Toyota of Orlando's Car Care Checklist for School

It’s time for school again! Besides students scrambling to arrive on time, many drivers will also be dealing with numerous school buses and school zones, which will slow them down. Back-to-school season impacts everyone on the road, from first-time drivers to regular work commuters, so this is your go-to car care checklist to keep your car reliable and prepared for this school year!

Car Care Checklist: Battery

Summer can do a number on your car, so you’ll want to check out your car’s battery terminals (the metal posts on top of the battery) for any signs of corrosion. Excessive heat can weaken a car battery. If you notice a clicking noise when starting your car or if the battery is older than three years, it may be necessary to have it tested or replaced entirely.

Car Care Checklist: Lights

With shorter days in the fall and increased early morning traffic, it’s important to have good visibility on the road. Test out all the lights on your car: headlights, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights. Replacements are often inexpensive and easily found at our Toyota parts store for a smooth installation.

Car Care Checklist: Wipers

Similar to your lights, your wipers are important for good visibility in wet weather. If you notice any streaking, chattering noises as they move across the glass, or spots left uncleared, it’s time to replace your wipers. Again, stop by Toyota of Orlando’s parts shop to check off this inexpensive and easy task on the car care checklist!

Car Care Checklist: Tires

Since tires are your car’s only contact with the road, it’s important to pay attention to them. Here’s what you need to do: 

• Tire Pressure: Tire pressure is critical for safety, especially on busy roads. Look inside your driver’s doorjamb or car manual for the recommended tire pressure, and use a tire gauge to check if all tires match. If they’re underinflated, your car will be sluggish, and it can lower your fuel efficiency. If they’re overinflated, your car will have less grip, which puts you at risk for accidents

• Tread Depth: The tread on your tires grips the road, and it affects your ability to stop when braking, which is incredibly important for school zones and pedestrian traffic. There are a few different ways to check your tire depth to know if you need new tires. Not sure how to do it? Our Orlando auto service techs can check for you.

• Visual Check: If you notice any cracking, bulging, or if something is stuck in the rubber, bring it over to our Toyota of Orlando Service Center to get it checked out!

Car Care Checklist: Brakes

Just like your tires, your brakes are incredibly important when you need to come to a quick stop. You need to pay attention to squealing or grinding noises, a spongy feeling when you press the pedal, or extra resistance in the pedal when you push it down. Our Toyota of Orlando technicians recommend getting your brakes checked out once a year to ensure you can safely hit the road!

Car Care Checklist: Fluids

Various fluids keep your car running smoothly, but here are the top ones to pay attention to for your back-to-school car care checklist: 

• Coolant: Car coolant is responsible for keeping your car's engine from overheating. This can easily be refilled at home, but make sure to only check this when your engine is cool. Our techs can also check and refill your coolant. 

• Brake and Transmission Fluid: Stop by Toyota of Orlando and let our service technicians check these fluids to ensure your car is running smoothly on the road!

• Engine Oil: To check the oil color and levels, pop open the hood and pull out the dipstick. If the level is low, add the recommended oil type for your car. If it’s dark or sludgy, you’re overdue for an oil change.

• Windshield Washer Fluid: Keep your windshield free of any dirt or bugs by making sure your washer fluid tank is full before you hit the road.

Car Care Checklist: Emergency Kit

More traffic brings higher chances of delays or accidents. Keep a basic emergency kit in your car with tools like: 

• A flashlight with extra batteries

• A phone charger

• Jumper cables

• Tire inflator and sealant

• A basic first aid kit

• Bottled water and snacks

Car Care Checklist: Routine Maintenance

Before the school year kicks off, bring your car to Toyota of Orlando for any checkups, oil changes, tire rotations, or inspections that are needed. Auto service centers tend to get busier as more people begin driving daily again, so take care of things now to avoid any last-minute stress in the morning! And don’t forget, we offer a free multi-point inspection every time you visit us to put your mind at ease.

Cross Off Your Car Care Checklist at Toyota of Orlando!

Back-to-school time can bring extra stress for your household, so knock out any car worries with this easy car care checklist! Give your vehicle some attention and prevent a small problem from turning into a big one. Visit Toyota of Orlando to get your vehicle in top shape by scheduling a service appointment online or calling us at 407-298-0001.

Can A Cheap Oil Change Really Affect Your Car?

Getting regular oil changes is pretty important to maintain your vehicle. While there are various places to get this maintenance done, you might opt for a cheap oil change to save money - but you could be doing more harm than good and can deal with bigger costs later on. We’re Making It Simple® and explaining how and why a cheap oil change can negatively affect your car.

A Cheap Oil Change Means Lower Quality

Not all motor oils are created equal. Cheaper oil tends to break down quickly and lose the important qualities needed to lubricate and protect your engine. It can also lead to increased acidity, thickening, and the formation of sludge in your engine. This can lead to diminished engine performance, higher fuel consumption, and can eventually result in major mechanical failures.

Today’s modern engines are designed for high-quality synthetic or semi-synthetic oils. These oils maintain proper viscosity and chemical stability over thousands of miles, compared to lower grade oil that often fails to meet the manufacturer’s specifications and can result in poor performance and increased wear-and-tear on your vehicle. We use high-quality products in our service center to ensure top-quality results. 

Cheap Oil Change by Unskilled Workers

Cheap oil change auto shops keep their prices low by using inexperienced technicians. These shops operate with higher turnover rates, which results in minimal training so the techs aren’t taught to complete the essential steps correctly. Such mistakes can result in oil leaks, cross-threaded components, or even catastrophic engine failures! At reputable garages, experienced mechanics know how to spot potential issues during routine service, which is something you won’t always get at a cheaper service shop. You can count on skilled Toyota technicians when you schedule an oil change at Toyota of Orlando!

Missing Out on Critical Car Inspection

A cheap oil change package rarely includes a thorough inspection of your brakes, tires, transmission fluid, and other critical systems. If issues aren’t noticed in time, they can snowball into serious, expensive problems that would’ve been caught with a more diligent service. 

However much you saved on a cheap oil change may be multiplied when you’re dealing with car issues down the road. These hidden costs can add up fast when dealing with critical issues such as accelerated engine wear, frequent breakdowns, and unexpected major repairs. In some cases, using inferior oil can even void your vehicle’s warranty, leaving you responsible for engine replacements that can cost thousands of dollars. It might seem good for your wallet now, but a quality oil change saves you more money as time goes on. And did you know we offer a free-multi-point inspection at our dealership every time you come in for service? 

Cheap Oil Change = Cheap Oil Filter

Usually a cheap oil change comes bundled with a low-quality oil filter. While these filters may look identical to their premium counterparts, there is a big difference on the inside. Lower-quality oil filters tend to have missing essential components for keeping oil clean and flowing efficiently. Without these components, you’ll be dealing with issues such as poor seals that lead to oil leaks or filter elements breaking down and allowing sediment to circulate through the engine.

A failed check or relief valve in a low-quality filter can cause oil to drain back into the pan when the engine is off. What does this mean? Each time you start your engine, crucial components may run un-lubricated for a few damaging seconds, accelerating engine wear over time. This is one of the many negative consequences that comes with a cheap oil change.

Manufacturer Recommendations Matter

Before you get an oil change, first you need to consult the owner’s manual for your car. It’s extremely important to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines for oil type and filter quality. Name-brand oils and OEM filters are designed to work with your engine, maximizing performance and longevity. And like we mentioned before, some car makers require documentation of correct oil changes to honor the vehicle’s warranty, or they’ll leave you without coverage if major engine trouble arises. You can count on us using Genuine Toyota Parts in your ride when you swing by Toyota of Orlando for auto service. 

Skip the Cheap Oil Change and Stop By Toyota of Orlando!

A cheap oil change may cost less in the short term, but can cause tons of issues down the 

Road. When you’re choosing an oil change service, you need an experienced technician who knows to use the right oil for your car and can spot any other issues. That’s why you should stop by Toyota of Orlando for all your car service! We’re open seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Mall at Millenia.