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!