One of the most important things you can do for your vehicle is check your oil at least once a month. Why, you ask? Well! Because your oil does a lot of work under your hood and checking it can help you make sure that your vehicle is running correctly. If you see something wrong in your oil, it’s pretty much a sure bet that you should be taking your vehicle to the shop pretty soon after. Don’t know how to check it? Check THIS!

• Open the hood. Prop it so it stays open.

• Locate the oil dipstick next to the engine. It should have a yellow handle and/or be labeled.

• Pull out the dipstick and wipe it on a clean cloth or paper towel.

• Dip the stick all the way back in.

• Pull it out again and look at the oil level. If it’s in the middle of the hatched/indicated area, you’re good. More is better, less is okay, but if you’re lower than the area you need to get your oil topped up and have your system checked for leaks.

• Look at the oil quality and color. If there are a lot of particles or if the oil looks sludgy, you need to get it changed as soon as possible.

• Put the dipstick back in.

• Close your hood.

Remember to do this at least once a month and you’ll be golden between your oil changes.

Do you find that your battery keeps dying? We’ve been driving down the street lately and seeing a lot of folks with their vehicle’s nose against another, giving a neighbor a jump. While it’s a nice chance to meet a neighbor, needing a jumpstart is often inconvenient and not something that you want to start your day off with. Here are some reasons your battery might be dying prematurely on you.

You could be leaving the lights on unintentionally. This means either the headlights or an overhead light in your vehicle, which drains the battery quickly. This can be the product of either forgetfulness or a malfunction (if your lights are supposed to turn off automatically). Make sure your lights are all turned off when they are supposed to be, and if they are malfunctioning take your vehicle in to the shop to get that fixed.

Your battery could just be old. Do you remember the last time your battery was replaced? If not, it’s probably time for that puppy to go to the farm, so to speak. When your battery is too old, it won’t hold a charge.

The connections to your battery could be loose or corroded. When this happens, the charging system in your car can’t keep your battery charged while you’re driving. The solution to this is to make sure that the connections to your battery are clean and tight.

The cold could be a factor. In colder temperatures, older batteries can malfunction or die… which honestly just means that you need a new battery anyway.

Your charging system might just be broken. This could be anything from wiring to belts to parts that need replacement, so as soon as you jump your vehicle, bring it to the shop.

So, you drive a Toyota vehicle. But do you know these fun and interesting facts about the Toyota brand? Here are 10 that are especially fascinating!

1. Before producing vehicles, Toyota (then known as Toyoda) started out selling sewing machines. The company transitioned to automobile manufacturing in 1933, and the first vehicles produced premiered in 1935 – the Model A1.

2. Toyota’s name changed from the original “Toyoda” because it took eight brush strokes (a lucky number) to write in Japanese – one fewer than the original!

3. The Land Cruiser has been in production since 1951 and is the brand’s longest running series. It became the best-selling car in the USA in 1965.

4. In 1970, the Toyota Celica premiered and became Toyota’s first mass-produced sports car. Though production ended in 2006, the Celica is still a favorite car among vehicle enthusiasts.

5. The Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid car in the world, was released in 1997.

6. In 1999, Toyota produced its 100,000th vehicle.

7. The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling nameplate in the world, with more than 40,000,000 cars produced over 11 generations of the vehicle.

8. Looking for a powerful vehicle? In 2012, a standard configuration Toyota Tundra was used to tow a 60-ton space shuttle!

9. Toyota Motor Corporation is the second largest automotive manufacturer in the world, and is the largest in Japan. More than 5,000,000 cars are produced every year.

10. Toyota’s newest assembly line produces a completed new car every five seconds.

With temperatures fluctuating and ultimately dropping, you’re going to want to make sure your tires are holding up well so that you can get where you need to go, regardless of the weather. You should be checking your tires pretty much whenever you get into your vehicle in the morning – and this is something you can do in a matter of seconds. Check out how to make sure both your tire pressure AND your tire tread are in good shape – in less than 30 seconds!

To check your tire pressure, all you’ll need is a tire pressure gauge. This can be found at any auto parts store for anywhere between a couple of dollars and a few dollars (you know what I mean!) and is an essential accessory for your vehicle. To use it, just unscrew the cover from the valve stem, fit the gauge onto it, and check the pressure. Put the cap back on and you’re good! The tire pressure your tires should be at is located in three places: on the tires themselves, on a sticker in your door jamb, and in your owner’s manual.

To check your tread, all you’ll need is a penny. Put the penny with Lincoln’s head facing directly down into the tread of your tire. If you can see the top of his head, your tires need to be replaced ASAP. If not, you’re good. The lower they are the closer you are to needing to replace your tires!

Do this every morning and you’ll be more in tune with your tires than you ever thought possible before! Good luck!

For a lot of families, the holiday season means road trip season. If you always find yourself scrabbling for the things you need and then forgetting a bunch of it anyway, check out our handy list that covers pretty much anything you could ever want in the car with you during a road trip. Share your own suggestions with us on Facebook!

Road Trip Car Kit

In The Car

• Blankets and pillows

• Music

• Folding chairs

• Reading material

• Camera

• Cash for toll roads

• GPS

• Binoculars

• Wet wipes

• Puzzle books and quiet toys for kids

• Pen, pencil, notepad

• Tissues, paper towels, toilet paper

• Small bags for garbage

Vehicle Emergency Kit

• Flashlight, roadside signal flares or reflective cones/warning signs

• First aid kit

• Booster cables, wrenches, screwdrivers (basic toolkit)

• Gallon jug of water

• Extra washer fluid, oil, transmission oil, brake fluid

• Rags, workshop towels, old blanket

• Gloves

• Spare belts (alternator, fan and air conditioner belts)

• Candle, warm clothes, heavy blanket (for winter travel)

• Duct tape and WD40

Hello to you, my human! It’s me, your car! I just wanted to take this opportunity to share with you my wish list for this holiday season. It’s not long, and I would really appreciate these gifts. That means you will too, because when I am happy you’re happy!

1. A nice bath. Soap and water go a long way, especially with cold weather coming! If you keep me clean during the winter (or “road salt season,” as I call it), then I won’t rust out from the salt and you’ll look great driving around in a good-looking automobile!

2. An oil change. Nothing gets me going like a great oil change! It’s like going to the spa, or doing one of those juice cleanses… except an oil change gives actual results.

3. Maybe vacuum me out? The crumbs between my cushions are kinda itchy after a while.

4. A new air freshener! I love smelling fresh and nice. You like it too. I know.

5. For you to check my tires. I can’t really see them myself, and it’d make me feel better to know that I’ve still got a good tread to keep us both safe in the winter.

That’s all, for now, but remember that car care is the gift that keeps on giving!

Winter is approaching more quickly than I think a lot of us would like, and that means not only getting sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves out of the closet but also getting our vehicles ready for what the season might have in store. That means ice, snow, freezing rain, and all manner of slushes and road liquids of varying temperatures. How to do this, you may be asking? Well! That is why I am here. Read on, friend, and learn!

The first step is making sure that you have a good place to park your vehicle. If you have a garage, make sure it’s clean enough for your car to fit inside comfortably to shelter it from the elements. This is also a great time to do a little organization and waste disposal!

Second, check the fluids under your vehicle’s hood. Is your radiator in good shape? Make sure you have the right amount of coolant and start using windshield washer fluid with nontoxic antifreeze in it.

On that vein, check on your windshield wipers. Consider investing in wipers specifically for the winter if you typically get bad weather. If not, just make sure that what you have is in good shape and ready to handle the weather.

Make sure all of your defrosters work. Turn them on full blast and feel the vent to make sure air is coming out everywhere it should be. If not, bring them in to us to get fixed.

Check on your battery. Just because it may look new doesn’t mean that it actually is new. Make sure the connections are tight and not rusted or corroded. If you need to replace your battery soon, might as well do it now!

Finally, get your snow tires on if you have them, and if you don’t then make sure your tires are ready for the winter. Consider investing in chains or other traction improving accessories if you know you’ll encounter slick roads. Put all your winter necessities in your trunk and you’re ready to face the season!

If you’re interested in getting more involved in what’s happening under the hood of your vehicle, a great place to start is definitely the various fluids that call your engine bay home. There are five that we’ll cover in this blog today, but arguably these are the five that you really, really should know. So, without further ado, here are the FIVE FLUIDS OF DESTINY, or even just the five you should know.

First, you have your oil. Without oil in your engine – or even sufficient oil – your engine will be running VERY dry and without the cooling and lubricating effects of the oil, your engine might even seize and weld itself together, effectively turning it into a block of metal that is shaped like an engine. To make sure you’re taking care of your oil, check it at least once a month and get regular oil changes.

Second is coolant. This does pretty much what it says on the tin, and cools your engine and radiator so they don’t overheat. The reservoir for this fluid is located near the radiator, and is a clear opaque plastic container. You can see the coolant level through the plastic, which is good because the more the reservoir can stay closed, the better. If the level is low, take your vehicle to us so that we can top off that coolant.

Next is brake fluid, which is also in a tank marked with minimum and maximum lines. Make sure the level of this fluid is good, because if it’s chronically low your brakes might be wearing down. Regardless, if the fluid level is low you should bring your vehicle in for a brake fluid top-up.

Power steering fluid is number four. The reservoir for this fluid is located at the base of your windshield, and is a small tank (opaque, so you can see the level). This fluid makes steering your car easy, and without it your steering mechanism will not operate properly. Make sure the fluid is always between the minimum and maximum levels indicated on the tank.

Finally, the fifth fluid – your washer fluid! This one basically everyone knows. If you want to find the tank, look for a large cap with a windshield diagram on it. Pop that open and fill it with fluid that you can buy at basically any gas station. Bam, you did it! Make sure you always have fluid in there, though, because it sucks to get stranded with a dirty windshield and no way to clean it.

Do you know how to drive safely in a construction zone? Check out our tips on how to get through those cones and trucks safely and efficiently!

Always expect the unexpected. From different speed limits to having people on the road and lanes closed, work zones are where the drive becomes unpredictable.

Pay attention to the signs on the road. They’ll tell you that a work zone is coming up and also tell you what the speed limit is, in addition to many other things. Slow down to read them and then stay slow through the construction. Pay attention to people with flags. If you ignore a flagger, you’ll get a ticket.

If you know a lane is going to be closed ahead, merge as soon as you see the sign. Don’t try and speed past other drivers before merging. If you’re safe you won’t end your trip early by getting into an accident.

Slow down as soon as you see a sign that says to do that. If you’re going 60 mph, you’re traveling about 88 feet every second. If you see a sign that says there’s road work in 1500 feet, you’ll be there in roughly 17 seconds.

Don’t tailgate in a work zone. This is to supplement the idea that you should never tailgate, to begin with.

Stay in the center of the lane. This way you minimize potential damage to barriers, cones, and workers.

Even if it looks like there’s no work going on, you’re not out of the work zone until you see a sign that says so. Keep obeying the posted speed limit and other signs until you know you’re in the clear.