Essential Maintenance Tips: When to Service Your Toyota

Your Toyota requires regular services to keep it working at peak performance, and the required services are detailed in your car handbook. Sometimes, maintenance must be performed sooner than recommended due to driving conditions or excessive wear and tear on components. As your Toyota dealership, we’d like to give you some examples of essential Toyota maintenance we provide and the recommended mileage for replacement.

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Coolant Replacement

Healthy coolant is vital for your engine, as it removes heat. The engine generates large amounts of the due to combustion, which must be removed to prevent damage to sensitive components like seals and gaskets. The coolant moves through your engine at high speed, absorbing heat as it goes, and transports the heat to the radiator, where it’s removed by heat exchange.

Coolant becomes less effective as it ages, and this will cause the engine temperature to rise. It usually requires replacement every 30,000 miles, but the correct replacement time for your Toyota is listed in your car manual. We’ll drain and replace the coolant, and your engine temperature will drop to normal operating levels.

Windshield Wiper Blades

The windshield wiper blades are made from high-quality rubber. They’re tough but flexible enough to clean the glass and gentle enough not to damage it. As time passes, the rubber will degrade due to UV rays, heat, cold, and rain. Older rubber loses flexibility, and this will cause it to crack instead of bend, and parts of the blades can break off. Blades usually need replacement every six months to one year, depending on their condition.

Broken blades are less effective at keeping the windshield clean, leaving dirty patches behind and smearing the windshield. They can also scratch the glass, which can easily develop into a crack. Damaged blades can be quickly and inexpensively replaced, and the clear view will make driving safe again.

Engine Air Filter Replacement

The engine air filter traps dirt, dust, and other debris, preventing it from reaching your engine. The filter is housed in a small box inside the radiator grille, and air passes into it as you drive. The concertina-like filter’s folds will eventually become clogged with dirt, greatly reducing the amount of air that can reach the engine.

Combustion requires air and fuel and turns fuel-rich without sufficient air. This caused excessive wear on the spark plugs and can cause misfiring, or your Toyota could stall. In addition, most of the fuel used for combustion can’t burn due to lack of air and is dumped out the tailpipe, reducing fuel efficiency. This filter is usually changed every 30,000 to 45,000 miles, depending on your model.

If you’d like to know more about essential maintenance or to book a service, contact us at Perry Motors Toyota in Bishop, CA.

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