What's that burning smell in my car?

 If you've ever hit the road and then smelled something burning inside the cabin of your car, you know how stressful it can be. No one likes to smell that particular odor - no matter what's causing it specifically, you know that it's nothing good. Toyota of Orlando's car repair experts are here to help you figure out what's causing that burning smell in your car - read on! 

Four burning smells and what they mean for your car

Burning carpet: A burning carpet smell usually indicates that something is up with your brakes. Typically, you'll smell this odor when your brake pads or rotors are overheating (especially if you smell it as you press the brake). Over time, this can prematurely wear your brake pads out as well as cause expensive damage to your rotors. The cause of this? You may have calipers that are sticking, or your brake pads may be too worn down and thin. Bring your car to our car repair center at Toyota of Orlando to have your brakes checked! 

Burning oil: A smell that reeks of burning oil or smoke is probably just that - you could have an oil leak in your car, which is leaking onto the engine or other hot components and causing that terrible smell. Don't just ignore it; not only can an oil leak cause your engine to overheat, but other major problems, too. Leaking oil can damage the timing belt or crankshaft seal, and if it hits the exhaust, it can cause a fire. All in all, it could kill your engine, so get it addressed at Toyota of Orlando. 

Burning rubber: If you smell burning rubber inside the cabin of your car, it's time to bring it to our Orlando car repair center. This odor indicates that you have an issue with something rubber under the hood. It could be a slipping engine belt or a hose that's touched something hot and is starting to melt. Whatever it is, it can do major damage to your engine if left unattended, so don't risk it. Let our techs take a look to see what the issue is. 

Burning plastic: Burning plastic is a pretty alarming smell in its own right, but especially when you smell it inside your Orlando Toyota. This smell can indicate that you've got an issue with your car's wiring - the plastic insulation around it has worn down or been chewed off (mice love it). This means you have exposed wires under your hood, which could touch, cause a spark, and set a fire. However, before you come into Toyota of Orlando, pull over and ensure that you don't have a plastic bag stuck in your exhaust that's melting from the heat. 

Let Toyota of Orlando take care of your car repairs today

Have questions about burning smells in your car? Call us today! Toyota of Orlando's car repair center is 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. 

How often should I: Car Care Edition

 Do you play the "how often should I" game with yourself when it comes to adulting? How often should you refinance your house? How often should you replace the filter in your water pitcher? How often should you order takeout instead of cooking? The guessing games can be exhausting, and we want to pitch in where we can - your car care. Check out this quick guide from the experts at Toyota of Orlando on how often you should take care of your vehicle's maintenance. 

How often should you take care of certain types of car care? 

How often should I check my oil? 

You should check your oil at least once a month to make sure it's clean and that your car has enough of it. We also recommend this bit of car care before you take a long road trip or drive for extended periods of time to make sure your car can keep up with it. 

How often should I get oil changes? 

Your oil change schedule depends on two things: what type of motor oil you're using, and what your owner's manual recommends. If you're using conventional motor oil, you'll need to schedule this car care at Toyota of Orlando every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. If you're using synthetic oil, you usually can go anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Let our car care techs get you on a schedule! 

How often should I check my tire pressure? 

You should check your car's tire pressure every 2-4 weeks and do a visible inspection every day when you get in your car (just take a lap and make sure none of them look like they have low pressure). Additionally, check each tire with a pressure gauge before you take any road trips. 

How often should I get tires rotated? 

This is an easy one - your tire rotations should be scheduled every 5,000 miles. This will help promote even wear on your tires and ensure you don't have to replace them as often, as well as ensure a better performance for you. 

How often should I get brake service? 

You should get brake service every 20,000 miles or so. However, it's a good idea to have your brakes inspected at our Orlando car care center every six months (or every time you come in for a tire rotation) to ensure your brake pads, rotors, and the rest of the system are in good shape. 

How often should I get a multi-point inspection? 

As often as you can! Here's the good news, too - when you visit Toyota of Orlando, you get a complimentary multi-point inspection every single time you visit us. This will allow our techs to troubleshoot and look for issues before they become big and expensive to fix. 

How often should I get a tune-up? 

There's no straight answer for this one - it really depends on your car's make and model. Typically, new cars with electronic ignitions don't need them very often at all. Older cars, however, need them around every 45,000 - 50,000 miles to ensure everything runs as it should. 

Schedule your routine car care at Toyota of Orlando

Have questions about your car care? Toyota of Orlando has answers. Call us today at (407) 298-0001 or stop by 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall. 

Does gasoline go bad? Toyota of Orlando explains.

You've got a lot to think about when it comes to the fluids in your car. Do you need to change the oil? Is the coolant too dirty to do its job? Is your windshield wiper fluid low? It can be overwhelming to keep track of (just saying, Toyota of Orlando can help you by getting you on a schedule for your car care and reminding you when you're due). However, we're adding one more thing to your list - gasoline. 

Did you know that gasoline can actually go bad? Whether it's sitting in a tanker, at the gas station, or in the fuel tank of your car, gasoline actually does have a shelf life and can go bad. Here's what you need to know: 

• Regular gasoline is good for 3-6 months before it starts to degrade. 
• Diesel has a longer shelf life - it's typically good for up to a year before it starts any degradation. 
• Ethanol has a shorter shelf life, however - because of oxidation and evaporation, it can start to degrade after just one month. 

What happens if you use bad gasoline in your car? Basically, as gasoline degrades its chemical properties start to change. When this happens, the car's engine can no longer process the gasoline. This can lead to operational problems like the car stalling, not starting at all, idling rough, or losing power when you're trying to accelerate.

How do you know if the gasoline in your Orlando Toyota has gone bad? 

• The problems listed above, for starters. If your car is full of gas, has a tank full of clean oil, and is still experiencing issues like those listed above, then you may have bad gas in the tank. 
• Bad gasoline will also have both a distinct look and a distinct smell. It often looks "muddy" or darker than usual and will smell sour or spoiled - not at all like regular gasoline. 
• It may also make your check engine light turn on, which means you should head to Toyota of Orlando to have things checked out. 

What happens if you put or have bad gasoline in your car? 

If you have bad gasoline in your car, the only remedy is to remove it entirely. If left in the tank and engine, it can create a gummy residue that can cause major damage, including clogging the main fuel line. And if the gas contains ethanol, it can draw in water vapor, which can corrode and destroy components under the hood. Our Orlando Toyota specialists can help you remove the bad gasoline from your car and get up and running again. 

To close things out, here are a few tips to help you NOT end up with bad gasoline in your Orlando Toyota: 

• Avoid gas stations that don't seem busy. The busier the gas station, the more likely it is that they're getting routine deliveries of fresh gas and that their gas hasn't been sitting for a while. 
• Make sure you drive your vehicle, even if just for a short distance. If your car is garaged for whatever reason, try to get it out on the road at least once a week just for a short while to circulate and use the gasoline in the fuel tank. This will also force you to add new, fresh fuel to the tank regularly. 
• Fill up your gas tank all the way - this will prevent there being extra room in the tank for moisture and water contamination. 
• Ask our Orlando Toyota service techs about fuel stabilizers, which can help prevent degradation of the fuel in your car's tank. 

Schedule car care at Toyota of Orlando today

Have questions about your car's gasoline? Call Toyota of Orlando today - we're open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500. 

Is your car's coolant dirty?

 Your engine coolant is critical to your car's performance. That's why we're always telling you to check it and fill it when necessary - it keeps your engine cool and prevents overheating, which can result in catastrophic damage to your car. Coolant flows through your Toyota's radiator, water pump, hoses, and the engine itself to ensure that everything under the hood maintains a cool enough temperature to function normally. 

Why is engine coolant so important? 

If your engine coolant level is too low or the coolant is too dirty to do its job, it can cause major issues for your Orlando Toyota. Your engine can overheat, as we mentioned, resulting in extremely expensive if not irreparable damage to your vehicle. And not only does your coolant run out over time, it also gets dirty. Remember, it's flowing through the cooling system and while it does, it picks up dirt, debris, and contaminants. So how can you check it? 

First, you'll want to check your coolant level. The easiest way to do this is to turn your Orlando Toyota off, pop the hood, and physically look in the coolant reservoir to see where the level is (there should be a line indicating how high the level should be for optimal performance). Once you've assessed the level, you can check the color of the engine coolant. Normal coolant ranges in color; it can be blue, green, red, or orange depending on which one you use. Rule of thumb, though: it should be translucent (you can see through it). If it's cloudy, opaque, or sludgy, it's dirty and needs to be changed out. Dirty engine coolant becomes thicker and can't flow as easily; it also can't do its job of cooling the engine properly. 

Here are a few other warning signs that your engine coolant is dirty: 

• Your coolant level light and/or check engine light comes on in your dash 
• You have steam coming out from under the hood of your Orlando Toyota 
• You have a coolant leak, which results in puddles under the car of the same color as your engine coolant 
• Your engine's temperature gauge is in the red (your car isn't running cool enough) 

If you notice any of the above signs, it can indicate that your coolant is dirty and you need to visit the Toyota of Orlando auto service center. Our techs can help! In this scenario, it's best to do a coolant flush. And no, we're not trying to upsell you - hear us out. You can drain all the old coolant out and put new coolant in, but that doesn't get rid of the residual dirt and grime left in the lines, hoses, engine, and radiator. A flush will push all of that out so when you put fresh coolant in, it'll stay cleaner longer (saving you time and money). 

Schedule engine coolant service at Toyota of Orlando 

Think you need auto service regarding your engine coolant? Schedule it at our Orlando Toyota service center today. You can schedule online, call (407) 298-4500, or swing by! We're open seven days a week with the longest service hours in Central Florida at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall. 

How do you know if your engine oil is dirty? Toyota of Orlando explains.

 Do you bring your car into our Orlando auto service center regularly to get oil changes? If you do, congrats... and if you don't, you should be. Oil keeps your engine cool and also keeps all of its moving parts lubricated so your car can have a long and efficient life. That's why it's important to keep your vehicle equipped with the proper level of clean engine oil. 

However, as oil circulates through your engine, it's bound to pick up dirt, debris, and grime. Over time, this makes it thick, dirty, and unable to do its job, which means if you don't change it, you're highly likely to have major issues with your engine. How do you know if engine oil is dirty? Toyota of Orlando's car care experts are here to help you spot oil that needs to be changed. 

Toyota of Orlando's instructions on how to check engine oil 

First things first - you need to know how to check your car's oil before you can figure out if it's dirty or not. Here's how you do it: 

• Turn your car off and let it cool down for a minute (this will make it more pleasant under the hood, trust us) 
• Locate the oil dipstick, usually somewhere in the center of the engine 
• Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil on it. 
• There are two tic marks on the end of the dipstick, and that's how you gauge the oil level. The oil should be in between the tic marks. If it's below, your engine doesn't have enough oil. 
• Now, look at the oil itself. It should be dirt- and debris-free and a tan, caramel hue in color. 

Now that you know to check engine oil, it's time to figure out whether it's dirty or not. Here are some surefire signs you need an oil change, according to our Toyota of Orlando service techs: 

• You can actually see dirt and debris in the oil - like, chunks of it. 
• The oil color is dark brown or black. Remember, it should be caramel-colored. Dark brown and black hues mean the engine oil is dirty. 
• Your exhaust is putting out smoke. 
• You can smell oil inside of your Orlando Toyota's cabin while you're driving. 
• You hear knocking sounds when you drive, or you feel like your car is just running a lot louder than it normally does in general. (More engine noise.) 

If you notice that your engine oil is dirty, it's time to bring it into Toyota of Orlando for an oil change. Dirty engine oil can cause big-time expensive damage to your engine - sometimes even irreparable damage. Schedule an appointment at our Toyota service center to get your car's oil clean and full again. 

Schedule an engine oil change with our Toyota service center 

Need to schedule? Call us for an Orlando oil change today. 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. Schedule online, on the phone, or just stop by! 

What are the main benefits of electric cars?

 Electric cars are a hot topic right now - it seems like everyone is researching them, visiting the dealerships, and considering whether or not to buy one. But what are the real benefits of electric cars? Toyota of Orlando is explaining all of the perks of owning one of these tech-driven cars so you can decide for yourself before signing the dotted line on one. 

The five main benefits of electric cars 

Benefit #1: No gasoline costs. 

When you drive an electric car, you don't need to fill up at the gas station... ever. You'll never have to pay for gas again as electric cars run solely on electricity. And yes, you do have to pay for electricity whether you charge at home or at a public charging station (FYI, it's cheaper to charge at home) but your "fuel" costs will still be significantly less than what they'd be powering an internal combustion car. Your electricity costs will vary depending on where you live and it may be cheaper to charge your car overnight when there's less of a demand for power. 

Benefit #2: Less maintenance required. 

Another electric car benefit is that you don't have an internal combustion engine under the hood, which means you'll need a lot less maintenance. There are far fewer fluids in your electric car so you won't need oil changes, etc. nor will you need spark plug replacements, tune-ups, and other maintenance you'd have to pay for in a traditional gasoline car. In fact, your auto service costs should be about half of what they'd be in an ICE car. All you'll really need to do in terms of car maintenance for your Orlando Toyota electric car is schedule tire service, battery checks, and brake service. Our techs can help keep you on a schedule! 

Benefit #3: Cleaner local performance. 

Electric cars are often touted as one of the cleanest, greenest options out there and on a local level, they are. When it comes to non-local emissions and lithium-ion battery production, they're not as clean as you'd think. But on a local level, electric cars don't put out any emissions. This makes them extremely clean in that aspect and is one of the benefits of electric cars. 

Benefit #4: Tax breaks. 

Did you know that you may be eligible for both state and federal tax breaks for owning an electric car? Be sure to do your research or have your accountant look into it to see what you're eligible for. Money is money, right? 

Benefit #5: Peace and quiet. 

As electric cars don't have internal combustion engines, they're a lot quieter to drive. Your cabin will be quiet and peaceful no matter how fast you're going. Enjoy it! This is also the case in hybrids and plug-in hybrids. 

Ask Toyota of Orlando all of your electric car questions

Have questions about electric cars? Toyota of Orlando has answers. Call us today at (407) 298-4500 or stop by. We're located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road, and we're open seven days a week until 10pm. 

Roaches in your car: How do you get them out?

 If you've lived in Florida for a while, you've probably come to terms with the fact that roaches are pretty much everywhere. They love it here because it's warm most of the year, which makes it like a vacation destination for them 24/7. They also love to make their way inside cars, where it's also warm, protected from the elements, and (if your car isn't clean) an all-you-can-eat buffet. Toyota of Orlando is here to explain how to get roaches out of your car AND keep them out. 

3 steps to get roaches out of your car 

Like we said, roaches love to hide inside cars and they can multiply pretty quickly if you don't nip the problem in the bud. Here are the steps to take to get roaches out of your car: 

#1: Clean it out immediately. Vacuum the entire car out and wipe all the surfaces down with cleaning solution; on top of that, be sure to scrub out any stains or spills that might be attracting roaches. You should also look for roaches and roach eggs to vacuum out - check places like seatback pockets, under floor mats, cupholders, under seats, your glove box, your center console, and your trunk. And don't forget to check where your spare tire is stored! 

#2: Try traps or bait - these are two of the easiest options for getting roaches out of your car. You can put down roach traps to trap and remove them, sticking the traps in places like your trunk and under your seats. You can also buy gel bait - this method is effective because the roaches will spread the poison back to their colony, but it's also toxic and might not be the best if you have kids or pets in the car. You can also try diatomaceous earth or borax - both are effective. 

#3: Call an exterminator. If you've broken out all the stops and you still have roaches in your car, it's time to call in the professionals and let them handle it. It may be a bit more costly, but when you consider the fact that roaches can carry 30 different types of bacteria, it's worth it. 

Once you've gotten the roaches out of your car, it's time to KEEP them out. Here's how to keep your Orlando Toyota roach-free: 

• Declutter it. Don't leave clutter in the car; it's a great hiding place for roaches to hang out. Keep the bare minimum in your car. 
• Get on a detailing schedule. Leaving crumbs and trash in your car is basically holding the door open for roaches. Get on a car detailing schedule and keep your ride tidy at all times. 
• Close your doors, windows, trunk, and sunroof if you're not in the car. Don't give them any way to enter the vehicle, and also check that the seals on your doors and windows are in good shape. 
• Be careful where you park - avoid parking by dumpsters, trash cans, or heavily wooded areas where roaches might be hiding. 
• Also, be careful what you're transporting. Roaches love to hide in cardboard boxes, plastic grocery bags, old luggage, etc. 

Call Toyota of Orlando with questions 

Have questions about getting roaches out of your car? Call Toyota of Orlando today - we're open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500 or stop by. We're conveniently located at 3575 Vineland Road just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.