Toyotas That Last a Lifetime Discussion by Experts

Today, we will learn how to make your Toyota last for what is the true definition of a lifetime, not the typical marketing hype that stretches the truth about what is meant by "lifetime."

Toyota Automotive Experts Weigh-In On What Long-lasting Cars Require

The hosts of a recent Automotive Press YouTube channel episode include its owner David Koichi Chao, a global expert in automotive evaluation, engineering, and strategy and the proud owner of a 20-year-old Lexus SC 430 and a 40-year-old Cadillac Eldorado. Joining Mr. Caho is his co-host AMD, the host of the popular Car Care Nut YouTube channel, and a Master Mechanic specializing in Toyota maintenance and repairs.

Together, the two experts discuss various Toyota models, focusing on what it really takes to make a Toyota last as long as possible.

Related article: Top 10 Most Reliable Engines That Last 300,000 Miles or Longer for 2022 and 2023

Follow along with the hosts in the video below, or if you want the key points you need to know to become a Toyota lifetime owner, a summary is provided below the video for your convenience.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR CAR LAST A LIFETIME // DAVID & AMD COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR!

Key Points for Making Your Toyota Last a Lifetime

• Firstly, car owners must keep their expectations within reason―no car lasts forever. However, you can make your car last significantly longer than the average. And that means learning and sticking to regular maintenance.
• Cars can be over-maintained, meaning you do not have to be a maintenance maniac to achieve desired results.
• Do not believe the claims or misconception that today's cars are low maintenance. It is a false selling point that leads to a shorter car life if you adopt this belief into an attitude. You can do better than your vehicle maintenance guide.
• It does make a difference in the type of car you buy; however, how the maintenance is done is just as important, if not more so.
• Due to manufacturing costs, the overall quality of cars has decreased and is continuing. However, if you buy an older model Lexus in hopes of enjoying a quality vehicle, you will have to spend more on the maintenance needed to keep it running.
• If you desire to have an older Lexus model restored, be forewarned that replacement parts (especially from the '80s) are now becoming a problem to find.
• When it comes to oil change, intervals should be twice as often as the manufacturer recommends. If the recommendations include a "severe driving" conditions exception―use that one for regardless of how you think you drive your car.
• Mr. Chao shared that a Nissan engineer friend recommends changing the oil in their models every 2,000-3,000 miles.
• Shops break-even when it comes to providing oil changes, and make profits when owners neglect their cars.
• The maintenance recommendations in your owner's manual are the minimum requirements to keep your car running while under warranty.
• If you change your oil every 3,000 miles, regular oil is fine. There is no need to pay more for the benefits of synthetic oil if you are changing it that often (as the hosts recommend). In other words, Cheaper more often is better than more expensive for longer intervals. Plus, change your filter with each oil change regardless of the oil type.
• Coolant today is the same as the coolant of yesteryear. Regardless of what the coolant label says, change it every 50,000 miles, not 100,000 miles.
• Time is also oil's enemy due to moisture contamination and fuel dilution―especially in turbocharged vehicles. Therefore, change your motor oil every 5,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes first.
• Transmissions are not maintenance-free. Change the transmission fluid every 60,000 miles. Don't flush; just drain and refill with new fluid. Old fluid builds up with contaminants that adversely affect how a transmission operates and lasts.
• Maintain your modern car just like you would if it were an older model car if you want to reach that 300,000-mile or more goal. Modern cars require maintenance and are not as maintenance-free as dealers would have you believe.
• Non-fluid maintenance recommendations (such as your car's spark plugs) are okay, as listed in your owner's manual.
• Tires that have lost as much as 80 percent of their tread are useless in foul weather conditions. Replace all four by the time one of them reaches 70 percent tread loss.
• Replace tires every 5-6 years regardless of tread, as rubber aging occurs over time and leads to tires becoming brittle and cracking.
• Protect your car's interior from UV damage with chemical treatments and/or sunshades.

For additional articles related to Toyota models or advice from a Toyota mechanic, here are a few for your consideration:

• Top Car Mechanic Scams to Avoid in 2024
• Avoid This Lexus Model Advises Toyota Mechanic
• One of The Best Lexus Models Ever Made, Says This Mechanic

Timothy Boyer is an 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 @TimBoyerWritesfor daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

Image source: Deposit Photos