So you’ve found your perfect car, fallen in love, and made it yours: but there’s still work to do if you want the “happily ever after” part of the story. You don’t need us to tell you that regular, effective car maintenance is the secret to a long and happy relationship with your vehicle, so here’s our guide to taking the best care of your car between services with your Toyota dealer.
5 Car Maintenance Tips Every Toyota Owner Can Use near Knoxville, TN
1. Perform Daily Visual Checks
Take a moment to appreciate your car, and make sure that problems don’t build before you’ve noticed them. Whenever you use your car, give it a quick once-over to check that everything is in order. Look to see that the tires seem properly inflated, the headlights and reflective surfaces are clean and shiny, that there aren’t any chips in the windscreen, and that you haven’t collected any cracks and dents in the paintwork.
2. Keep an Eye on the Tires
It’s a good idea to check your tire pressure with a gauge once a month, while the tires are cold, and using the information on the driver’s door jamb to find out the correct PSI. As well as lessening the chance of a blowout, ensuring that your tires are properly inflated will maximize fuel efficiency and prevent unnecessary wear.
You can check that the tread is deeper than 1.6mm by inserting a penny upside down into the tread. If you can still see all of Lincoln’s head then the tires have become too worn. Also make sure that there are no imperfections, bulges, or other signs of obvious damage.
3. Check Fluid Levels
Make sure that you know how to check your oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, screenwash, and coolant. As a rule of thumb it’s a good idea to perform these checks once a month to ensure that the fluids are clean and at a sufficient level, but be careful not to overfill if you’re topping them up yourself. These checks should only be undertaken when your engine is cold.
4. Keep It Clean
As well as keeping your car looking its best, regular washing also helps to maintain its value and quality. When your car is driving it picks up particles of dust and dirt that can cause corrosion over time, leading to rust and dullness. Washing it regularly will prevent this, and waxing will help to preserve the clear coat that protects the paintwork.
5. Schedule Regular Maintenance Services With Your Toyota Dealer
To keep it running well, your car will require regular oil changes, brake pad replacement, tire rotations and other essential servicing. Your owner’s manual will give you the correct intervals at which these should be performed, but it’s best to ensure that you schedule regular maintenance checks so that your car’s needs are covered.
If it’s time to let the experts take a look, contact us at Rick McGill’s Airport Toyota to book a service and let our team of expert technicians provide care and support that’s tailored to your vehicle.
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