Car Care Tips From the Pros at ToyoTechs

ToyoTechs offers these car care tips to remind you to stick to a service schedule and gain a little more peace of mind driving especially during the winter months.

1. Replace dirty filters, such as air, fuel and cabin. Clean filters help keep your  engine running better and burns less gasoline. The cabin filter removes the road dirt and grime from entering into your breathing area.
2. Change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual — more often if your driving is mostly stop-and-go or consists of frequent short trips.
3. The cooling system should be flushed and refilled as recommended. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically.
4. The heater and defroster must be in good working condition for passenger comfort and driver visibility.
5. Replace old wiper blades regularly. This is a must for seeing the road in rainy weather.
6. Have your battery checked. The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. The summer heat wears down your battery so it is more likely to fail in cold weather.
7. Inspect all lights and bulbs. Replace burned out bulbs; periodically clean road grime from all lenses.
8. Worn tires are dangerous in winter weather. Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. Check tire pressure once a month, letting the tires “cool down” before checking the pressure. Rotate as recommended. Don’t forget to check your spare, and be sure the jack is in good working condition. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels makes your engine work harder and thus use excess gasoline.
9. Have your brakes checked periodically for safety and to prevent costly repairs that can be caused by neglect.
10. Get transmission, brake and power steering flushes. These are part of a scheduled maintenance plan that are often neglected until a major failure. Routine checks and fluid flushes can prevent very costly repairs down the line.
11. Always carry an emergency kit with you: extra gloves, blankets, flares, a flashlight and extra batteries, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, jumper cables, a emergency poncho,a cell phone and car charger. Also keep water and a few “high-energy” snacks in your car.
12. Emergency phone numbers should always be kept close by.

Regular, routine maintenance can help improve your gasoline mileage, reduce pollution, and catch minor problems before they become big headaches.

No Need to Idle Your Car in Cold Weather

Back in the day everybody would idle their vehicle to get the engine warm. That’s when all cars had carburetors. However it’s been 30 years since that was commonplace. With today's fuel injectors, computer systems and thinner oils you don’t need to warm up your car’s engine like in the good old days.

The best way to warm up your car is to start it up, wait a few seconds and go. It takes 3-10 minutes to warm your engine so just don’t gun the engine at the start. Just take it easy.  As your engine becomes warmer the computer sensors in your car will adjust the fuel mixture to be less rich until your car’s engine heats up to 40 degrees.

Idling your car for more than 30 seconds wastes gas, causes excessive wear to cylinders, piston rings, spark plugs and can even harm your exhaust system. So to be clear with the point, idling is not an effective or wise way to warm up your car.

So unless you're driving a 1980’s vehicle which we assume your not, dress warm get in your car and go.

Regular service and maintenance is the most important thing you can do for your car to keep it running better and longer.

Simple Car Care for All Ages

It’s never to late or to early to learn the ABC’s of car care.

• A - Always follow a preventative maintenance plan.
• B - Be sure to have your car safety inspection when you suspect a problem.
• C - Correct the problem to avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down on the side of the road.

Young people in general are so eager to drive, however their car care education should begin well before you hand over the keys. All drivers should understand the basics of car care before taking the wheel. This in turn will help everybody be a little safer on the road.

The bottom line is learning some basic car care is good for everyone. Below are the things our Technicians look at during a vehicle safety inspection which should be part of your preventative maintenance plan. Your Atlanta Hybrid Repair Technician takes great care to perform all these tasks during a vehicle safety inspection.

1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake, transmission and antifreeze/coolant fluids.
2. Check the brake system every 6 months including pads, rotors and drums.
3. Check the hoses and belts for wear, cracking, frayed or loose.
4. Inspection of the exhaust system for leaks, damage or unusual noise.
5. Inspection of the steering and suspension system including shock absorbers, struts, ball joints tie rods and other related components.
6. Check the tires including tire pressure and tread. Tires are also checked for uneven wear, bald spots and bulges.
7. Inspection of wipers and lights so that you can see and be seen.
8. Check Battery. We make sure the connections are clean and battery is in good condition

Be good to your car and your car will last longer !