At home car maintenance: the six point check

When you bring your ride in for car maintenance at Toyota of Orlando we end your service with a six point vehicle check. What is a six point vehicle check you ask? It’s a thorough inspection of the six most important components of your vehicle. Think of it as an annual checkup for your car.

Without this inspection, you put yourself at risk of expensive repairs or sudden breakdowns. The good news is is that you can carry-out this car maintenance check right at home and our certified Orlando techs are here to teach you how! 

Car maintenance inspection at home

At our Orlando dealership we always say regular car maintenance goes a long way. Being on a routine service schedule will give you optimal fuel efficiency, make your car perform better, and save you money at the same time. Here are the six automotive components you need to pay attention to.

• Engine Oil: Keep an eye on the amount and condition of your oil. Your oil should always be filled to the appropriate level to avoid metal grinding in your engine. You must ensure your oil is clean as well. Dirty oil is easy to spot on the dipstick of your vehicle. If the oil sports a dark brown or black hue you must change it immediately. Clean oil will be a lighter amber color.  
• Coolant: Your engine coolant has a shelf life of about two years. After two years you must replace this car fluid. Our Orlando Service Center warns to not fill up the reservoir with 100% antifreeze. Add a small amount of water, as full-strength coolant has a lower freezing point.  
• Battery: Although Florida winters aren’t severe, they still take a toll on your car’s battery. During colder months we advise checking your battery and charging systems to ensure they’re running at their best. Also, make sure to check that your battery’s wires are firmly connected and corrosion-free. 
• Tires: Examine your tires’ wear, tread, and depth. Make sure there are no chips that reach fabric as this will put you at a high risk of a blowout. When it’s cold check your tires’ pressure more frequently, we recommend once every two weeks, since temperature drops cause pressure changes. 
• Brakes: Brakes are a vital part of safe driving. Give yourself some peace of mind and stay on top of their maintenance. If you notice any squeaking or pulsation when you use them have them looked at by a professional immediately. 
• Windshield Wipers: During winter, the rubber of your wiper blades usually hardens. This increases the risk of them cracking. When wiper blades become brittle, tear, or start to squeak and smear your rainy driving visibility is almost non-existent. Fortunately, replacing wiper blades is something you can do at home in about 10 minutes. Consult your car’s owner’s manual for the right type of blades, grab them at the store, and find an easy online tutorial for easy replacement!

Toyota of Orlando gives you affordable auto service

If it’s time for your car’s checkup carry out this six point vehicle check. If you find your vehicle is exhibiting any of the symptoms we mentioned head on into Toyota of Orlando. We’re here for your car maintenance needs seven days a week. We’re located just off I-4 at 3575 Vineland Road near the Millennia Mall. Be sure to check out our service specials online!

Jumpstart spring cleaning with DIY car cleaning hacks!

Balancing a busy work schedule and a demanding social life is the perfect recipe for a messy car. That’s why Toyota of Orlando is here to help you get an early start on your spring cleaning with some DIY cleaning hacks. Follow these car maintenance tips and you’ll be sporting a spotless set of wheels in no time!

DIY Car Maintenance Hacks

• Car Trash Can: When you’re busy it’s easy to let fast food bags, straw wrappers, and coffee cups build up in your car. To avoid this mess make yourself a car trash can. Grab an empty cereal box container and place a small trash bag in it. Place this on the floor of your vehicle in the front or back seat and avoid trash build-up. Make sure to change out the bag once a week! 

•  Armrest Compartment Organizers: Don’t let your armrest compartment turn into a “junk drawer”. Use this convenient space as storage for items you always want on hand. Our Orlando Toyota dealership recommends placing pen holders or cups in this compartment. These containers make for easy storing of pens, chargers, hand sanitizer, tissues and other essentials.

• DIY All-Purpose Cleaner: Once your Orlando Toyota is decluttered, it’s time to clean the interior. Save some money and keep it natural with an all-purpose cleaner you can make right at home! Blend equal parts of water, baby oil and vinegar with a drop of tea tree oil and your favorite essential oil. Place it in a spray bottle and you’re done. This is safe to use on all interior surfaces and it will have your car smelling fantastic! Be sure to add this step to your routine car maintenance schedule to preserve your interior. 

•  Trunk Organizer: Now that the cabin of your car is clean, it’s time to work on the trunk. A great car maintenance trick to avoid a messy trunk is a trunk organizer. Find these online or at your local superstore. Then empty your trunk of all unnecessary items and place the organizer in. Our Orlando service center suggests storing all of your just-in-case items here – jackets, non-perishable snacks, a first aid kit and an extra pair of shoes, to name a few.

• DIY Air Freshener: Now that your car is pristine, make an air freshener to finish it off! There are a multitude of air fresheners to choose from at the store, but they can be expensive and have a short shelf-life. Making a DIY freshener gives you an affordable and natural solution. You’ll need a clothespin, felt balls and your favorite essential oil. Hot-glue a couple of pompoms to the clothespin and add a couple of drops of oil onto them and you have yourself an air freshener. Clip the clothespin onto your air vent and enjoy the sweet smell of a clean car!

 

Get on a good service routine with Toyota of Orlando 

Having a clean car is as easy as that! Try these car maintenance tips and we promise you won’t be disappointed. After all, having a clean car can make your hectic life just a little easier. Stop by Toyota of Orlando and have our service techs set up your routine maintenance schedule. We’re always running service specials to give you the maintenance you need at a price you deserve. We’re located at 3575 Vineland Rd and are open seven days a week. See you soon!

Your Car’s Best Friend: Oil

With so many car maintenance services to worry about it can be difficult to narrow down the ones that are most important and need to be given the most attention. From coils to serpentine belts to wheels to fluids, it can all get overwhelming. That’s why Toyota of Orlando is here to let you in on the one element that is essential to the performance, maintenance, and quality of your ride; engine oil. We’re lending the spotlight to this essential car fluid to let you know why it’s so important and how to keep up with its maintenance. Let’s get started!

Avoid expensive repairs with simple car maintenance

The engine is often referred to as the “heart” of your car. Sounds pretty important, right? Well, it certainly is. In order to avoid dropping thousands of dollars to replace it, you need to keep up with the quality and amount of its motor oil. With all of the moving parts of an engine and all the friction these parts create there needs to be a sufficient amount of oil to lubricate them. If you don’t keep up with this car maintenance, all of these parts will grind together and cause significant damage to your engine. This grinding will cause a heat build-up and your engine will eventually seize up and conk out on you for good. 

Has your drive to work ever felt more like a rollercoaster than a morning commute? Well, that right there is what a lack of oil can do to your car. The more you drive with old engine oil the more it browns and picks up dirt and grime. When this begins to happen, the quantity of your engine oil begins to drop as well. And without enough oil, your engine will start to burn off and break down. In addition to lubricating and maintaining the proper temperature, your oil prevents corrosion of your Orlando Toyota’s metal parts and enhances the sealing properties of your engine. 

To put things into perspective our Orlando service center staff informed us that a bottle of motor oil typically goes for about $20 while an engine replacement will cost somewhere in the thousands.  That being said, there is no reason to put this car maintenance off. 

 

Get the most out of your ride with Toyota of Orlando 

Now that you understand just how important motor oil is to your set of wheels make sure to get yourself on a good car maintenance schedule. Most cars will need an oil change at around 5,000 miles, but if you’re unsure let our certified technicians take a look and give you the date of your next oil change. At our Orlando dealership we are always running auto service specials to make sure you get the car service you need at a price you deserve! We are open seven days a week and are located at 3575 Vineland Road just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall. Call and schedule your appointment today!