Take care of your car, and it’ll take care of you.
Whether you drive daily or take your car for a spin only on the weekends or holidays, you can’t skip regular maintenance. Routine maintenance allows for safer, smoother, and stress-free driving. Don’t wait for your Toyota’s maintenance light to begin blinking before you take it in for service. Check out the recommended maintenance schedule for your Toyota to keep it in top shape.
What’s the Recommended Maintenance Schedule for a Toyota?
You probably chose your Toyota car, SUV, or truck due to its reputation for reliability and durability. According to a survey by iseecars.com, Toyotas and full-size SUVs are most likely to reach 200,000 miles or more. While Toyotas are reliable and long-lasting, that impressive achievement is not possible without following a strict maintenance schedule.
So how frequently should you schedule a service appointment? While the maintenance schedule varies based on the vehicle model, year of manufacture, driving conditions, and other factors, Toyota recommends servicing your car once every 5000 miles or six months, whichever comes first. At every service appointment, trained technicians do a thorough check of your vehicle and provide various services, such as oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections of brake pads, wiper blades, and fluid levels.
Toyota Maintenance Schedule for Regular Driving Conditions
Toyota has a detailed maintenance schedule checklist of what needs to be checked and when, depending on your vehicle’s model, year of manufacture, and driving conditions. You can check the required maintenance for your car directly on the Toyota website by entering your vehicle’s details. Here’s a list of the standard checks done at each scheduled service appointment:
Six Months or 5000 Miles
- Check the installation of the driver’s floor mat.
- Inspect the wiper blades.
- Inspect and adjust the fluid levels.
- Rotate the tires.
- Inspect the brake pads, discs, linings, and drums for signs of wear and tear.
12 Months or 10,000 Miles
- Replace the engine oil and oil filter and complete all the checks done at 5000 miles.
18 Months or 15,000 Miles
Repeat the checks done at 5000 miles, plus:
- Retorque the propeller shaft bolt for four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles.
- Replace the engine oil and oil filter if 0W-20 oil was not used in the last oil change.
- Inspect the ball joints, brake lines and hoses, cabin air filters, dust covers, drive shaft boots, engine coolant, engine oil cooler hoses and connections, exhaust pipes and mountings, radiator and condenser, steering gear, steering boots, and transfer case oil.
24 Months or 20,000 Miles
- Repeat the checks done at 5000 miles and replace the engine oil and oil filter.
30 Months or 25,000 Miles
- Repeat the checks done at 5000 miles and replace the engine oil and oil filter if 0W-20 oil was not used at the last oil change.
36 Months or 30,000 Miles
Repeat the checks done at 5000 miles, plus:
- Replace the cabin air filter, engine oil, oil filter, rear differential oil (4WD), and transfer case oil (4WD).
- Retorque propeller shaft bolt (4WD).
- Inspect the automatic transmission fluid cooler hoses and connections, ball joints, dust covers, brake lines, brake hoses, brake pads and discs, drive shaft boots, engine coolant, engine oil cooler hoses and connections, exhaust pipes and mountings, fuel lines, fuel tank band, fuel tank cap gasket, fuel tank vapor vent system hoses, radiator and condenser, and steering gear.
Toyota Maintenance Schedule When Driving Under Special Conditions
Your Toyota’s maintenance schedule will vary, depending on where and how you drive. If you drive on stressful road conditions, such as dirt, dust, or snow, or if you do heavy towing or excessive idling, you’ll need extra items checked in addition to the standard services.
Here are a few additional items that will be checked when you drive your vehicle under special conditions:
- Inspect the drive shaft boots, ball joints, dust covers, engine air filter, steering linkage, and boots.
- Replace the engine oil and oil filter.
- Retorque the propeller shaft bolt.
- Tighten the nuts and bolts on the chassis and body.
Why Is Scheduled Maintenance Essential for Your Toyota Vehicle?
While a Toyota can easily last for years, your vehicle’s internal components, such as belts, disc pads, and engine, begin to show signs of wear and tear over time. Following the company-recommended scheduled maintenance offers the following benefits:
- It increases your car’s lifespan, as a well-maintained vehicle lasts longer.
- It identifies problems quickly before they become major issues that can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs.
- It reduces the money you spend on repairs and replacements.
- It improves your and your family’s safety, as it prevents any accidents on the road due to malfunctioning parts.
- It ensures that your new vehicle warranty stays valid.
- It enhances the vehicle’s resale value, as well-maintained cars yield better returns when you sell them or trade them in.
How Can I Find Out the Recommended Maintenance Schedule for My Toyota?
The best and easiest way to find out the recommended maintenance schedule for your Toyota is to consult your owners manual. Every new or Toyota-certified used car has a detailed user manual specifying usage, driving guidelines, and repair and maintenance tips for your vehicle’s make and model. You can also check these details via the Toyota mobile app.
If you don’t have your manual, you can find the maintenance schedule for your Toyota at a local dealership, such as Longo Toyota of Prosper. Our team of qualified mechanics and technicians is factory trained and can provide you with a tailored maintenance schedule, depending on your vehicle usage and driving requirements.
Schedule Toyota Service in Prosper, Texas, With Longo Toyota
At Longo Toyota of Prosper, we help you stay on top of your Toyota maintenance schedule so that you can enjoy trouble-free driving for years. Schedule your next Toyota service with us, and let us prioritize your vehicle’s health while you focus on your other priorities. The next time you see the maintenance light on, drop by Longo Toyota of Prosper or call us at 972-347-4966.
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