How to Maintain your Toyota with DIY Instruction from These Toyota Mechanics

DIY Maintenance Basics

In previous articles we have learned about how that some commercial chain car service centers not only swindle their customers, but also damage their customers’ cars during one of their advertised 10-minute oil and filter change services.

Today, we are going to learn that in many cases, car owners can still do some simple maintenance work on their vehicles---even if they have never even done so much as change or temporarily fix a flat tire.

Car maintenance is becoming a lost art. Part of the blame goes toward just how well engines are designed with some advertised as never needing an engine oil or transmission fluid change for the life of the car!

Another part of the problem is that in some cases cars are over-engineered making access to the oil filter and oil pan drain plug or transmission plug on more modern cars more difficult than it should be. However, while true in some cases, it is not impossible for someone with the right tools, a little attitude, and some good instruction to do their own DIY vehicle maintenance.

That said, if you are not convinced that you can actually do some simple car maintenance and save a considerable amount of money and headache from an all-too-common scam operation, here is some excellent advice on oil and oil filters you should be using. Following this, you will also see a demonstration of some DIY instruction on how to change the oil as a popular YouTube mechanic guides a young man on his first oil change.

How to maintain your Toyota Part 1: Engine oil and Filters

First Car, First DIY Oil Change

And finally…

An addendum to the video: It bears mentioning that as a practice no matter how simple a car maintenance task is, you must always wear protective glasses or goggles whenever working on a car. Been there, seen that, rushed to the ER for it.

For more about car maintenance and repair with Toyotas, here are two selected articles for your consideration and enjoyment: “Car Maintenance 101: Changing the Headlight on a Prius” and “The Once in a Lifetime Toyota Prius Maintenance You Will Ever Have to Do.”

COMING UP NEXT: Toyota and Lexus Live Stream Q&A Episode You Will Want to Hear

Timothy Boyer is Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for new and used vehicle news.

Image Source: Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash