This is the second in a three part series about new Toyota car maintenance. You can read the first part of the series here.

Check Fluids

Like the human body, your new Toyota car need fluids to run at optimal levels. When you’re checking your various fluid levels, make sure your car is on an even surface -- if your driveway is slanted, you won’t get an accurate reading. First of all, make sure your fluid caps are clean and make sure they’re free of debris and dirt before you check your levels. (You don’t want dirty fluids!) One fluid that’s easy to replace yourself is your windshield washer fluid. Make sure you’re always carrying a spare in your trunk, and don’t fill it all the way in the winter -- sometimes it freezes. When it comes to other fluids like brake fluid, engine coolant, and fluid for your power steering, you’ll want to get those replaced by a professional.

Change Oil as Scheduled

Your oil’s job is to protect and lubricate all the moving parts of your Toyota’s engine. Because of the pressure and heat involved in the process, and because oil picks up dust, dirt, and particles as time goes on -- your oil will break down and become inefficient over time. You oil and filters should be changed about every 3000 to 5000 miles, depending on the conditions you’re driving in. If you do a lot of city driving -- with a lot of starting and stopping -- or carry heavy loads a lot, your engine oil will wear out faster than other types of driving. The same is true for driving in areas with extreme temperatures.

Keep Tires Full and Clean

You’d think that since tires are the things that take your vehicle where it needs to go, people would pay more attention to them. You want to ensure your tires are inflated correctly. It will keep your tires alive for longer, but it also helps your gas mileage and makes for safer driving. Watch that your tread isn’t wearing too thin. The legal limit in most places is 1/16 of an inch, but replace them before they get to that point. You can buy a gauge for your tire tread at auto parts stores to get an accurate reading.

Next month we will provide one more article on maintenance for your new Toyota car. Also, if you require maintenance on your Toyota, please stop by your Toyota Dealer - Limerick today.