Service Tips
Got a quarter handy? Here's a simple way to check the tread wear on your tires!
2. Flip the quarter so that the Queen's head is facing you and is upside-down.
3. Place the quarter inside your tire tread groove.
4. If any part of Queen Elizabeth's head is covered by the tread, there's at least 4/32 inches of tread remaining. Generally, it is recommended to replace your tires if the tread is worn down to 4/32 tread or less.
TIP #2 - DOES YOUR VEHICLE NEED SERVICE?
Approximately one out of every 3 vehicles on the road are in need of servicing or engine repair.
Listed below are the most frequent problems:
- 30% have low or dirty engine oil;
- 37% of pick-up trucks or SUVs have at least one under-inflated tire;
- 27% of passenger cars with at least one under-inflated tire;
- 19% of engines needs new belt(s);
- 16% have dirty air filters;
- 9% of the tires on the road are bald.
Sunrise Toyota has some tips to help you reduce the amount of gas you use which, in turn, can reduce your operating costs.
Drive Sensibly
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
Remove Excess Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle can reduce your fuel economy by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling provides you with the worst possible mileage. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
Check And Replace Air Filters Regularly
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
Use The Recommended Grade Of Motor Oil
You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil.
If you are already following these tips then you probably are getting the best gas mileage possible. However, if you are not then you could save by bringing your Toyota into Sunrise Toyota for much needed maintenance.
We all know that changing your vehicle's oil on a routine basis is a requirement from proper engine care.
How does this benefit you? Well here's a breakdown of just a few synthetic oil benefits...
- Less frequent oil changes - Change your synthetic oil every 16,000 kilometers instead of every 8,000 kilometers
- Lower service costs - Less frequent oil changes equals less money out of your pocket. PLUS it is believed that synthetic oil helps keep your engine running better for longer. This can mean fewer repairs, too!
- Synthetic oil has molecules that are equal size. More uniform oil molecules equals better lubrication, and that equals better engine performance.
- Synthetic oil stays slippery at colder temperatures than regular oil, and is therefor less likely to cause engine problems when started in cold climates.
- Keeps your engine cleaner - Because a synthetic oil is chemically produced, there are no contaminants in the oil. By contrast, conventional oils contain small amounts of sulfur, wax, and asphalt material that can promote deterioration and sludge buildup.
Synthetic Oil Q&A
Q: Will I see a horsepower increase by using synthetic oil?
A: While much research has not been conducted regarding this manner, expected horsepower gains are estimated only to be negligible.
Q: Will I get better fuel economy with synthetic oil?
A: Much debate has arisen regarding this topic. Many factors are taken into account when analyzing fuel economy/ It is difficult to answer this question without taking a closer look at your individual vehicle and driving style.
Q: If I buy synthetic oil, can I ever switch back to conventional?
A: Absolutely! Early versions of synthetic oil were not very compatible with cars of those days. Nowadays, most manufacturers are adapting their vehicles to become synthetic oil-friendly. You should not have any problems switching back and forth from synthetic to conventional, or vise verse.
Q: I have an older vehicle with higher mileage. Will I see many benefits from using synthetic oil?
A: Probably not. It is most effective if synthetic oil is used from the beginning of its life cycle, right after the initial "break-in" period.
Q: Will switching to synthetic oil void my warranty?
A: No. However, sticking with Genuine Toyota synthetic motor oil would be the wisest choice.
Please verify with a certified Toyota Service Advisor before purchasing synthetic oil. Some cars are not capable of using synthetic motor oil and require conventional oil only.
