What Is the Recommended Maintenance Schedule for My Toyota?

Routine maintenance is one of the most important ways you can care for your car. According to a study by iSeeCars.com, Toyota cars make up more than half of the top 15 models most likely to reach 200,000 miles — but that impressive achievement doesn’t happen without following a maintenance schedule closely. So what is the schedule for your Toyota?

What is a recommended maintenance schedule?

Setting and following a maintenance schedule can help you stay on top of what your car needs and when instead of waiting too long. This schedule dictates what your Toyota needs at certain mileage intervals, like 5,000 miles, 25,000 miles, and 50,000 miles.

Most cars have similar needs, but those needs can still differ based on the make and model, as well as on the driving conditions. For example, a car driven regularly on dusty roads may need more frequent oil and cabin filter changes. Alternately, some car components may need less maintenance than others. Your car’s engine oil should be changed once or twice a year, but the battery may not need to be changed for five years or more.

Why is a recommended maintenance schedule important?

Staying on top of recommended maintenance is important not only because it will help your car run well but also because it can help you avoid large repair bills and even accidents.

Falling behind on vehicle maintenance can have a number of negative consequences on your car, ranging from mild inconveniences to major risks of personal harm. For example, if you neglect to maintain your tire pressures at the recommended amount, it can increase wear and tear, reduce fuel economy, impair handling, and lead to a potentially accident-causing blowout. Forgetting oil changes reduces engine performance and eventually causes total engine failure, incurring a hefty repair bill.

Where can I find a recommended maintenance schedule?

Staying on top of maintenance can be complicated because every car’s needs are different depending on how you drive them. For example, if you frequently tow big loads with your Tundra pickup, the brakes will wear faster.

The best resource for finding a good maintenance schedule for your car is its owner’s manual. The manual includes thorough documentation of guidelines, recommendations, and detailed maintenance advice specific to your Toyota model. You may also find an owner’s guide for your Corolla or RAV4 through the mobile Toyota app.

A good alternative to the owner’s manual is asking for a maintenance schedule at a local Toyota dealership like Family Toyota of Burleson. Our technicians are Toyota factory-trained and have the expertise to draft a maintenance schedule tailored to your vehicle.

Recommended maintenance schedule for your Toyota

Every car is different, but the recommendations below should do well for the majority of Toyota drivers in Burleson, Texas.

You should strive to get a service appointment for your car every six months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first, to change the engine oil and rotate the tires. Our technicians will also inspect the brake pads, fluid levels, and wiper blades to maintain as needed. If you use synthetic oil, it may only need to be changed every 10,000 miles.

In addition to the maintenance performed every 5,000 miles, there are a few more items to check when inside the 15,000-20,000 mile range: the air filter, battery, and coolant. Every 20,000-30,000 miles, you’ll want to get the fuel filter, power steering fluid, and radiator hoses checked. At the 40,000-mile mark is when spark plugs typically need to be inspected. Before the 60,000-mile mark, you should get brake pads and rotors checked. Timing belts and the ignition system come in at the 90,000-mile mark.

It’s important to come in for regular service appointments so our technicians can inspect your car and determine what it really needs. Call Family Toyota of Burleson, Texas, to schedule your next appointment!