Engine Oil - 5k miles or 6 months Transmission Fluid - 60k miles or 6 years Coolant - 50k miles or 5 years Brake Fluid - 3 to 5 years Power Steering - 50k to 70k miles Spark Plugs - 120k miles or 10 years Inspect it regularly Keep a log
So, 2013 Toyota Highlander all wheel drive with no transmission problems, but it has 127,000 miles on it. I have never changed the transmission fluid. Should I just leave the transmission fluid alone at this point?
I have maintained my vehicles since I was 16 and will be 55yrs old this summer and still do maintenance myself. I only drive Japanese cars, however a majority of our cars are Toyota/Lexus - this is THE BEST maintenance advice I have heard bar non. I also follow Scotty Kilmer's channel. This man knows what he's talking about.
Hey. I was a Lexus tech for 27 years. I really love your knowledge and drive. Unfortunately I was hurt in the field and was retired early. I enjoy your videos
Yes, I highly agree with keeping a maintenance log book in the glove box! Write down repairs, mileage, oil changes, everything! Makes an awesome reference for yourself, but also for potential buyers in the future. Let's normalize good car ownership in America!
Around here, the average length of ownership is 6 months to a year. If it's not totaled within a year, then there's the 130,000 miles you've put on that car. My neighbor put 40,000 miles on his then new Ford Escape in 3 months before it was totaled by a drunk that slammed into the back of him at a school buss stop doing 70 miles an hour.
@@michaelangelo5783id say probably the countless urban ghettos.... But 40k in three momths? Maybe he was on a spiritual journey or something.... Can't count out idk rough deep southerns.... But damn.. 40k in three months... I get long trips but damn driving ab around 6 hours a day is insane unless your a long hauler
@@longjohn-x6p There is no way they did that. That is 444.44 miles a day, and that is if they did it consistently, every day. Just one missed day and now you're looking at roughly 900 miles.
I had worked on an 03 Camry the other day that had done 1,400,000km (about 900,000 miles) and was still perfectly fine had a lot of preventative maintenance but never failed them. They are a regular and always keep it pristine.
ASE Master Tech, and currently Toyota expert in all 5 disciplines (just waiting on some tenure for master Toyota): This is 100% spot on and exactly what I've seen and recommend to everyone. People who follow this advice will almost universally see their Toyota pass 300k miles. Unless you live in a state that believes in destroying your car with road salt mixed with magnesium chloride, such as my former state of Connecticut.
what about synthetic vs regular motor oil? Will synthetic reduce the time between oil changes? Will it protect the engine better. I do not drive the car much, so I do not want to change the oil every 6 months unless it really matters.
That’s cool. I have a 2002 Rav4 that I bought in 2004 with 30,000 mi. It’s been in the shop 4 times since 2004 and still runs like a champ! Hoping to see 3 or 400,000 miles!
As a toyota owner who does 95% of the work on my own 2000 camry 2.2l with 324kmi. Your later advice of documenting everything is perhaps the most important overall, love your videos and honesty, God bless.
I used 10k for my oil change intervals. I have a '97 4 Runner with the V-6. I switched to synthetic Mobil 1 at 5k miles. I bumped up the interval to 7.5k mile and had the oil analyzed during the winter and summer to see how the oil was doing. The oil testing place informed me that I could increase the oil change interval to 10k. I did it and did the same thing by testing the oil during winter and summer to check the oil. The condition of the oil was still good, but I kept the oil change interval at 10k. I used my 4 Runner as my daily commute vehicle. 30 miles one way. I ran up the mileage to over 300k miles before I switched jobs. I wasn't doing a daily commute anymore, so I dropped my oil change interval to 5k. Right now, the 4 Runner is at 419k miles. It runs just fine. Highway driving fuel mileage has dropped almost 1 mpg compared to when it was new.
This guy in my opinion is a genius. I have been following him for quite some time now. He loves what he does. My respect for him. Not only what he know but just taking the time im sure he does not have to share this valuable knowledge with all of us. Greetings from Tampa, Florida. Keep up with those amazing videos. Lord bless you and your family.
I'm a Tech, and this is one of the most explanatory and informative videos I've ever seen. You sir are a true gem, bravo. People should be required to watch a quick video like this before ever owning/caring for a vehicle.
I have a 2005 Corolla with 372000 miles. Still runs and drives like new. Regular maintenance pays off. It has needed a few repairs, but nothing expensive.
Love it. I recently found a 2007 Corolla ce 5 spd manual 1 owner with 91k miles. I plan to keep it many years. It’s my daily commuter now. Insanely easy to work on.
Huge respect sir, your advice is GOLD. I recently bought a first gen Toyota Avalon, 23 years old but very well looked after, best value car I have ever purchased. Luckily it has a service manual that indicates regular servicing. Only 60,000 miles on the clock. The advice about regular oil changes is very pertinent, I've read some owners use synthetic motor oil every 3000 miles.
I love this guy! As someone who doesn’t know a lot about cars his videos have taught me so much. I wish I was lucky enough to have someone like him as the mechanic for our two Toyota vehicles. It seems to be more and more difficult to find such honest, highly experienced, expert mechanics like him.
My 2006 sienna has around 110K and I bought with around 36k. I've only been changing oil every 5K and I've not changed anything else. Should I go ahead and have coolant and transmission fluid changed?
This is why he publishes things like this because even his co-workers don't do this. None of these things are hard to do and require minimal tools and time. Plus you will know that they are done right, I worked IT for a big dealer group and would hear multiple times a week that techs would send out oil change customers with zero oil only to tell them to drive it back or customers would lose tires on the way home. Trust no tech unless you know them personally. My SO learned the hard way with a Forester which went through 3 short blocks starting at 28k to 36k all because she went in for a recall. She now is in a RAV4 @ 53K with nothing but fluids, filters, and wipers all done at home with no questions in the workmanship.
Honesty integrity is awesome to have . Worth even more than skill or knowledge in my opinion. Worth his weight in gold to find one . The scams and BS one must go through to find a truly trustworthy mechanic… on another car one “ mechanic “ said I needed to replace engine. Geez 🙄. I tested it myself and it’s solidly good . Took it to this wholly trustworthy mechanic and he right away within seconds knew it was the timing. $190 vs a new engine dang
My 2001 Tacoma V6 4x4 has 516,000 miles on it. His advise is good. Change fluids as he recommends. As it gets more miles (over 250k) you need to watch the rpm’s and not push the vehicle. If you pull a trailer as I do start slowly and don’t strain the engine. Don’t stress or strain the engine. Drive carefully until vehicle warms up. Take it on long drives occasionally. This burns off some impurities in the engine. Now that my truck has over 400k miles I do not exceed 3000 rpm’s. Hey, I am not a mechanic but every new car or truck I have owned (Toyota or Honda) has gotten 350k or more miles. No major engine, or transmission problem (manual transmission) ever. Never owned automatic. Next truck I may need to buy automatic, darn!
I work at an independent Toyota / Lexus repair shop....It's so important to stick to the maintenance schedules,use quality genuine parts and fluids and stay far far away from the quick lube shops that neglect to check other important things or overtighten or NOT tighten oil drain plugs.Your car is a big investment usually second to your house.DON'T cheap out on routine maintenance and ALWAYS have qualified people looking after it!
My brand new kluger/highlander hybrid battery overheats !! It keeps on charging but doesn't want to move an inch on battery !! So i need to use Air con to cool it down and then it works normal !!
@@amritpree then that maybe your problem, if the fan isn’t working the batter can overheat. You should take it to the dealer so they can replace it as soon as possible.
what do you guys think I like new cars but i dont wana lease!! SO!! I buy a brand new corolla pay it off in 1 year with uber (doable) then sell the car for cash!! deposit my cash in the bank then finance another one and do the same thing!! I know it sounds kinda weird but I love new cars but dont wana lease! am i nuts or its a good idea
Just got me a 2009 Toyota Corolla, had my old car crashed into suddenly and I didn’t have much money to get a new car and I couldn’t financially afford a car loan at the moment. All my friends thought I was crazy. Why get a car that old? They asked. I told them that I heard Toyotas are great quality vehicles and didn’t really care what others thought about it. I got the car for an ok price, but it does need a bit of work. I need 4 things to replace as soon as possible, the radiator, the serpentine belt, radiator cap and the transmission fluid change. I absolutely have NO car experience whatsoever so this is all new to me, but I am enjoying learning about my car. I plan to customize this Toyota a little bit since I plan on owning it for the next 2 years. Other repairs can wait a bit, luckily since I have no car loan, I can pay for those things on my next paycheck. The mechanics quoted me to do the mechanical work for over 1.5k for the radiator, radiator cap, transmission fluid change and the serpentine belt. I literally went online and saw how to replace all of them and so far I truly think I can do those repairs myself, the only one I’m actually considering having a mechanic do is the transmission fluid change. Outside of that I’d be saving a lot of money. The radiator replacement and radiator cap would probably only run me about $130 if I did the work myself! I am up for the challenge. 💪🏻
My reference is a 97 Camry, so your situation will vary. A fluid change is easy-peasy because there is a drain plug and you don't have to "drop the transmission pan." Yes, you need a special tool to unscrew the plug, but it costs only a few bucks where you buy tools. I am told it doesn't have a filter, only a screen, so I have over 200,000 miles and have never removed the pan to access that screen. Changing the serpentine belt may be a little awkward to get your wrench into a tight spaces, but there are UA-cam videos showing this. I just changed a radiator that started leaking from a crack in the plastic. It is not that hard after seeing an online video. The hardest part is removing (or rather moving so you can pull the hoses of) spring clips. There is a fancy spring-clip pliars with a cable to get into a tight space. The cost of this tool (maybe about $40) is miniscule compared to the $1500 your car guy wants.
Thanks for the great advice as well as answering questions I had. Own a 2014 Camry SE with 445,000 miles. Following his advise, I know the car can reach 500k without issues.
Great advice as always. I have a 1993 Toyota Previa with 275,000 miles and it still runs as good as the day I drove it off the showroom. All of what you said here is what I have been mindful about throughout the years I owned it. Preventive maintenance is the key to longevity.
Great Advice on oil change longevity, auto trans fluid longevity, calipers pins should be removed and re-lubricated often to prevent seizing up the more expensive brake calipers, and engine coolant becomes acidic after 100K miles and tends to then attack the engine seals and head gaskets. Most importantly, if you live in the northern states and drive on salted roads, please rust proof your vehicle with oil, a lanolin rust deterrent such as wool wax, fluid film, or a kosmaline type rust deterrent for extended protection. This will increase the value of your vehicle significantly more than simple car wax.
Just bought a rust free 1981 Corolla wagon with 90k all original on it and I’m about to get her ready to daily. Any tips for the carburetor on the 1.8 engine?
I'm a Honda tech. Overall good advice. I do my oil every 3k miles (I get the oil for free from the dealer and the OEM Honda filter is $7). Trans fluid every 30k. My cars are stickshifts, but Honda uses very low viscosity fluid for it's manuals, so 30k is a good interval for them. I do the same in automatics. Definitely stick with OEM trans fluid for automatics. Manuals have a bit more leeway, and sometimes, like with V6 Honda Accords, you want to use a thicker fluid. I have a 2006 manual V6 Accord, and it's better to use GM Synchromesh fluid than Honda MTF. If you have a transmission filter, replace that with the fluid. If I have differentials or a transfer case, I do the fluid every 30k same as the transmission. Coolant I just do every 3 years. And if you have a timing belt, change the water pump with it every single time. It's a bit more expensive, but it removes a very dangerous point of failure. I also change my thermostat at the same time. That's the part that's most likely to fail, better to get it out of the way. Brake fluid I do every 2 years. If you have a manual transmission with a hydraulic clutch (which most do), do the clutch fluid at the same time. It also uses DOT 3/4 brake fluid. You want to completely flush it in either case. If you have hydraulic power steering, flush that every 2-3 years as well. Try to use the OEM fluid as some makes are less tolerant of universal fluid or ATF than others. Hondas especially do not like either. I check my air and cabin filters every oil change and replace them as needed. Same with wiper blades. Hondas use rubber inserts, so you don't have to replace the whole blade. I'd recommend seeing if your car does the same before replacing the entire blade. Spark plugs vary heavily by make, model, and year. Just go with the OEM recommendations and maybe do them 10-20k sooner if you're cautious. If your car has a fuel filter, change that at least every 50k miles. One thing that gets overlooked is tire rotations. Buy a cheap tread gauge and try to rotate often enough that the fronts and rears wear evenly. Make note of any abnormal wear and consider getting an alignment if you notice any. I like to replace tires when they get to around 4/32" of tread, a bit above the legal limit. Especially if you live someplace that gets a lot of rain or snow. I always do an alignment when I replace tires just in case. Another thing to consider is an annual undercoating. I personally use fluid film, but any oil, wax, or lanolin based coating can work well. You can do these yourself with a floor jack and some jack stands, and you can buy a couple cans from most auto parts stores for ~$30. I strongly recommend this if you live someplace that salts the roads in the winter. Also get the undercarriage washed after winter to remove any remnants of salt. Find a car wash that does this or maybe purchase a rolling sprayer if you have a hose.
Agreed on all but the 3K oil changes. That’s just throwing $ away if you’re using a quality filter and good full synthetic. 10K is nonsense too. Good middle ground is 5K
@@8MunchenBayern8 I don't care what anyone else says, I will never go 5k on an engine with direct injection. If it were a port injected engine that's driven regularly, you'd be right. But modern engines need more maintenance, not less. And cars that sit can't go 5k without issues either.
Just bought a 2018 Camry SE with just under 50k miles. Love it, and really want to make it last. This is a great roadmap for doing just that. Much appreciated.
Some time back, I decided that an 5,OOOk/6-month oil change is ideal. Thanks for reassuring me on that, sir! Finally, if the motor oil is manufactured by the Warren Oil Company, LLC, It's definitely good to go!
My parents had a 2000 millennium edition 4Runner. They just traded it in a few years ago for a used 2015 Highlander! Their 2005 Tundra is still going strong. A Toyota really will last forever. I just purchased a 2022 Limited Edition Highlander two days ago. I plan to have it forever.
One of the best videos ever #truth! I have 247K on my 2004 AWD Sienna and DIY all my own maintenance for fluids. Big stuff I take to aftermarket Toyota only mechanic, timing belt, etc. Thanks for the tip on Power Steering Fluid as I have always used ATF.
A had a 2013 Highlander, did 10K miles full synthetic oil changes religiously at the dealership, unfortunately never serviced the transmission, but I got 237K highway miles out of her before I sold her. I was lucky, you have great videos.
Finally! I've been waiting for this kind of advice, a complete advice. Most "expert mechanics/technicians" always lack the time interval. Thank you for this.
Great tips! My Lexus GX470 turned over 450000 km last month! Still running strong. Does camping trips loaded down and still conquers 4 star out of 5 4wd trails with ease summer and winter! Only wear/maintenance items have been required! Your bang on with the oil every 8000 km as well as keep up with the other oils. Oil and filters are way cheaper then the components they protect! It’s been a great car and now it is a fun game of how long can I keep it going! Love the content as I am a Toyota nut! Lol Cheers from BC Canada!
@@MichaelHellmann13 I have and as the second owner of the vehicle (The previous owner had the Lexus dealer in Edmonton, AB, Canada service it from day 1, I actually was able to go and get the service history all printed off! Very impressed) Toyota recommend every 100 k to do it. I have done it 4 times in the last 100k because I do have it loaded for trips, tow, and take off-road trails, mud, snow, deep water (all the breather vents are raised for extra insurance on sketchy water crossings to keep water out) etc… The factory procedure really only lets you get 4.5 to 5 litres but doing it frequently lets you flush it through and it has been clean the whole time. So eventually it will be pretty fresh! And I use the factory fluid. Toyota WTF. It is reasonably priced and especially for transmissions I like to use OEM fluid. Being an 06 model VVTi and the 5 spd. It has no dipstick. So the fill procedure is involved and I do it with no scan tool. Thank you Toyota for still making it possible to do it properly for the DIY people out there! Hope this helps! Cheers!
Thank you, I find you are more helpful than Scotty Kilmer. You Not only recommend, you help us understand the "why"( I am a big fan of Scotty also, but sometimes Scotty is all over the place)
I have a Toyota Corolla Verso 1.6 2007. 345 000km (South African) had this car serviced regularly and it has never let me down! Thank you so much for your advice and candid approach! 👏👏👏🥇
I have a 2011 Camry SE, I purchased with 27 miles on the odometer. Now it has 252k and no major issues other than proper maintenance. Thank you for the advice and excellent video!
This guy is on point. I follow a similar maintenance schedule with my 2013 Tacoma. At 210k miles, I just had my first major repair, complete AC System replacement.
Great advice. I've been doing maintenance like you describe for decades. Never had an engine, transmission or diff fail. The only thing I'd add is Check The Oil Frequently so you don't ever run the engine too low. People don't check their oil any more! I hope everybody takes your advice
@@davidlandreth6995 thank you sir! Yeah I never see people checking the oil...ever! I was checking the oil in my car the other day when I got back and the guy at Costco monitoring everyone asked me if I had car trouble. When I told him I was checking the oil he was shocked. Doesn't ever see that! Btw it was one of the few times when costco wasn't busy so I wasn't slowing down the hordes that are usually there. Take care
My dad always said, "take care of your car and your car will take care of you." I've always lived by that motto. I have a 2004 Prius I bought new and it currently has a little more than 280,000 miles. However, I've put a deposit down for the 2023 Prius Prime so hopefully I'll have a new car by the end of 2023 if not sooner.
Good advice! My Toyota has 467,000km and still running good every day with no major repairs. Only regular timing belt replacement along with normal oil changes etc. The key is to always do regular inspection of all the systems to catch any problems early.
great video as always! my solara V6 MT has 230k on her and she runs and drives great. luckily the last owner took care of her getting the timing belt done on time and frequent oil changes. when i replaced the valve cover gaskets the internals were spotless with zero sludge! i did quite a bit of work to restore her, looking forward to hitting 300k!
I was an old Toyota mechanic not technician back in the eighties, until the late nighties that's what we were called back then and I try to look at most of your videos. Although you are not old school ,working on an 18R a 2F or even a 5M like I did I can see that you have a great love and passion for what you do. Keep up the good work .
20:33 Preach it brother! Thank you for your channel and all your honest advice. You are so right, people just hand their keys to the service department/swipe their card without understand everything. My girlfriend’s mother brought her (160k+ mi) Corolla to the same Toyota dealership for over two years. They charged her $400 (oil pan) because of an oil leak they caused when they stripped the drain plug, and flushed her coolant/transmission fluid after 500 miles…then flushed her transmission again after another 5,000 miles later. I’m glad this grand mother kept all her paperwork, and I was able to see what was done to her vehicle.
Just bought my first Toyota! It's a 01 Camry with 167k. I'm In love with it already. Drives and Rides like a Dream! I have thoroughly enjoyed this channel so far. Excellent content for Toyota owners!
One of your best videos yet. As a life long DIY person & avid Toyota enthusiast-owner … you hit the maintenance items right on the money. Thanks for the time invested & shared expertise!
Thank you! I wish the dealers gave instructions when we buy the car! I brought it in and following YOUR direction, asked them to be sure to change filters, especially to the Hybrid battery. Toyota Mechanics didn't know where it was! I saw your UA-cam on filters. It showed my Rav Hybrid filters are in the bottom of the back seat. I'll make them look again! Thank you so much for educating me. ❣️ 21:40
Thank you so much for all your Toyota/Lexus lessons! I own a 2012 Lexus LS 460 with 150,000 miles on her. She runs perfectly. I am meticulous with my maintenance. I will always look for your advice
Did u change the transmission fluid , I have same car with 160,000 miles , never changed transmission fluid , never changed differential fluid as it’s AWD model
I don’t have a Toyota but an 04 Honda Element with 210990 miles and do exactly what you say. I go to Honda and pay $35 for oil change. I change other fluids yearly as I don’t drive 60,000 miles. Only repair VTEC solenoid. You have an awesome channel
I'd like to add a suggestion to top off all fluids every 3K miles or 3Months if you drive the car regularly. While you top off the car its a great time to visually inspect your engine and check belts and hoses too.
My wife’s 2005 Pontiac Vibe (Matrix) has 190,000 miles. We change oil twice a year. What I find amazing is the oil is always clean and never needs oil added between changes. We live in the Rust Belt and there are only a few small spots of rust on the vehicle after 17 years of ownership.
I want to say, I love watching your videos and have learned SO MUCH over the last couple of months from watching them. I bought a 4 runner last march and have tried to learn as much as possible about the vehicle and how to take care of it. That is how I stumbled onto your channel. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.
Finally!! A comprehensive explanation about transmission fluid change intervals..Thank you so much. Now I am armed with information that I can use in case of an argument with "know it all's"
@@pirihern9329 Something that was left out in his explanation is new fluids replenish the additive package that’s depleted in used ATF, the most important being friction modifiers (essential for proper clutch engagement while minimizing wear).
@@pirihern9329 - if your trans REQUIRES old, worn clutch material for proper operation, then you need a new transmission. 😆🤣 Our shop does full fluid exchange with a machine. Every car that gets the service shifts MUCH smoother afterward because NEW fluid is better then old worn fluid. Period.
Another great video!! I have an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of our families 7-vehicles (mostly Toyota’s so I’m usually just doing maintenance). A good inspection often is also very important!!
same here, I have separate spreadsheet for all 5 vehicles and one that I call garage checks with all change dates for maintenance. works great for a quick glance.... have everything listed: wipers, oil & air filters, tire rotations, all fluids replacements, car waxed. Also keep record of cost for any maintenance, repairs....
I will insist on a coolant change next servicing based on this video. My independent mechanic recommended not changing it in the fall because it didn’t look dirty. But last fall marked 10 years, so the acidity might be building up even if it looks clean. Super helpful.
I hope that public schools see this video prior to taking driving courses. I as a woman learned a lot from you. I just bought a used 2001 Camry with 161k, miles on it and I am going to change the oil & spark plugs. I am also going to have the car mechanic check out my brakes and suspension and get an alignment. Yes, I do my best with using the oil and plugs in the middle of the road not using the cheap stuff but not the expensive oil. You should advise women on maintaining there car.
I've been changing the auto transmission fluid every 20k kilometers or 12,500 miles on my Toyota and now I know not to. I'd never have guessed it was possible to overdo oil changes. Thank you, you've save me some money in the process! Liked, Subscribed👍
i think that 20k km is a goon interval for partial fluid change. just open the tap and leave it open, approx 50% of the fluid goes out, do not change filter. you can make 100% change at 60k km then.
I've never changed transmission fluid in any of my cars nor has anyone I know of either and we have never had gearbox issues. Think this changing transmission fluid guff is another American myth like the 3k oil change nonsense.
What a blessing you are sir. After watching this, I decided to make a spreadsheet to track and keep a record of the fluid intervals because if any one is keeping their for as long as possible, you'd be going through more maintenance books but one personal spreadsheet 😉
Always have kept a record of everything I have done to a vehicle maintenance or not. Kept all receipts of repairs in the glove box. Bought a vehicle new I had all the receipts and log of everything I did on it, sold at a dealership at 250 thousand, they were very impressed with all the records
Damn good point about just removing the spark plugs and re-installing them. My 2010 Corolla only has 72000 miles but the plugs have never been removed since I bought it new in December 2010. It is on my list to be done in the next few weeks as well as complete brake fluid flush. I have done all the other maintenance. He is 100% right about old coolant attacking the water pump first. I was shocked that I had to replace my water pump at only 58000 miles but I replaced the coolant completely as part of the water pump replacement job doing it all myself after just purchasing the pump and coolant from Toyota.
From experience apply anti-seize to your spark plug threads. Steel spark plugs in aluminum cyl. heads will seize over time creating a huge problem due to dissimilar metals. That said as recommended maintenance in AMD's video if your going to the trouble to remove them why not just replace and anti-seize them and be worry free. I also consider it a must to apply a little di-electric grease to the inside of the spark plug boot to prevent the rubber from sticking to the spark plug over time and ripping off the metal spark plug connector in the boot on removal leaving it attached to the spark plug. Costing you a coil on plug assembly.
@@peterrudy9207 Have never had an issue. Some claim it's not needed on todays plugs due to the spark plug shell coating or that it can cause plug grounding concerns. Just go light on the anti-seize and keep it off the electrode and whatever else is exposed to the combustion chamber. It would take me about 12 years to put 80,000 miles on my 4runner. The thought of leaving them there that long makes me cringe.
I absolutely love your channel. Even though I have no mechanical ability to DYI- I so appreciate your honesty and guidance to properly care for our vehicle. You have made me aware of mistakes I have made already- which is frustrating but, over time I will correct. We have a 2019 Highlander that we would love to keep for 300k miles and only have 60k now. I wish you much success with the channel and you have a subscriber for life in me.
I also have a 2019 Highlander. I'm at 50k miles and in the last 10k miles noticed at 80 mph sometimes the RPM will stay slightly over 2000 RPM and sometimes It will lower below the 2000 RPM's. Have you noticed this?
I’m 64, and I’m buying my first Toyota soon. After dropping $6,400 this past April on a rebuilt transmission on my current (well maintained) American made ride, I asked my mechanic of 19 years what he advised. Immediately he said “Toyota”. He further told me he drives a Rav 4 with 300K, and he told me if I do regular maintenance (as I did on my American cars) that I should be able to do the same. I drive conservatively, so don’t beat on my cars. This gentleman is giving sound advice. I’m done with American vehicles.
Welcome. I’m 42 and had 3 cars in my life. Corolla, Camry, 4Runner. Finally flipped my wife to Toyota, she just got a rav4. My 4Runner is a 2008 with 185k miles and it runs like the day I bought it.
53 years old and drove domestic brand cars my whole life. Just ditched my 2009 Chrysler Town and Country for a 2017 Sienna AWD for my wife and a 2017 Rav4 for me.
@@theenglishprofessor8411 I tell all you gentlemen, I’m thoroughly impressed with my sporty little Corolla. I’ve never owned a nice, well made, and sporty ride in my day. I’m getting a company vehicle soon, which I have to leave at the workplace overnight, but anything to cut down on wear and tear mileage on this gem. I’d personally like to keep it in my garage most of the time and just drive it to church on Sundays or use on an occasional errand.
Great recommendation & it's true. My one owner Gen2 06 Prius is at 345,545 miles, still gives me 50mpg, recently started consuming oil 1qt every 1000 miles. I change oil & air filter at 3000 miles use regular 5W30, & FRAM oil filter. Toyotas are great!
As a lifelong and current owner of 3 Toyotas (RaV4, Prius and Tundra) I am very grateful to you for taking the time to thoroughly explain all things Toyota. Sadly it is difficult to find an honest mechanic and this is especially true of my local dealer. Without going into great detail, the last straw was when I came in for a routine oil change and they tried to convince me my Prius needed a $2,700 repair. It did not! That was more than 3 years and 30,000 miles (and NO recommended repair!) ago. In fact, I brought the vehicle home that day and resolved to do as much of my vehicles maintenance as possible. With the help of your videos and those of a select few others, all of my Toyotas are running smoothly. Or at least they were before a neighborhood squirrel recently decided to nest under the hood of my 07 Tundra (91k miles.) As I have always given them peanuts, I was under the mistaken impression that we were friends. Now, the 4hi, Abs, and Traction control lights are permanently on or flashing as the case may be. As stated previously, I cannot trust my local dealer. Additionally, I am retired and on a fixed income. The one thing I do have plenty of is time. If you have some time yourself, I hope you can point me in the right direction to trouble shoot this or perhaps where to look specifically. The right front driving light was out and I found, soldered, and resealed 4 obviously chewed wires in that location. It was plain to see that 3 of these wires went directly to the light. The 4th, I don't know. but nonetheless I repaired it. Anyway, the driving light works again, but the lights are still on on the dash. Thanks again for giving me and others the knowledge / confidence necessary to keep our Toyotas on the road!
over 350k miles and going up in my yoda, Update: over 400k now with new ngk iridium plugs, a freshly cleaned and oiled reusable air filter, and a fresh full synthetic oil change. Drive safe yall
Great job. You may want to rethink that reusable air filter tho. They tend to mess with the air flow sensor, the oil from the air filter can get on the fine wire inside the sensor and send a check engine light. Not a big deal to clean the sensor. Just something to keep in mind if it happens 😊
As always, great information. I think another way to keep a car running longer is to not abuse it when driving. I don't accelerate hard, which is good for the head gasket and timing belt, nor do I brake hard. Maybe, it's just that working on cars is work, when I was younger it was FUN. Driving habits will help squeeze every mpg out your car. As fuel costs rise, maybe driving habits will change. It seems everyone races from red light to red light.
I thought I was the only one who noticed, every other vehicle racing from traffic light to traffic light and randomly passing just to end up 30 feet ahead.............in traffic.
01/6 22 Use a route planner giving distance & journey time info' in real time ...dah darr.. average speed for your journey !! Those vehicles that blast past you & then later you both simultaneously pull away from traffic lights are Company or Someone Else's vehicle - driver is'nt paying running costs.
Your channel is like a gold mine! I have been watching your videos at work on my breaks! The absolute plethora of info you share is astounding. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!!
What a detailed and thoughtful list of service and preventative maintenance tips. I mostly follow this in addition to: Checking the cabin and intake filters annually, MAF sensor cleaning, cleaning carbon off of the throttle body, spraying seals, boots and bushings with silicone or AT-205 reseal. Also not forgetting to under spray the car to wash away salt from winter roads.
I think CareNut is a real gift to DIY people but I have a couple things to add for the "keep forever" schedule. I used to work for a large government fleet repair and some things I do to my own cars: - When you have to replace your battery, use a "memory saver"! It's just a small device you can buy that you plug into the OBD port. (These cost about $10 or so). The memory saver device holds the memory from the car's computer. This is not just so you don't lose the radio stations! Whenever the battery gets replaced, it resets some of the parameters the tech needs to read at smog check time. If your smog check time is near, you do not want to reset the comp if you can help it because it might complicate your smog check; because the tech won't be able to read all the info from the OBD until it resets from driving again! These parameters reset by driving a hundred miles or so, if you take it to smog right after you change the battery, and you don't use a memory saver, the tech might not be able to read all the parameters (since they reset from changing the battery). No big deal, since the tech will probably tell you to drive the car a week or two and come back for the smog check, because some parameters ONLY reset by driving the car! Anyway, when you change the battery just use a memory saver, it's well worth it. 2/
2/ One more thing about changing batteries - on lead-acid batteries, i.e. the kind most people still use, always check the water level on your new battery and use distilled water to top it up. (It's bad to let the water go low on a battery since if a battery runs out of water, it will begin to self-discharge, cause premature aging, and possibly stop working. The top-up water should be distilled water, tap water has impurities that might kill your new battery) When I worked for a fleet I changed hundreds of batteries and I always checked the water level on new batteries. And EVERY. SINGLE. BATTERY was low on water - EVERY ONE. So you can safely assume that new battery is going to need distilled water to top it up. Even "sealed" batteries have a cap or caps to pry off to inspect the water level and that's where the water goes in, of course. You can forget any claims about "Never needs topping up" stickers on the battery or other such nonsense, they ALL need topping up right out of the box, I never saw a new battery that didn't.
I learned a lot from you even though I am an aircraft mechanic. It’s the little things that make a big difference in the life of a car. Keep up the great work.
When I worked at Toyota I had a customer come in with a '19 Sienna with 310k miles on it, oil changes every month (10k miles each), plugs every year and transmission fluid every year. Ran stupidly well for the mileage.
A 2019 car that does 10k miles a month is going to have zero issues at all since its probably spending 99% of its time on the motorway far less stressful for the car than 60k mixed.
Awesome video, as always. I knew from the beginning, when our dealership told us, 10K mile oil changes, that was ridiculous. You are doing the Lord's work!
Excellent information..... My 2019 Toyota Camry SE just hit 63,000 the dealership is recommending replacing the PCV valve already. But after listening to your videos i know it's not necessary at this point. Thank you!!
I buy cars with 40k mi & change oil every 6k mi. I replace coolant around 70k mi & sell the car at 100k mark for a respectful price. This method has been saving me a lot of 💵 💵
Do you really make money? If you can get 300,000 miles out of the vehicle then you would save 2xs what you spend on another vehicle (minus the vehicle profit)?
Seriously awesome videos that are comprehensive from an ACTUAL expert. I used to work at an SET dealership and one of the best master diagnostic technicians in the country worked there. It was nice having those resources to ask questions. Neither him nor I work there any more so it's nice that I've found your channel to reference. Keep up the great content.
From my personal experience, I do this preventive maintenance on my vehicles religiously. It is probably extreme for most people but I want to keep my vehicles for a long time. Roughly every 100 000 kilometers or 60 000 miles I tend to replace every part of the coolant system except the water pump or radiator. I replace the thermostat, radiator cap, coolant, and every hose (even hose clamps) of the coolant system with Toyota OEM parts. I flush twice coolant/antifreeze every two years. I would replace the serpentine belt before it gets too brittle and cracks appear, around 45 000 miles to 50 000 miles. They are not expensive and they are easy to replace.
I'm the same way. I don't do it as often these days due to health problems but over the last 25 years I've probably wasted tons of money needlessly replacing maintenance items but it gives me peace of mind so I figure it's worth it.
@@nodak81 I agree with you 100%. It gives me pleasure when something works perform optimally just way it was designed in the factory. Whenever I travel down Interstate 5 from Canada to California, I see much newer and fancier cars stuck on the side of the highway broken down in the mountains of Southern Oregon and North California. My car is getting old but I never run into problems because I do preventive maintenance.
Crazy talk. My 2014 Mazda 3 went 110,000 miles on the original serp belt & tensioner. Sure the belt was cracked but it wasn’t degraded to the point to cause failure. Sure the tensioner was leaking fluid all over itself but as long as it’s still strong and isn’t leaking on the belt, who cares?!?!?! I could have gone thru 2x belts & tensioners in the same miles according to you crazy people. Why?!?!!! I’d rather use that money for something else. 😆🤣
@@I_know_what_im_talking_about I know. When it comes to maintaining a car, a friend of mine has the same opinion as you. He thinks it's crazy to spend extra money on car unless something completely breaks down. At the parties, we used to go he likes to ridicule me because I spend 1000 dollars on torque wrench. The same person left around 100 000 Canadian Dollars in our local casino. When we visited wine country he purchased a thousand dollars worth of wine. He loaded the minivan with cases of wine. The same person spends thousands of dollars a year playing golf.
@@MrCROBosanceros - see. And his car is just fine. Now had he spent those thousands on UNNECESSARY auto maintenance, he wouldn’t have been able to buy all that wine cause he’d have NO MONEY. 😆🤣 I’m not one to run a vehicle into the ground with no maintenance. I take care of my stuff. It’s just some items can last MUCH longer then we give them credit for and changing out a perfectly good belt “ahead of time” is silly to me.
Engine Oil - 5k miles or 6 months
Transmission Fluid - 60k miles or 6 years
Coolant - 50k miles or 5 years
Brake Fluid - 3 to 5 years
Power Steering - 50k to 70k miles
Spark Plugs - 120k miles or 10 years
Inspect it regularly
Keep a log
`Changing the power steering fluid is not in my owners manual. The rest of them are.
@@josephkelleher8820 In this case most likely electric power steering
So tranny flush at 60k or drain and fill at 60k? Those are 2 different things…do you mind clarifying
So, 2013 Toyota Highlander all wheel drive with no transmission problems, but it has 127,000 miles on it. I have never changed the transmission fluid. Should I just leave the transmission fluid alone at this point?
@@danielb.4311 just drain and fill.. flushes can cause problems.
This man is a legend and must be protected at all cost.
Agreeeeeeed
Care care scotty collab solid
He is protected by God Almighty, Yahweh.
@@TigerKittay Amen!!! Yahweh lives!
I agree. I like his honesty...
I have maintained my vehicles since I was 16 and will be 55yrs old this summer and still do maintenance myself. I only drive Japanese cars, however a majority of our cars are Toyota/Lexus - this is THE BEST maintenance advice I have heard bar non. I also follow Scotty Kilmer's channel. This man knows what he's talking about.
Same here, but Hondas.
same
I love honda...but this guy really is a top fella
i don't know if i'll ever buy anything but Toyota/Lexus again. I'm on Toyota #3 since 2003, and plan on buying another one as soon as I can upgrade.
I follow AMD and Scotty to
This gentleman exemplifies the potential value of this UA-cam platform AND of honest car care for the car-loving community!
Best on UA-cam
Hey. I was a Lexus tech for 27 years. I really love your knowledge and drive. Unfortunately I was hurt in the field and was retired early. I enjoy your videos
Hope you got some compensation
Car fall off the lift and crushed you?
Yes. I have a nice pension from Toyota and disability for life
@@zacharypeery4082 better not to say anything if you have nothing good to say
@@to729Many thanks to you for your service.
Yes, I highly agree with keeping a maintenance log book in the glove box! Write down repairs, mileage, oil changes, everything! Makes an awesome reference for yourself, but also for potential buyers in the future. Let's normalize good car ownership in America!
Around here, the average length of ownership is 6 months to a year. If it's not totaled within a year, then there's the 130,000 miles you've put on that car.
My neighbor put 40,000 miles on his then new Ford Escape in 3 months before it was totaled by a drunk that slammed into the back of him at a school buss stop doing 70 miles an hour.
@@craigpennington1251
What shithole do you live in?
@@michaelangelo5783id say probably the countless urban ghettos.... But 40k in three momths? Maybe he was on a spiritual journey or something.... Can't count out idk rough deep southerns.... But damn.. 40k in three months... I get long trips but damn driving ab around 6 hours a day is insane unless your a long hauler
@@longjohn-x6p There is no way they did that. That is 444.44 miles a day, and that is if they did it consistently, every day. Just one missed day and now you're looking at roughly 900 miles.
The Car fax car care app is a good way to keep track
My 03 Camry SE just logged its 300th mile. Regular oil changes and a little TLC goes a long way. Toyota engineering is amazing.👍
I had worked on an 03 Camry the other day that had done 1,400,000km (about 900,000 miles) and was still perfectly fine had a lot of preventative maintenance but never failed them. They are a regular and always keep it pristine.
"MOSTEST" honest mechanic ever possible in UA-cam history......
Wonder how one can survive telling such level of truth . Respect
ASE Master Tech, and currently Toyota expert in all 5 disciplines (just waiting on some tenure for master Toyota): This is 100% spot on and exactly what I've seen and recommend to everyone. People who follow this advice will almost universally see their Toyota pass 300k miles. Unless you live in a state that believes in destroying your car with road salt mixed with magnesium chloride, such as my former state of Connecticut.
What's the solution to the road salt woes?
@@krillansavillanhave your car under body washed every week in the winter.
Former state ! Good ! Yes same as my former state of MA
what about synthetic vs regular motor oil? Will synthetic reduce the time between oil changes? Will it protect the engine better. I do not drive the car much, so I do not want to change the oil every 6 months unless it really matters.
@@haovan5273 Do you mean like with a water hose?
I have a 2002 Rav4 got it in 2004 with 27000 km on it. Now it's at 538000 and still running strong 💪
Taxi or Uber?
Serviced beyond Toyota recommendations ?
that's awesome! amazing what a little preventative maintenance will do. 538K!!
That’s cool. I have a 2002 Rav4 that I bought in 2004 with 30,000 mi. It’s been in the shop 4 times since 2004 and still runs like a champ! Hoping to see 3 or 400,000 miles!
Got ya beat at 636,000 km (397,000 miles) on an 07 Civic. Good job though!!!
This is the holy grail of preventive maintenance knowledge. Honestly thank you very much, you are a legend
As a toyota owner who does 95% of the work on my own 2000 camry 2.2l with 324kmi. Your later advice of documenting everything is perhaps the most important overall, love your videos and honesty, God bless.
I used 10k for my oil change intervals. I have a '97 4 Runner with the V-6. I switched to synthetic Mobil 1 at 5k miles. I bumped up the interval to 7.5k mile and had the oil analyzed during the winter and summer to see how the oil was doing. The oil testing place informed me that I could increase the oil change interval to 10k. I did it and did the same thing by testing the oil during winter and summer to check the oil. The condition of the oil was still good, but I kept the oil change interval at 10k. I used my 4 Runner as my daily commute vehicle. 30 miles one way. I ran up the mileage to over 300k miles before I switched jobs. I wasn't doing a daily commute anymore, so I dropped my oil change interval to 5k. Right now, the 4 Runner is at 419k miles. It runs just fine. Highway driving fuel mileage has dropped almost 1 mpg compared to when it was new.
7:15 The clutches get burnished when you change the transmission fluid.
Mobil 1 fully synthetic is the godsend oil. Probably only reason my family avalon has 317k miles
Mobil 1 full synthetic I change once a year or 5 to 6500m car runs great
Mobil 1 is a good oil but the best of the best comes from amsoil. They ran tests and it surprisingly took #1 in every test
Its a 4runner. You could run it low oil and it wouldn't die. Not a fair candidate.That 4.0 is cheating 😂
A knowledgeable man passionate about his work, and no obnoxious music/editing. Perfect!
Outstanding Video Sir!!! 👍
This guy in my opinion is a genius. I have been following him for quite some time now. He loves what he does. My respect for him. Not only what he know but just taking the time im sure he does not have to share this valuable knowledge with all of us. Greetings from Tampa, Florida. Keep up with those amazing videos. Lord bless you and your family.
I'm a Tech, and this is one of the most explanatory and informative videos I've ever seen. You sir are a true gem, bravo. People should be required to watch a quick video like this before ever owning/caring for a vehicle.
You, SIR are a very generous man. In my opinion you have just given me and the rest of us ONE MILLION DOLLARS worth of car care advice. Thank YOU.
You absolute legend. Only recently found your channel, but you are a treasure to automotive enthusiasts.
You are the ONLY mechanic/technician I respect and trust. excellent, precise and clear explanation about the transmission maintenance 👍💪
Scotty Kilmer can be trusted too. Both AMD and Scotty are great.
Just discovered this guy! Love him already! Been listening to Scotty for 6 years! Best on earth!
@@andrewkoster8895 scotty hard to understand, this guy on the video more easy to understand.
car wizard as well!
Well clearly you haven’t seen Scotty Kilmer this foo wasting so much time on videos just to milk the ads and revenue
This was the best damn maintenance video I have ever seen. Especially for the average consumer.
You haven’t been around UA-cam much then. There’s a TON of similar channels offering advice to maintain your turds.
I have a 2005 Corolla with 372000 miles. Still runs and drives like new. Regular maintenance pays off. It has needed a few repairs, but nothing expensive.
Love it. I recently found a 2007 Corolla ce 5 spd manual 1 owner with 91k miles. I plan to keep it many years. It’s my daily commuter now. Insanely easy to work on.
Huge respect sir, your advice is GOLD. I recently bought a first gen Toyota Avalon, 23 years old but very well looked after, best value car I have ever purchased. Luckily it has a service manual that indicates regular servicing. Only 60,000 miles on the clock. The advice about regular oil changes is very pertinent, I've read some owners use synthetic motor oil every 3000 miles.
I love this guy! As someone who doesn’t know a lot about cars his videos have taught me so much. I wish I was lucky enough to have someone like him as the mechanic for our two Toyota vehicles. It seems to be more and more difficult to find such honest, highly experienced, expert mechanics like him.
but girls hated mechanic like this though
My 2006 sienna has around 110K and I bought with around 36k. I've only been changing oil every 5K and I've not changed anything else. Should I go ahead and have coolant and transmission fluid changed?
This is why he publishes things like this because even his co-workers don't do this. None of these things are hard to do and require minimal tools and time. Plus you will know that they are done right, I worked IT for a big dealer group and would hear multiple times a week that techs would send out oil change customers with zero oil only to tell them to drive it back or customers would lose tires on the way home. Trust no tech unless you know them personally. My SO learned the hard way with a Forester which went through 3 short blocks starting at 28k to 36k all because she went in for a recall. She now is in a RAV4 @ 53K with nothing but fluids, filters, and wipers all done at home with no questions in the workmanship.
Honesty integrity is awesome to have . Worth even more than skill or knowledge in my opinion. Worth his weight in gold to find one . The scams and BS one must go through to find a truly trustworthy mechanic… on another car one “ mechanic “ said I needed to replace engine. Geez 🙄. I tested it myself and it’s solidly good . Took it to this wholly trustworthy mechanic and he right away within seconds knew it was the timing. $190 vs a new engine dang
Yes indeed..he is in a category all by himself
My 2001 Tacoma V6 4x4 has 516,000 miles on it. His advise is good. Change fluids as he recommends. As it gets more miles (over 250k) you need to watch the rpm’s and not push the vehicle. If you pull a trailer as I do start slowly and don’t strain the engine. Don’t stress or strain the engine. Drive carefully until vehicle warms up. Take it on long drives occasionally. This burns off some impurities in the engine. Now that my truck has over 400k miles I do not exceed 3000 rpm’s. Hey, I am not a mechanic but every new car or truck I have owned (Toyota or Honda) has gotten 350k or more miles. No major engine, or transmission problem (manual transmission) ever. Never owned automatic. Next truck I may need to buy automatic, darn!
Just hit 380245 on my Lexus. I pretty much follow these maintenance schedule. Looking forward to hitting 500k !
Update: 386113 woooo!
What year is it?
Miles?
That's a lot of driving, you must live behind the wheel!
Wow
I just turned over 337000 miles and so much of it is due to your videos and my great mechanic.
How often you change oil?
I work at an independent Toyota / Lexus repair shop....It's so important to stick to the maintenance schedules,use quality genuine parts and fluids and stay far far away from the quick lube shops that neglect to check other important things or overtighten or NOT tighten oil drain plugs.Your car is a big investment usually second to your house.DON'T cheap out on routine maintenance and ALWAYS have qualified people looking after it!
My brand new kluger/highlander hybrid battery overheats !!
It keeps on charging but doesn't want to move an inch on battery !! So i need to use Air con to cool it down and then it works normal !!
@@amritpree is the hybrid battery fan working?
@@tails300 no, i don't think so, i haven't heard any noise from kluger's battery pack, but when i drive camry, then yes, i hear fan noise.
@@amritpree then that maybe your problem, if the fan isn’t working the batter can overheat. You should take it to the dealer so they can replace it as soon as possible.
what do you guys think
I like new cars but i dont wana lease!!
SO!!
I buy a brand new corolla
pay it off in 1 year with uber (doable)
then sell the car for cash!!
deposit my cash in the bank
then finance another one and do the same thing!! I know it sounds kinda weird but I love new cars but dont wana lease!
am i nuts or its a good idea
Hey AMD, My 2009 Avalon is at 347,024 miles and everything still works. Thanks for the great videos!!!
sweet, they are best built toyota.
jeez what did you differently
Been wrenching for forty years and this man has hit the nail every time... great advice...knowledge is power.....
Just got me a 2009 Toyota Corolla, had my old car crashed into suddenly and I didn’t have much money to get a new car and I couldn’t financially afford a car loan at the moment. All my friends thought I was crazy. Why get a car that old? They asked. I told them that I heard Toyotas are great quality vehicles and didn’t really care what others thought about it. I got the car for an ok price, but it does need a bit of work. I need 4 things to replace as soon as possible, the radiator, the serpentine belt, radiator cap and the transmission fluid change.
I absolutely have NO car experience whatsoever so this is all new to me, but I am enjoying learning about my car. I plan to customize this Toyota a little bit since I plan on owning it for the next 2 years. Other repairs can wait a bit, luckily since I have no car loan, I can pay for those things on my next paycheck. The mechanics quoted me to do the mechanical work for over 1.5k for the radiator, radiator cap, transmission fluid change and the serpentine belt. I literally went online and saw how to replace all of them and so far I truly think I can do those repairs myself, the only one I’m actually considering having a mechanic do is the transmission fluid change. Outside of that I’d be saving a lot of money. The radiator replacement and radiator cap would probably only run me about $130 if I did the work myself! I am up for the challenge. 💪🏻
Good luck
How'd it go?
09 corolla is a great choice
My reference is a 97 Camry, so your situation will vary.
A fluid change is easy-peasy because there is a drain plug and you don't have to "drop the transmission pan." Yes, you need a special tool to unscrew the plug, but it costs only a few bucks where you buy tools. I am told it doesn't have a filter, only a screen, so I have over 200,000 miles and have never removed the pan to access that screen.
Changing the serpentine belt may be a little awkward to get your wrench into a tight spaces, but there are UA-cam videos showing this.
I just changed a radiator that started leaking from a crack in the plastic. It is not that hard after seeing an online video. The hardest part is removing (or rather moving so you can pull the hoses of) spring clips. There is a fancy spring-clip pliars with a cable to get into a tight space. The cost of this tool (maybe about $40) is miniscule compared to the $1500 your car guy wants.
Thanks for the great advice as well as answering questions I had. Own a 2014 Camry SE with 445,000 miles. Following his advise, I know the car can reach 500k without issues.
Are you taxi driver?
Dang 445k miles you must be a Uber driver?
Assuming you work 5 days a week you’re telling me you drive over 927 miles a day?? Nah don’t believe it fam.
I call BS...
@@Druguana yea, but his car is a 2014. That means he drives at least 165 miles daily
Great advice as always. I have a 1993 Toyota Previa with 275,000 miles and it still runs as good as the day I drove it off the showroom. All of what you said here is what I have been mindful about throughout the years I owned it. Preventive maintenance is the key to longevity.
Woooow. A 28/29 year old minivan!
Well done, sir!
Great Advice on oil change longevity, auto trans fluid longevity, calipers pins should be removed and re-lubricated often to prevent seizing up the more expensive brake calipers, and engine coolant becomes acidic after 100K miles and tends to then attack the engine seals and head gaskets. Most importantly, if you live in the northern states and drive on salted roads, please rust proof your vehicle with oil, a lanolin rust deterrent such as wool wax, fluid film, or a kosmaline type rust deterrent for extended protection. This will increase the value of your vehicle significantly more than simple car wax.
Wow, almost 30 yo and still going. Congratulations!!!
@@Pdfflyer1 at what mileage do caliper pins?
@@Pdfflyer1 I live in East Texas
My Corolla 2012, 160k miles, I followed all of these considerations and did the work myself. Still feels like new!
I had an 83 Corolla which I got over 400,000 miles and now I have a 2018 Highlander. Great job with explaining transmission fluid.
I had an ‘83 Corolla, it was a major rust bucket. It dissolved.
Just bought a rust free 1981 Corolla wagon with 90k all original on it and I’m about to get her ready to daily. Any tips for the carburetor on the 1.8 engine?
@ good luck with that one, I really doubt if any more of those carburetors are still around. I paid $200 for one way back in the 90’s.
I'm a Honda tech. Overall good advice.
I do my oil every 3k miles (I get the oil for free from the dealer and the OEM Honda filter is $7).
Trans fluid every 30k. My cars are stickshifts, but Honda uses very low viscosity fluid for it's manuals, so 30k is a good interval for them. I do the same in automatics. Definitely stick with OEM trans fluid for automatics. Manuals have a bit more leeway, and sometimes, like with V6 Honda Accords, you want to use a thicker fluid. I have a 2006 manual V6 Accord, and it's better to use GM Synchromesh fluid than Honda MTF.
If you have a transmission filter, replace that with the fluid.
If I have differentials or a transfer case, I do the fluid every 30k same as the transmission.
Coolant I just do every 3 years. And if you have a timing belt, change the water pump with it every single time. It's a bit more expensive, but it removes a very dangerous point of failure. I also change my thermostat at the same time. That's the part that's most likely to fail, better to get it out of the way.
Brake fluid I do every 2 years. If you have a manual transmission with a hydraulic clutch (which most do), do the clutch fluid at the same time. It also uses DOT 3/4 brake fluid. You want to completely flush it in either case.
If you have hydraulic power steering, flush that every 2-3 years as well. Try to use the OEM fluid as some makes are less tolerant of universal fluid or ATF than others. Hondas especially do not like either.
I check my air and cabin filters every oil change and replace them as needed. Same with wiper blades. Hondas use rubber inserts, so you don't have to replace the whole blade. I'd recommend seeing if your car does the same before replacing the entire blade.
Spark plugs vary heavily by make, model, and year. Just go with the OEM recommendations and maybe do them 10-20k sooner if you're cautious.
If your car has a fuel filter, change that at least every 50k miles.
One thing that gets overlooked is tire rotations. Buy a cheap tread gauge and try to rotate often enough that the fronts and rears wear evenly. Make note of any abnormal wear and consider getting an alignment if you notice any. I like to replace tires when they get to around 4/32" of tread, a bit above the legal limit. Especially if you live someplace that gets a lot of rain or snow. I always do an alignment when I replace tires just in case.
Another thing to consider is an annual undercoating. I personally use fluid film, but any oil, wax, or lanolin based coating can work well. You can do these yourself with a floor jack and some jack stands, and you can buy a couple cans from most auto parts stores for ~$30. I strongly recommend this if you live someplace that salts the roads in the winter. Also get the undercarriage washed after winter to remove any remnants of salt. Find a car wash that does this or maybe purchase a rolling sprayer if you have a hose.
Agreed on all but the 3K oil changes. That’s just throwing $ away if you’re using a quality filter and good full synthetic. 10K is nonsense too. Good middle ground is 5K
@@8MunchenBayern8 I don't care what anyone else says, I will never go 5k on an engine with direct injection. If it were a port injected engine that's driven regularly, you'd be right. But modern engines need more maintenance, not less. And cars that sit can't go 5k without issues either.
Just bought a 2018 Camry SE with just under 50k miles. Love it, and really want to make it last. This is a great roadmap for doing just that. Much appreciated.
Some time back, I decided that an 5,OOOk/6-month oil change is ideal. Thanks for reassuring me on that, sir! Finally, if the motor oil is manufactured by the Warren Oil Company, LLC, It's definitely good to go!
My parents had a 2000 millennium edition 4Runner. They just traded it in a few years ago for a used 2015 Highlander! Their 2005 Tundra is still going strong. A Toyota really will last forever. I just purchased a 2022 Limited Edition Highlander two days ago. I plan to have it forever.
This has to be one of the most valuable videos on the Internet! Thank you, Mr. Nut.
One of the best videos ever #truth! I have 247K on my 2004 AWD Sienna and DIY all my own maintenance for fluids. Big stuff I take to aftermarket Toyota only mechanic, timing belt, etc. Thanks for the tip on Power Steering Fluid as I have always used ATF.
A had a 2013 Highlander, did 10K miles full synthetic oil changes religiously at the dealership, unfortunately never serviced the transmission, but I got 237K highway miles out of her before I sold her. I was lucky, you have great videos.
Finally! I've been waiting for this kind of advice, a complete advice. Most "expert mechanics/technicians" always lack the time interval. Thank you for this.
Great tips! My Lexus GX470 turned over 450000 km last month! Still running strong. Does camping trips loaded down and still conquers 4 star out of 5 4wd trails with ease summer and winter!
Only wear/maintenance items have been required! Your bang on with the oil every 8000 km as well as keep up with the other oils. Oil and filters are way cheaper then the components they protect!
It’s been a great car and now it is a fun game of how long can I keep it going! Love the content as I am a Toyota nut! Lol Cheers from BC Canada!
Omg, I just loved your clause, which says; "oil and filters are way cheaper than the components they protect." Now, that was simply TIMELESS. 👍🏽👍🏻
Have you ever replaced the transmission fluid?
@@MichaelHellmann13 I have and as the second owner of the vehicle (The previous owner had the Lexus dealer in Edmonton, AB, Canada service it from day 1, I actually was able to go and get the service history all printed off! Very impressed) Toyota recommend every 100 k to do it. I have done it 4 times in the last 100k because I do have it loaded for trips, tow, and take off-road trails, mud, snow, deep water (all the breather vents are raised for extra insurance on sketchy water crossings to keep water out) etc…
The factory procedure really only lets you get 4.5 to 5 litres but doing it frequently lets you flush it through and it has been clean the whole time. So eventually it will be pretty fresh! And I use the factory fluid. Toyota WTF. It is reasonably priced and especially for transmissions I like to use OEM fluid.
Being an 06 model VVTi and the 5 spd. It has no dipstick. So the fill procedure is involved and I do it with no scan tool.
Thank you Toyota for still making it possible to do it properly for the DIY people out there!
Hope this helps! Cheers!
Thank you, I find you are more helpful than Scotty Kilmer. You Not only recommend, you help us understand the "why"( I am a big fan of Scotty also, but sometimes Scotty is all over the place)
True, but he is the reason I bought a Toyota
I love Scotty but he likes to be a whistleblower sometimes to get views.
If you tied Scotties hands together he would not be able to talk.
Kilmer is a clickbait dumpster fire.
Scotty is too loud and his voice is irritating. Hard to learn anything while you are in max cringe.
I have a Toyota Corolla Verso 1.6 2007. 345 000km (South African) had this car serviced regularly and it has never let me down! Thank you so much for your advice and candid approach! 👏👏👏🥇
I have a 2011 Camry SE, I purchased with 27 miles on the odometer. Now it has 252k and no major issues other than proper maintenance. Thank you for the advice and excellent video!
Is your Camry 4 cylinder or V6?
Erick SE Camry always is a 4 cilinders
@@jorgefernandez145 No
4 cylinder Erick
did you change tranamission oil
This guy is on point. I follow a similar maintenance schedule with my 2013 Tacoma. At 210k miles, I just had my first major repair, complete AC System replacement.
Ouch how much did that cost
Great advice. I've been doing maintenance like you describe for decades. Never had an engine, transmission or diff fail. The only thing I'd add is Check The Oil Frequently so you don't ever run the engine too low. People don't check their oil any more! I hope everybody takes your advice
@@davidlandreth6995 thank you sir! Yeah I never see people checking the oil...ever! I was checking the oil in my car the other day when I got back and the guy at Costco monitoring everyone asked me if I had car trouble. When I told him I was checking the oil he was shocked. Doesn't ever see that! Btw it was one of the few times when costco wasn't busy so I wasn't slowing down the hordes that are usually there. Take care
My dad always said, "take care of your car and your car will take care of you." I've always lived by that motto. I have a 2004 Prius I bought new and it currently has a little more than 280,000 miles. However, I've put a deposit down for the 2023 Prius Prime so hopefully I'll have a new car by the end of 2023 if not sooner.
Good advice!
My Toyota has 467,000km and still running good every day with no major repairs. Only regular timing belt replacement along with normal oil changes etc. The key is to always do regular inspection of all the systems to catch any problems early.
Thank you me 2017 running at 400k km and wondering if share what type of regular inspection you doing?
How often did you do inspection?
how do you know what the key is if you have had no major repairs, its just as likely you are lucky
Been working on cars and trucks for 50 years. This is an excellent video.
great video as always! my solara V6 MT has 230k on her and she runs and drives great. luckily the last owner took care of her getting the timing belt done on time and frequent oil changes. when i replaced the valve cover gaskets the internals were spotless with zero sludge! i did quite a bit of work to restore her, looking forward to hitting 300k!
I was an old Toyota mechanic not technician back in the eighties, until the late nighties that's what we were called back then and I try to look at most of your videos.
Although you are not old school ,working on an 18R a 2F or even a 5M like I did I can see that you have a great love and passion for what you do.
Keep up the good work .
20:33 Preach it brother! Thank you for your channel and all your honest advice. You are so right, people just hand their keys to the service department/swipe their card without understand everything.
My girlfriend’s mother brought her (160k+ mi) Corolla to the same Toyota dealership for over two years. They charged her $400 (oil pan) because of an oil leak they caused when they stripped the drain plug, and flushed her coolant/transmission fluid after 500 miles…then flushed her transmission again after another 5,000 miles later. I’m glad this grand mother kept all her paperwork, and I was able to see what was done to her vehicle.
Thanks! you’re not only a good mechanic but a good adviser to car owner..👌
Just bought my first Toyota! It's a 01 Camry with 167k. I'm In love with it already. Drives and Rides like a Dream!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this channel so far. Excellent content for Toyota owners!
Yay - The Camery is AWESOME - Owned 3 of them myself
I don't even own a car and I love watching your videos!
Knowledge is always valuable
Just got my first Toyota in January, 2022 Tacoma TRD Off-road. I’m so glad I found your channel. Your information is going to help me very much!
I would recommend changing full synthetic motor oil every 4k miles.
Oil is cheap-- engines aren't.
One of your best videos yet. As a life long DIY person & avid Toyota enthusiast-owner … you hit the maintenance items right on the money. Thanks for the time invested & shared expertise!
Thank you! I wish the dealers gave instructions when we buy the car! I brought it in and following YOUR direction, asked them to be sure to change filters, especially to the Hybrid battery. Toyota Mechanics didn't know where it was! I saw your UA-cam on filters. It showed my Rav Hybrid filters are in the bottom of the back seat. I'll make them look again! Thank you so much for educating me. ❣️ 21:40
Thank you so much for all your Toyota/Lexus lessons! I own a 2012 Lexus LS 460 with 150,000 miles on her. She runs perfectly. I am meticulous with my maintenance. I will always look for your advice
Did u change the transmission fluid , I have same car with 160,000 miles , never changed transmission fluid , never changed differential fluid as it’s AWD model
Hi I'm 07 ls460l... I'm just at 115k wondering your thoughts on replacing the transmission fluid or not....? Thoughts?
@@tauseefafzal1323 you should probably get those done.
@@DeepAscension If it’s never been changed id recommend you change the fluid. I have a LS400 and I changed mine at 120,000 miles.
I don’t have a Toyota but an 04 Honda Element with 210990 miles and do exactly what you say. I go to Honda and pay $35 for oil change. I change other fluids yearly as I don’t drive 60,000 miles. Only repair VTEC solenoid.
You have an awesome channel
You must use conventional oil. My toyota sienna costs $85 with 6 litres 0w20 synthetic.
I think engine air filter checking and replacement is worth a mention as well
How often or at how many miles?
@@Jennkcollins Prius every 30k.
I replace it EVERY YEAR! CHEAP INSURANCE! And that's not even the TOYOTA filter! I buy the FRAM brand, $19.99 at Walmart!
Replace it when it is dirty check it every oil change if it’s dirty to you replace it. Same with cabin filter.
Thoughts on the reusable k & m air filters?
Such good advice. Glad to know I’ve been doing the right things on my vehicle. 2012 highlander with 130k. Hoping to get to 300+ !
I'd like to add a suggestion to top off all fluids every 3K miles or 3Months if you drive the car regularly. While you top off the car its a great time to visually inspect your engine and check belts and hoses too.
My wife’s 2005 Pontiac Vibe (Matrix) has 190,000 miles. We change oil twice a year. What I find amazing is the oil is always clean and never needs oil added between changes. We live in the Rust Belt and there are only a few small spots of rust on the vehicle after 17 years of ownership.
My dad and I ran ours to Roughly 350k miles, we really didn’t know because it only reaches 299999 miles lol
I want to say, I love watching your videos and have learned SO MUCH over the last couple of months from watching them. I bought a 4 runner last march and have tried to learn as much as possible about the vehicle and how to take care of it. That is how I stumbled onto your channel. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.
You convinced me to go with a used Toyota for our next family car and I am excited with our used Toyota Highlander!
Finally!! A comprehensive explanation about transmission fluid change intervals..Thank you so much. Now I am armed with information that I can use in case of an argument with "know it all's"
He's got our backs :D
Best explanation yet on debris helping the clutches
@@pirihern9329 Something that was left out in his explanation is new fluids replenish the additive package that’s depleted in used ATF, the most important being friction modifiers (essential for proper clutch engagement while minimizing wear).
@@pirihern9329 - if your trans REQUIRES old, worn clutch material for proper operation, then you need a new transmission. 😆🤣
Our shop does full fluid exchange with a machine. Every car that gets the service shifts MUCH smoother afterward because NEW fluid is better then old worn fluid. Period.
My Toyota dealer told me I never have to change the tranny fluid in my automatic Tacoma and 4Runner...I did not listen to that advice
Another great video!! I have an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of our families 7-vehicles (mostly Toyota’s so I’m usually just doing maintenance). A good inspection often is also very important!!
same here, I have separate spreadsheet for all 5 vehicles and one that I call garage checks with all change dates for maintenance. works great for a quick glance.... have everything listed:
wipers, oil & air filters, tire rotations, all fluids replacements, car waxed. Also keep record of cost for any maintenance, repairs....
I will insist on a coolant change next servicing based on this video. My independent mechanic recommended not changing it in the fall because it didn’t look dirty. But last fall marked 10 years, so the acidity might be building up even if it looks clean. Super helpful.
It's very simple to just buy some pH paper and measure it yourself.
I hope that public schools see this video prior to taking driving courses. I as a woman learned a lot from you. I just bought a used 2001 Camry with 161k, miles on it and I am going to change the oil & spark plugs. I am also going to have the car mechanic check out my brakes and suspension and get an alignment. Yes, I do my best with using the oil and plugs in the middle of the road not using the cheap stuff but not the expensive oil. You should advise women on maintaining there car.
I've been changing the auto transmission fluid every 20k kilometers or 12,500 miles on my Toyota and now I know not to. I'd never have guessed it was possible to overdo oil changes. Thank you, you've save me some money in the process!
Liked, Subscribed👍
I change the CVT fluid on my Altima car every 35 thousand miles. On my old Lesabre car every 50,000 miles.
12.5k holy crap
@Robert Lupo tbh it's one tank of fuel worth of oil - people chose to drive vehicles that use much more fuel than that over those KMs
i think that 20k km is a goon interval for partial fluid change. just open the tap and leave it open, approx 50% of the fluid goes out, do not change filter. you can make 100% change at 60k km then.
I've never changed transmission fluid in any of my cars nor has anyone I know of either and we have never had gearbox issues. Think this changing transmission fluid guff is another American myth like the 3k oil change nonsense.
What a blessing you are sir. After watching this, I decided to make a spreadsheet to track and keep a record of the fluid intervals because if any one is keeping their for as long as possible, you'd be going through more maintenance books but one personal spreadsheet 😉
I've been using this SAME METHOD since 2004! Keeping RECORDS is VERY IMPORTANT!
Always have kept a record of everything I have done to a vehicle maintenance or not. Kept all receipts of repairs in the glove box. Bought a vehicle new I had all the receipts and log of everything I did on it, sold at a dealership at 250 thousand, they were very impressed with all the records
I'm a DIYer maintaining my car, my wife's car and my mom's car and logging everything is an absolute must. Great advice!
My Scion just hit 100k miles last year and I've been wondering how to best take care of it besides regular oil changes. Thank you for this video!
I have a 2000 Lexus GS300. It's at 245,000 now, I just replaced the fuel pump and gasket set for the engine. Runs perfect!
Damn good point about just removing the spark plugs and re-installing them. My 2010 Corolla only has 72000 miles but the plugs have never been removed since I bought it new in December 2010. It is on my list to be done in the next few weeks as well as complete brake fluid flush. I have done all the other maintenance. He is 100% right about old coolant attacking the water pump first. I was shocked that I had to replace my water pump at only 58000 miles but I replaced the coolant completely as part of the water pump replacement job doing it all myself after just purchasing the pump and coolant from Toyota.
The condition of them can tell you of possible problems .
From experience apply anti-seize to your spark plug threads. Steel spark plugs in aluminum cyl. heads will seize over time creating a huge problem due to dissimilar metals. That said as recommended maintenance in AMD's video if your going to the trouble to remove them why not just replace and anti-seize them and be worry free. I also consider it a must to apply a little di-electric grease to the inside of the spark plug boot to prevent the rubber from sticking to the spark plug over time and ripping off the metal spark plug connector in the boot on removal leaving it attached to the spark plug. Costing you a coil on plug assembly.
@@redwoodforest3572 This guy says no anti-seize on spark plugs , nowadays . And have read it elsewhere ?
@@peterrudy9207 reason for it it's so people don't over torque them with the antiseze and people tend to use way to much
@@peterrudy9207 Have never had an issue. Some claim it's not needed on todays plugs due to the spark plug shell coating or that it can cause plug grounding concerns. Just go light on the anti-seize and keep it off the electrode and whatever else is exposed to the combustion chamber. It would take me about 12 years to put 80,000 miles on my 4runner. The thought of leaving them there that long makes me cringe.
My 2009 Toyota Tundra has 248k miles. I love it and it runs so good.
I absolutely love your channel. Even though I have no mechanical ability to DYI- I so appreciate your honesty and guidance to properly care for our vehicle. You have made me aware of mistakes I have made already- which is frustrating but, over time I will correct. We have a 2019 Highlander that we would love to keep for 300k miles and only have 60k now. I wish you much success with the channel and you have a subscriber for life in me.
I also have a 2019 Highlander. I'm at 50k miles and in the last 10k miles noticed at 80 mph sometimes the RPM will stay slightly over 2000 RPM and sometimes It will lower below the 2000 RPM's. Have you noticed this?
@@CHUBBYRAINTHEFIRST No I have not
I’m 64, and I’m buying my first Toyota soon. After dropping $6,400 this past April on a rebuilt transmission on my current (well maintained) American made ride, I asked my mechanic of 19 years what he advised. Immediately he said “Toyota”. He further told me he drives a Rav 4 with 300K, and he told me if I do regular maintenance (as I did on my American cars) that I should be able to do the same. I drive conservatively, so don’t beat on my cars.
This gentleman is giving sound advice.
I’m done with American vehicles.
Welcome. I’m 42 and had 3 cars in my life. Corolla, Camry, 4Runner. Finally flipped my wife to Toyota, she just got a rav4. My 4Runner is a 2008 with 185k miles and it runs like the day I bought it.
@@thomasmulligan9253 did you follow these maintenance guidelines ?
53 years old and drove domestic brand cars my whole life. Just ditched my 2009 Chrysler Town and Country for a 2017 Sienna AWD for my wife and a 2017 Rav4 for me.
@@theenglishprofessor8411 I tell all you gentlemen, I’m thoroughly impressed with my sporty little Corolla. I’ve never owned a nice, well made, and sporty ride in my day. I’m getting a company vehicle soon, which I have to leave at the workplace overnight, but anything to cut down on wear and tear mileage on this gem. I’d personally like to keep it in my garage most of the time and just drive it to church on Sundays or use on an occasional errand.
Gee, I thought everyone knew by now.
I have a 2008 Corolla auris manual 1.6L with 268,000 miles so i must be doing things right.
Great recommendation & it's true. My one owner Gen2 06 Prius is at 345,545 miles, still gives me 50mpg, recently started consuming oil 1qt every 1000 miles. I change oil & air filter at 3000 miles use regular 5W30, & FRAM oil filter. Toyotas are great!
As a lifelong and current owner of 3 Toyotas (RaV4, Prius and Tundra) I am very grateful to you for taking the time to thoroughly explain all things Toyota. Sadly it is difficult to find an honest mechanic and this is especially true of my local dealer. Without going into great detail, the last straw was when I came in for a routine oil change and they tried to convince me my Prius needed a $2,700 repair. It did not! That was more than 3 years and 30,000 miles (and NO recommended repair!) ago. In fact, I brought the vehicle home that day and resolved to do as much of my vehicles maintenance as possible. With the help of your videos and those of a select few others, all of my Toyotas are running smoothly. Or at least they were before a neighborhood squirrel recently decided to nest under the hood of my 07 Tundra (91k miles.) As I have always given them peanuts, I was under the mistaken impression that we were friends. Now, the 4hi, Abs, and Traction control lights are permanently on or flashing as the case may be. As stated previously, I cannot trust my local dealer. Additionally, I am retired and on a fixed income. The one thing I do have plenty of is time. If you have some time yourself, I hope you can point me in the right direction to trouble shoot this or perhaps where to look specifically. The right front driving light was out and I found, soldered, and resealed 4 obviously chewed wires in that location. It was plain to see that 3 of these wires went directly to the light. The 4th, I don't know. but nonetheless I repaired it. Anyway, the driving light works again, but the lights are still on on the dash. Thanks again for giving me and others the knowledge / confidence necessary to keep our Toyotas on the road!
over 350k miles and going up in my yoda,
Update: over 400k now with new ngk iridium plugs, a freshly cleaned and oiled reusable air filter, and a fresh full synthetic oil change. Drive safe yall
Awesome!!!💪
Did you follow the same advice to get to this many miles or did you do extra?
Great job.
You may want to rethink that reusable air filter tho. They tend to mess with the air flow sensor, the oil from the air filter can get on the fine wire inside the sensor and send a check engine light. Not a big deal to clean the sensor. Just something to keep in mind if it happens 😊
As always, great information. I think another way to keep a car running longer is to not abuse it when driving. I don't accelerate hard, which is good for the head gasket and timing belt, nor do I brake hard. Maybe, it's just that working on cars is work, when I was younger it was FUN. Driving habits will help squeeze every mpg out your car. As fuel costs rise, maybe driving habits will change. It seems everyone races from red light to red light.
I thought I was the only one who noticed, every other vehicle racing from traffic light to traffic light and randomly passing just to end up 30 feet ahead.............in traffic.
@@AldermanFredCDavis I ,make others crazy but yeah...I put a lot less wear and tear on my brakes and engine by driving like that.
You drive the speed limit, they tailgate you. You drive 5 over they tailgate you. You drive 10 over they tailgate you.
01/6 22 Use a route planner giving distance & journey time info' in real time ...dah darr.. average speed for your journey !! Those vehicles that blast past you & then later you both simultaneously pull away from traffic lights are Company or Someone Else's vehicle - driver is'nt paying running costs.
People drive fast just because. They act like they are oblivious to reality, sad.
Take care of your car and your car will take care of you.
Thank you for the tips, @TheCarCareNuts!
God bless you and your family!
Your channel is like a gold mine! I have been watching your videos at work on my breaks! The absolute plethora of info you share is astounding. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!!
What a detailed and thoughtful list of service and preventative maintenance tips. I mostly follow this in addition to:
Checking the cabin and intake filters annually, MAF sensor cleaning, cleaning carbon off of the throttle body, spraying seals, boots and bushings with silicone or AT-205 reseal. Also not forgetting to under spray the car to wash away salt from winter roads.
Or use 303 Protectant
Thanks
I think CareNut is a real gift to DIY people but I have a couple things to add for the "keep forever" schedule. I used to work for a large government fleet repair and some things I do to my own cars:
- When you have to replace your battery, use a "memory saver"! It's just a small device you can buy that you plug into the OBD port. (These cost about $10 or so). The memory saver device holds the memory from the car's computer. This is not just so you don't lose the radio stations! Whenever the battery gets replaced, it resets some of the parameters the tech needs to read at smog check time. If your smog check time is near, you do not want to reset the comp if you can help it because it might complicate your smog check; because the tech won't be able to read all the info from the OBD until it resets from driving again! These parameters reset by driving a hundred miles or so, if you take it to smog right after you change the battery, and you don't use a memory saver, the tech might not be able to read all the parameters (since they reset from changing the battery). No big deal, since the tech will probably tell you to drive the car a week or two and come back for the smog check, because some parameters ONLY reset by driving the car! Anyway, when you change the battery just use a memory saver, it's well worth it. 2/
2/ One more thing about changing batteries - on lead-acid batteries, i.e. the kind most people still use, always check the water level on your new battery and use distilled water to top it up. (It's bad to let the water go low on a battery since if a battery runs out of water, it will begin to self-discharge, cause premature aging, and possibly stop working. The top-up water should be distilled water, tap water has impurities that might kill your new battery) When I worked for a fleet I changed hundreds of batteries and I always checked the water level on new batteries. And EVERY. SINGLE. BATTERY was low on water - EVERY ONE.
So you can safely assume that new battery is going to need distilled water to top it up. Even "sealed" batteries have a cap or caps to pry off to inspect the water level and that's where the water goes in, of course. You can forget any claims about "Never needs topping up" stickers on the battery or other such nonsense, they ALL need topping up right out of the box, I never saw a new battery that didn't.
I learned a lot from you even though I am an aircraft mechanic. It’s the little things that make a big difference in the life of a car. Keep up the great work.
When I worked at Toyota I had a customer come in with a '19 Sienna with 310k miles on it, oil changes every month (10k miles each), plugs every year and transmission fluid every year. Ran stupidly well for the mileage.
A 2019 car that does 10k miles a month is going to have zero issues at all since its probably spending 99% of its time on the motorway far less stressful for the car than 60k mixed.
Who the hell drives 10k miles in 1 month?!!!!
@@handheldnintendofan A father and two sons that run it 24 hours a day 7 days a week doing uberesque tasks
Just, wow. Go Sienna!
I love the comment that he said you can't just drive your car and hope for the best
Awesome video, as always. I knew from the beginning, when our dealership told us, 10K mile oil changes, that was ridiculous. You are doing the Lord's work!
With Mobil 1 full synthetic I would be confident going 7000 miles or once a year. Just make sure the oil level is always good
Excellent information..... My 2019 Toyota Camry SE just hit 63,000 the dealership is recommending replacing the PCV valve already. But after listening to your videos i know it's not necessary at this point. Thank you!!
I buy cars with 40k mi & change oil every 6k mi. I replace coolant around 70k mi & sell the car at 100k mark for a respectful price. This method has been saving me a lot of 💵 💵
Do you really make money?
If you can get 300,000 miles out of the vehicle then you would save 2xs what you spend on another vehicle (minus the vehicle profit)?
Seriously awesome videos that are comprehensive from an ACTUAL expert. I used to work at an SET dealership and one of the best master diagnostic technicians in the country worked there. It was nice having those resources to ask questions. Neither him nor I work there any more so it's nice that I've found your channel to reference. Keep up the great content.
From my personal experience, I do this preventive maintenance on my vehicles religiously.
It is probably extreme for most people but I want to keep my vehicles for a long time.
Roughly every 100 000 kilometers or 60 000 miles I tend to replace every part of the coolant system except the water pump or radiator. I replace the thermostat, radiator cap, coolant, and every hose (even hose clamps) of the coolant system with Toyota OEM parts. I flush twice coolant/antifreeze every two years. I would replace the serpentine belt before it gets too brittle and cracks appear, around 45 000 miles to 50 000 miles. They are not expensive and they are easy to replace.
I'm the same way. I don't do it as often these days due to health problems but over the last 25 years I've probably wasted tons of money needlessly replacing maintenance items but it gives me peace of mind so I figure it's worth it.
@@nodak81 I agree with you 100%.
It gives me pleasure when something works perform optimally just way it was designed in the factory. Whenever I travel down Interstate 5 from Canada to California, I see much newer and fancier cars stuck on the side of the highway broken down in the mountains of Southern Oregon and North California. My car is getting old but I never run into problems because I do preventive maintenance.
Crazy talk. My 2014 Mazda 3 went 110,000 miles on the original serp belt & tensioner. Sure the belt was cracked but it wasn’t degraded to the point to cause failure. Sure the tensioner was leaking fluid all over itself but as long as it’s still strong and isn’t leaking on the belt, who cares?!?!?! I could have gone thru 2x belts & tensioners in the same miles according to you crazy people. Why?!?!!! I’d rather use that money for something else. 😆🤣
@@I_know_what_im_talking_about I know. When it comes to maintaining a car, a friend of mine has the same opinion as you. He thinks it's crazy to spend extra money on car unless something completely breaks down. At the parties, we used to go he likes to ridicule me because I spend 1000 dollars on torque wrench. The same person left around 100 000 Canadian Dollars in our local casino. When we visited wine country he purchased a thousand dollars worth of wine. He loaded the minivan with cases of wine. The same person spends thousands of dollars a year playing golf.
@@MrCROBosanceros - see. And his car is just fine. Now had he spent those thousands on UNNECESSARY auto maintenance, he wouldn’t have been able to buy all that wine cause he’d have NO MONEY. 😆🤣
I’m not one to run a vehicle into the ground with no maintenance. I take care of my stuff. It’s just some items can last MUCH longer then we give them credit for and changing out a perfectly good belt “ahead of time” is silly to me.