The heart of any Toyota is its engine. Without it, the vehicle wouldn’t run. A vital step in prolonging the life of a Toyota vehicle is maintaining its engine. Here are five tips that will help you maintain your engine for years to come.
Don’t Skip an Oil Change
Oil is a lubricant for all the parts inside of an engine. Skipping regular oil changes means that the oil inside the engine turns into sludge. The sludge then eats away at the metal in the engine, leading to damage. The engine also becomes less efficient, eventually culminating in complete engine failure. To prevent this from happening, a regular oil change every 3,000 miles or so is best. It is cheaper and more effective in the long run.
Monitor Other Car Fluid Regularly
Oil is not the only fluid in a car that needs monitoring. Other fluids include transmission fluid, radiator coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Four-wheel and all-wheel drivers should account differential fluid and transfer case fluid as well. These fluids need checking between service appointments. It’s always a good idea to check them after going through conditions like snow, rain, cold, and heat or every few weeks.
Change Out Filters
Car engines have filters in them to keep different types of dirt and debris from getting inside, just like cabin air filters for the inside of the car. The owner’s manual for the vehicle typically has guidelines for when the filters need changing. Oil filters get changed at every service appointment, but the air filter’s longevity depends on the air quality of the car’s environment.
Keep on Top of Repairs
Maintaining a car and making repairs when they happen is essential to the life of a car. The same is true of the engine. If the engine experiences problems due to a part failure, lack of fresh oil, or environmental exposure, it’s important to get those issues looked at as soon as possible. If left to fester, the damage done to the engine will eventually become too difficult to repair. Rebuilding or replacing a car engine is very costly relative to other repairs. So it is important to keep on top of engine repair needs as they happen.
Drive Carefully
Just like any other type of transportation, the way a car drives has an impact on the life of a car and its engine. Quick acceleration and speeding are just some of the ways driving impacts a car’s engine. The more stress placed on a car’s engine on a consistent basis, the shorter its lifespan is. Taking care not to ride the car hard makes the engine last for many years to come.
Owning and maintaining a car isn’t easy. There are so many things that impact a car’s engine and its overall lifespan. By following these tips and making regular visits to the car’s dealership for service, the engine won’t suffer preventable failures.
Image via Toyota.com
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