Should you worry about an oil leak?

 Have you ever taken a good look at your driveway and noticed that where you usually park, there are oil stains on the pavement? Motor oil leaks happen, but sometimes drivers ignore the stains and figure a small leak is no big deal. However, even a small motor oil leak can do big-time damage to your car engine. Toyota of Orlando is here to explain! 

What causes a motor oil leak? 

Basically, if you have an oil leak in your car, it's because something isn't functioning properly. The main causes of motor oil leaks include: 

• Degraded engine gaskets 
• Worn out seals 
• A loose oil pan drain plug 
• Worn valve cover gaskets 
• A leaky oil pan 

Needless to say, if left unattended, a small motor oil leak can quickly develop into a much larger one. And that can mean major issues in quite a few areas, including: 

• Damage to your engine. A motor oil leak can damage your Orlando Toyota's engine as well as your radiator AND HVAC system. Oil can start to accumulate in areas and wear out seals and hoses faster. Additionally, they can cause your engine to seize and fail while you're driving, which is dangerous for both you and your passengers. Finally, oil is flammable, which means you're at a higher risk for fire. 
• Environmental damage. Additionally, motor oil leaks are bad for the environment. Oil is full of chemicals so when it leaks onto your driveway, it can be washed away by rainwater or irrigation and find its way into runoff and waterways, which is bad for nature in general. 

So how do you know if you have a motor oil leak? Here are some common signs you need Orlando Toyota service for this issue: 

• Puddles of oil under your car when it's parked 
• Low oil levels - when you pull your dipstick out to check the oil, the level is too low when it shouldn't be 
• Blue smoke coming from under the hood or exhaust 
• A strong burning smell when the engine is running 

Take care of any and all auto service issues at Toyota of Orlando

If you notice any of the above signs, it's time to visit Toyota of Orlando for auto service! We're open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001 and we're conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road. 

Let's Take A Look At The Tundra Hybrids vs Prius Hybrids

Hybrid cars have created quite the buzz for their fuel-efficient and eco-friendly benefits. They're hard not to like when they are both good for the environment and your pockets. Hey, if it means not having to stop at the gas station, that is a big plus too. However, they aren't very known for their performance, such as their horsepower or torque, unlike the Orlando Toyota Tacoma or Orlando Toyota Tundra.

One of the most known hybrids in the Toyota lineup is the Orlando Toyota Prius that's been around since 2003. But recently, there's been a release of the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra hybrid. Well, this is super exciting! So, this means excellent performance and excellent fuel efficiency for Toyota Truck lovers. Our experts, here at Toyota of Orlando are going to compare the two hybrid cars. 

Let's get into it!

How are these two hybrid cars different from one another? 

You may be asking yourself what the difference is between an Orlando Toyota Prius hybrid and an Orlando Toyota Tundra Hybrid truck. Good news, there are quite a few actually!

The Toyota Prius Hybrid

The Toyota Prius hybrid system hits it out of the ballpark regarding fuel efficiency. However, the horsepower, not so much. The Toyota Prius Hybrid model gets 58/53 mpg and 121 horsepower. 

Let's look at its features: 

• It has a dual-motor system. The first motor takes power from the engine and converts it over to the battery. 

• You get electrical power, which means it can run without the engine.

• The second motor connects directly to the car's wheels and powers them from there. 

• The engine doesn't send torque to the wheels all the time.

• The path can also be electrical.

• It's super fuel-efficient but not best for performance if you value horsepower or torque.  

The Toyota Tundra Hybrid 

The Toyota Tundra is the biggest Toyota truck in our lineup. So, when you mix that with a hybrid engine, you get a powerhouse. The 2022 Toyota Tundra hybrid system, on the other hand, gets improved fuel efficiency over the prior V8 model and 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. 

Here's how they do it:

• This Orlando Toyota Tundra has a single motor hybrid system with a mechanical path for sending power. 

• Clutch in between the motor and the engine.

• The engine can turn off, and the electric motor takes over to send power to the wheels. 

• When the clutch is closed, the signals sent to the engine need the internal combustion power and the twin-turbos takeover to send the power to the wheels. 

• This hybrid gets incredible horsepower and torque. 

Are you looking to hear the quiet sound of a hybrid engine? We have plenty of hybrids to test drive at Toyota of Orlando. 

Schedule a test drive today by calling us today at (407)298-4500. We would love to have you; we're located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall. Come in today! We're open seven days a week for your convenience. 

Why Is My Gas Gauge Reading Incorrectly?

After watching movies and seeing the iconic running out of gas, stepping out of their car, and walking to push their vehicle to the nearest gas station scenes, most drivers might find themselves eyeing the gas gauge in preparation to avoid this exact scenario. So, of course, If you are asking yourself, "why is my gas gauge reading empty when I just paid for a full tank of gas?". This can be super confusing, but we promise that your gas gauge is, in fact, not reading correctly.

Our gas gauges are super helpful as they let us know when we need to refuel our Orlando Toyotas, so we don't have to calculate the estimation on our own. Here at Toyota of Orlando, we want to help you make your life as convenient as possible. So today we'll discuss why your gas gauge isn't reading correctly and what to do about it. 

How Your Gas Gauge Functions

Your Orlando Toyota is able to receive a gas gauge based on your Car's fuel sending unit measures of the gas in the tank to the fuel gauge in your Car's dashboard. The fuel sending unit comprises a float, a metal rod or arm, and a variable resistor. The float floats on top of the fuel in the tank and connects to the variable resistor by the metal rod. The variable resistor connects to the gas gauge to communicate how much fuel is in the tank. 

There you have it; that's how your gas gauge knows how much gas you have in your tank. So, if your gas gauge isn't reading correctly, it's most likely due to a faulty fuel sending unit. 

Three main issues with gas gauges 

Issue #1 The gas gauge is stuck on full. 

Your gas gauge is reading that your Orlando Toyota gas tank is full, yet you filled it up a week ago and have been driving around quite a bit. Well, be careful because this indicates that your gas gauge isn't reading correctly. It's most likely due to having an issue with your variable resistor. This is something that you should take in to have our expert techs look at more intensely. It could be faulty wiring, an open circuit issue in the resistor, or just a bad gauge.

Issue #2 The gauge is on empty

You might be scratching your forehead, confused when you read empty on your Orlando Toyota's gas gauge, especially since you just refueled yesterday. But, no, your Car's fuel efficiency can't be that bad. Instead, there could be a few issues – either the float has separated from the metal arm and isn't sending any information about fuel level, the variable resistor is faulty and malfunctioning, or the wires in the system have corroded and are no longer sending information.

Issue #3 Gauge swings back and forth between full and empty with no rhyme or reason. 

It seems like your gas gauge has a mind of its own when it swings back and forth between full and empty. These irregular readings are confusing and are usually the result of the float "sticking" in place and then being pushed back into motion by the movement of your Orlando Toyota – or it's just a faulty gauge itself. 

Issues with your Gas Gauge? Take your Car into our service center! 

Our expert techs will have your gas gauge fixed in no time! Call us to schedule an appointment at (407)298-0001 or schedule an appointment online! We're conveniently located just off i-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road.