Maintaining Your Car

Preventive Maintenance

It is a proven fact that regular preventive maintenance is the single most important thing you can do to keep your vehicle running smoothly and save money on future repairs. However, not everyone agrees on the definition of preventive maintenance and the frequency with which it should be performed.
Anyone who has ever worked on cars understands this principle firsthand. Anyone who has spent tons of money on repairs as a direct result of NOT performing regular preventive maintenance can also tell you “Don’t ignore preventive maintenance.” Basic services like oil changes, tire pressure checks, and mileage suggested inspections are as important to your car as regular doctor visits are to healthy people.

Transmission Fluid

Here is a Sample of Automatic Transmission Fluid we keep on the counter at Strictly Toy-Ondas. This is right out of Janette's 2006 Matrix that has runs ATF T-IV which Toyota recommends not to be changed but every 90,000 Miles. She had over 250,000 miles on her car and it's still running great. She believes it is because she is always keeping up on her services.

Oil Life

As we talk about scheduled maintenance in this section, sometimes you have to adjust for your living and driving situations. Lets talk Oil Changes for a example. How often are they recommend by your vehicle manufacturer? VS. How often should you really change the oil in your vehicle Engine?

If you read your owners manual some Oil Changes in perfect driving conditions are 5,000 miles. Some go up to 10,000 (Maybe More) Miles. As these samples show the difference in Oil Condition after customers different oil change schedules, all of them have used Castrol Edge Oil and 5w30 as the Viscosity for the life is these engines. Strictly Toy-Ondas did a little test. With some Loyal Customers Engines....

Can you tell which is which:

Lets start with the 3 bottles in the middle, I will tell you my secret. The light brown on the left is brand new Castrol Edge 5w30 Oil. The middle as you can see is the lighter of the two that are left in the center. The middle has had oil changes every 3,000 miles for the last 225,000 miles. (At now 250,000 still doesn't have to top off between oil changes.) The far right as you can see is a lot darker then the one in the middle, and not really gliding on the glass as the other two. That is a vehicle that has had an oil change every 5,000 miles for the last 95,000 miles. (Burns about 1 quart of oil every oil change while now at 115,000 miles) Now the last one, off to the Left Side all by itself, Dark, Thick, and just kind of sticks to the glass - That Engine has 225,000 miles and has had oil changes regularly at 5,000 mile. (This engine adds about 2 quarts between changes.) Now keeping in mind all of these samples engines actually had a recommended service of 7,500 miles per manufacture recommendations for oil changes.

Do you know what your oil looks like? How often do you do your oil changes?

Strictly Toy-Ondas Suggests

Read your Owner’s Manual – You will find your “regular” maintenance schedule in this manual. It will also list the manufacturer’s suggested frequency of oil changes, filters, drive and/or timing belts, etc. It will even tell you the exact type of gas you should be using in your vehicle. This manual serves as a general guideline and may need to be adjusted to take into consideration your driving habits and geographic conditions unique to your personal vehicle usage.
Schedule preventive maintenance – One of the biggest ways you can save money in the long term is to perform regular periodic suggested services.
Do your own inspections – Give your car a “once-over” periodically. Listen for strange noises (inside and out), test all lights, check your tire tread, etc. If something seems out of the ordinary, DO NOT IGNORE IT!
Learn how to check your fluids – even if you don’t change them yourself, it is a good idea to know how to check them. When you suspect there might be a problem, having an idea of what is under the hood can be very helpful. Never ignore visible leaks.
Replace timing belts and serpentine belts – your owner’s manual will give you the suggested time frame for this service. Most technicians will keep an eye on your timing belt, but serpentine belts are behind a cover and cannot be seen. Mileage, time and engine compartment conditions are evaluated when recommending replacement. If you simply wait for the belts to fail, you will break down. A damaged belt can damage other engine components or accessories, making the repair even more costly.
Check your oil and get it changed regularly – Whether your vehicle has an oil dipstick or an electronic gauge, you should know how to check it. Being able to distinguish the difference between clean and murky oil can give you a clue if something is wrong with your engine.
Check your battery and clean the contacts if necessary – Most batteries don’t require much maintenance, but you should know where it is located and look to see if it is leaking or has any build up. We have found that most battery problems arise when weather changes.
Replace windshield wipers when the view is streaky – don’t wait until you can barely see through your windshield as damaged wipers can actually cause permanent damage to your windshield. Your visibility is important to your safety!
Replace cabin air filter – probably the easiest thing you can do to keep your car more pleasant and comfortable.
Replace engine air filter – regular replacement is important. The dirt and debris that gather naturally can cause operational problems if air can’t flow freely through the filter.

Knowing the lights on your dash

18 Common Warning Lights on Your Car’s Dashboard

1. Oil Pressure Warning Light

2. Tire Pressure Warning Light

3. Engine Temperature Warning Light

4. Traction Control Alert Light

5. Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light

6. Traction Control Malfunction Light

7. Engine Warning Light (Check Engine Light)

8. Battery Alert Light

9. Low Fuel Indicator Light

10. Automatic Shift Lock or Engine Start Indicator Light

11. Seat Belt Reminder Light

12. Airbag Warning Light

13. Security Indicator Light

14. Fog Lamp Indicator Light

15. Washer Fluid Indicator Light

16. Brake Warning Light

17. Lane Departure Warning Light