you definitely want braking power on your side as trick or treaters can easily cross your path when you least expect it. If it's been a while, schedule a multipoint inspection to have our Orlando Toyota service techs check things out. 

Tip #3: Inspect your car wax. You should also think about when you last waxed your car. Summer is over and with it goes the heavy rainstorms, but the sun in Orlando is still bright and hot all year long. It may be time to reapply a few coats of wax to keep your car's paint protected throughout the rest of the year. And if you're heading out of town for the holidays, wax can help protect against snow and ice and fend off moisture. 

Tip #4: Plan for your tires. How did your tires fare through the long, hot summer? What are your plans for after spooky season? Heat can do a number on your car tires and if they really took a beating, you may need new ones before the end of 2022. Do a tire inspection to ensure they're still in adequate shape to hit the road. This is especially important if you're planning on taking any holiday road trips during the holidays this year - the last thing you want is a blowout on Thanksgiving Day. 

Tip #5: Park wisely. Part of car care is choosing where to park, believe it or not. If you're heading to a new neighborhood to trick or treat or know that yours is going to have a lot of traffic, make sure you have a safe place to park. Your garage or driveway is best if you're staying put, and if you're going to a new neighborhood, make sure you park in a legal zone and far enough off the road so another car won't hit your Orlando Toyota. 

Schedule your car care at Toyota of Orlando today 

Have questions about car care for spooky season or need to schedule some? Call Toyota of Orlando - we're open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001. We're also conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road! 

Is your car using too much motor oil?

 Motor oil - as you've heard us tell you many, many times before - is the literal lifeblood of your car. It keeps your engine cool and lubricated, which means it keeps you out on the road. If your motor oil gets too dirty or runs too low, things heat up quickly inside the engine. This can lead to serious (and expensive) and even irreparable damage to your car, which means you're going nowhere fast. 

However, if you stick to your routine oil change schedule and let our Orlando Toyota service techs keep an eye on things in between appointments for you, you should be in good shape. On rare occasions, though, you might find that your car is using too much motor oil, which means it's going to run out of oil sooner than anticipated and need an oil change as well as a repair to remedy the overconsumption. Our Toyota of Orlando service techs are here to fill you in on signs your car is using too much oil and what you can do about it. 

Three signs your car is using too much motor oil 

Sign #1: Your oil light comes on. Your oil light coming on signifies that you need an oil change; you know this by now and can pretty much expect it to illuminate every 5,000 - 10,000 miles, depending on what type of motor oil you use in your Orlando Toyota. However, if it comes on sooner than you expect it to, it's worth having our techs take a look to see what triggered it early. 

Sign #2: You pull the dipstick and notice that the oil level is too low. You can check the quality and level of your oil without even visiting Toyota of Orlando - just pull the dipstick out of the engine. The oil on it should be caramel or tan in color and should fall in between the two tic marks. If it's lower than the bottom tic mark but you know it's not time for an oil change, your car could be consuming too much oil and you need to bring it in for auto service or repairs. 

Sign #3: You hear odd noises coming from the engine bay. This is vague, we know - weird noises can signify a number of issues. But if you hear clanking, rattling, or grinding noises in conjunction with other signs like low oil on the dipstick or your oil light on, it's time to schedule auto service at Toyota of Orlando to get to the bottom of things. 

Don't ignore these signs - like we said, it can do major damage to your car. If you notice any of the above, make an appointment to come see us. Further, there are a few Toyotas from back in the day that sometimes get this issue; in particular, if you own a RAV4, Solara, Matrix, or Camry that was manufactured in between 2007-2011.

Visit Toyota of Orlando today for auto service and repairs 

Think your car is using too much motor oil? Come on down and see us - we're conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road. You can call ahead of time to schedule your auto service at (407) 298-0001!