Protection from road salt for the holidays

With the holidays fast-approaching, it's time to start thinking about your plans to visit family or to go on a fun ski trip. Although road salt isn’t one of Floridians’ main concerns, it should be at the forefront of your holiday preparations━especially if you’re planning on driving up north in a snowy/icy climate. At Toyota of Orlando, we understand the need to take extra care of your car where salt is concerned, so we’ve compiled a list of our top tips to keep your vehicle looking and running great this winter season.

Tip #1: Make preparations during fall

Making an effort to prepare your car for cold weather during the fall is one of the best things you can do to avoid damage to your car’s exterior. Driving on road salted streets can be detrimental to your Orlando Toyota’s overall health. Be sure to thoroughly wash your car during the fall. Get rid of the current dirt and slap on a strong coat of wax. These will help to prevent incurring damage from salt kicking up to your vehicle’s paint job.

Tip #2: Fix paint blemishes ahead of time

Have one of our talented car specialists fix any current paint spots or blemishes at our Orlando body shop before your road trip. If left exposed, road salt can get in those spots and cause further damage. Rust and corrosion can happen quickly if the salt isn’t washed away immediately, so it’s best to avoid it altogether by getting these areas fixed before salt becomes an issue.

Tip #3: Wash your car regularly during winter

As we always suggest at Toyota of Orlando, regularly washing your car is important year round. It is especially important, however, to keep up with it every ten days or so in a snowy climate so as to avoid corrosion from salt and slush. This preventative measure is annoying, but necessary. It’s best to brave the cold for a little bit every week to two weeks in the winter to keep your car protected, rather than having a more costly problem arise upon returning home.

Tip #4: Stay away from salt trucks

Plow trucks are unavoidable when the ice and snow begin to hit. As they’re out there spreading salt around the roads to keep driving conditions safe, it is recommended to keep your distance. Those salt machines have got a job to do and don’t care about their surroundings, so try to stay back a decent stretch if you find yourself stuck behind one of these trucks. We don’t want your ride falling victim to the harsh hits from the road salt!

The holidays are expensive enough as it is, so let the experienced auto technicians at Toyota of Orlando keep those costs down by helping you prepare for your departure into the land of snow and road salt. Call us at (407) 298-0001 to schedule an appointment or stop by 3575 Vineland Rd just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall today!

Toyota of Orlando answers common car care questions

You’ve got questions and your local Toyota of Orlando dealership has answers! If you’re not already knowledgeable about the technological side of automobiles, it can be quite tricky to know which types of car care are important and which you can let slide. Let us help you know your car better! 

Question #1: Should I use premium gas for the best fuel mileage?

Answer: Nope! Don’t get fooled by this myth. Unless your car specifically requires premium fuel for its engine, save your money and use unleaded instead!

Question #2: Speaking of vehicle fluids, is it okay to switch between conventional oil and synthetic?

Answer: Yes━that is, unless your vehicle requires one or the other. When choosing their car’s oil type, most people go off of preference. Those who use conventional may do so because it’s more cost-efficient and they’ve never had a problem with it. While on the other hand, drivers whose opt for synthetic oil swear by improved performance. The difference between the two oil types comes down to their longevity. Synthetic tends to last longer than conventional (hence the price increase.) If you’re still not sure which oil is best for your car care needs, let our Orlando technicians point you in the right direction

Question #3: Do I need to change out my all-season tires for winter tires?

Answer: It really depends! The kind of tires you use on your car should be determined by the climate where your driving happens. Orlando drivers, for instance, shouldn’t worry about making a switch because all-season tires are perfect for the hot roads in summer and those rare icy roads during the winter months. In you usually drive in northern climates where ice and snow are commonplace, putting winter tires on your car can help to keep you safe.

Question #4: In terms of routine maintenance, who should I listen to━the vehicle instrument panel, my car manual, or my mechanic?

Answer: In order of importance: instrument panel first, then mechanic advice, and lastly owner’s manual. Your instrument panel is designed to keep you in the loop on your car’s health. If it says there’s a concern, when it tells you your tire pressure is low, make sure to tend to that right away. If your mechanic tells you there’s a fluid leak under the hood, that’s because they’re able to see some things that aren’t always detectable. As for the manual, use discretion when following those guidelines. They usually advise as if your car is newer. If a car has many miles or is several years old, it will most likely require different car care than the manual suggests.

Question #5: Can I get away with not changing my timing belt?

Answer: Simply put...NO. You must change out your timing belt when necessary. Yes, it’s a pricey investment, but if you would like to continue having your vehicle run right, this is one of those car care tips that should never be avoided.

Let our experienced technicians help keep your car’s maintenance on track. Call our Toyota of Orlando service center at (407) 298-0001 to make a routine appointment or stop by location at 3575 Vineland Rd just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall today!

5 auto service tips for driving in the rain

Living in the Sunshine State, one would expect it to be sunny year round, but that is just not the case. Being a peninsula, Florida is mostly surrounded by water, so we tend to get a lot of moisture and storm systems from the ocean. We at Toyota of Orlando understand just how important it is to take the necessary precautions to stay safe on the roads when it rains. Check out our top service tips below for driving in the rain!

Tip #1: Headlights, taillights, and turn signals

It is crucial to ensure your headlights are turned on when driving in the rain. This, and making sure your taillights and turn signals are in good working order will help to keep you, your passengers, and other drivers safe on the road. Note: remember, it is illegal to use your hazard lights in the rain unless there is an emergency. Stay safe out there!

Tip #2: Wipers

As much as Orlando drivers use their windshield wipers, it is important to keep an eye on them to make sure they’re working properly for when it rains. Replacing them promptly when noticing wear and tear is imperative to staying safe on the rainy roads. Our Orlando Toyota techs can help replace your wipers for you when they go bad!

Tip #3: Tires

Your car’s tires are one of those maintenance items that need to be inspected regularly. If your tires are showing signs of bubbling, cracking, blistering, or if the treads are losing grip, it is wildly important to tend to these concerns as soon as possible. On top of those issues, make sure your tire pressure is at a proper level. You can do so by checking the recommended PSI level in your car’s manual. Your tires are an integral part of your safety when driving in the rain, so be sure to check on them often.

Tip #4: Brakes

Brake inspections are important all the time, but they are especially important for those occasions when you’re driving in the rain. Sudden stops happen and when they happen on slick roads, you want to be prepared with functioning brakes. Set up recurring brake check appointments with our Toyota of Orlando service center to keep your brakes up to par with Florida driving conditions.

Tip#5: Defrost

Last, but not least, this is one of those often forgotten tips. It is important to remember that Florida is an oven and when it rains humidity becomes a concern. Your windows will immediately begin to fog up, which will impair your vision, as well as pose a safety risk to you and those around you. When you come into Toyota of Orlando for your next inspection or oil change, have our technicians take a look at your defrost system to be sure it is working properly for rainy days.

The safety of our customers is our main priority. Please let one of our experienced service techs keep your car running right for driving in the rain. Stop by our Toyota of Orlando service center at 3575 Vineland Rd just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall or call (407) 298-0001 to set up an appointment today!

Unleaded vs Premium: Which car fuel type should you use?

Picture this: You’re on your way home from work and your gas light blinks on. So you pull into the closest gas station to fill up. You get out of your car, open your gas tank, insert your payment, and then the screen asks you to choose a fuel grade before you start pumping. You know which one you normally choose for your car, but you get to wondering what the difference is between each car fuel type. Your local Toyota of Orlando dealership has got the facts on what’s what in terms of gassing up your ride.

Let’s Talk Octane

First thing’s first━what is octane and why does it matter? The level of octane in fuel is what determines the affect the fuel combustion has on the engine. For example, the lower the octane grade, the more engine knocking will occur. Some think that the main reason for using premium gasoline is because it keeps the engine cleaner, but in reality it’s all about the amount of octane being used for the purpose of increasing engine efficiency.

For reference, there are generally three or more car fuel types offered at any given Orlando gas station. The different types usually include:

Regular Unleaded with an 87 octane level

Mid-grade with an 89 octane level

Premium with a 91-93 octane level

It is safe to say the higher the octane level, the more efficient the gas burning will be in the car’s combustion chamber.

Unleaded

The unleaded Orlando car fuel type is undoubtedly the most popular of the grades. It’s no secret that costing about $0.15-$0.20 less per gallon than it’s premium counterpart makes the regular option a favorite among car owners. It’s always good to check with your vehicle’s operating manual, but if your car’s manufacturer didn’t specify that premium is required, then there is really no reason to shell out the extra money on the higher grade. We have come to the point that additives are now included in the regular grade that helps protect the engine, so there really isn’t much difference between the two.

Premium

The main difference between the Orlando premium and unleaded car fuel types is the octane levels. Premium offers a higher amount of octane, which will give off a more efficient burn and will provide a slightly better fuel economy. Unless the manufacturer says that your car requires premium fuel grade, feel free to use the cheaper option. A manufacturer’s recommendation in this case is just that...a recommendation, so if you would like to use regular gas to save on money, by all means go for it. However, if you purchase a luxury brand vehicle, be sure to feed it the fuel it needs in order to avoid decreasing the fuel efficiency of its high-compression engine.

Our Orlando Toyota car specialists are more than happy to help you with any questions you may have about your car’s fuel type and other maintenance concerns. Give our service center a call at (407) 298-0001 or come visit us at your convenience━3575 Vineland Rd just off of I-4 near the Millenia Mall.