Our Value Added Oil Change Basic’s

Getting your oil changed at ToyoTechs is not just an oil change. We complete a full safety inspection on your vehicle from top to bottom and give you the real heads up as to what your vehicle needs now and what can wait till later.

Below are the maintenance safety checks that are performed at every value added oil change. If you have any specific questions concerning your vehicle as always please ask your service advisor.

1. All fluids are checked, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
2. All hoses and belts checked, to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.
3. Brake system inspected including the brake pads, rotors and drums. (Have your brakes checked twice a year if you're a high mileage driver).
4. Exhaust system inspected for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers. (Exhaust leaks should be corrected within a reasonable amount of time)
5. The steering and suspension system inspected including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.
6. Tires checked, including tire pressure and tread. Tires inspected for bulges and bald spots.
7. 7. Wipers and lighting inspected so that you can see and be seen. We check that all exterior lighting is working properly and visual inspection of worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation

Don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. AHR is equipped to handle all your Toyota and Lexus service needs. AHR is smaller so often it's easier to get an appointment. Gas powered and hybrids are welcome. Located at 5630 Peachtree Blvd. 1 mile away from the main shop across the street from Wendy’s and the Kia dealership. Call for appointment at 770-492-7437

Regular preventive maintenance is the best single thing you can do as a car owner to keep your car running safer, longer and save money on major repairs in the future

The Not’s and Don’ts of Car Ownership, Part 1

As car owners we often don’t drive or take care of our vehicle’s like we should. (including me and especially my daughters) I have put together a list of some things to think about and at some time hopefully act on. (Me included) I hope you’ll find these helpful.

1 - Ignoring warning lights. The warning lights on your dashboard should not be ignored. Each light means something and some could mean something critical. For safety sakes get these checked out ASAP.

2 - Not having your oil changed. Engines can go longer between oil changes than they used to, however that's no excuse for not regularly having your oil changed. When your car has reached the interval listed in your owner's manual or your car's maintenance reminder light comes on get it done soon.

3 - Don’t put off repairs. Repairs can be costly however often times putting them off can cost you even much more. For example, delaying purchasing new brake pads when needed can lead not only to safety problems but also lead to the need to replace additional expensive components.

4 - Not keeping to a maintenance schedule. The maintenance schedule published in the owner's manual is a guide for what’s best to keep your vehicle in the most desireable operating condition.

5 - Not paying attention to leaks.  If there’s leaked fluids on the floor of the garage, your car is trying to tell you something. (A pool of clear water coming off of the air conditioning compressor is OK) Often times leaks can be the beginning of some bad stuff happening. Nip it in the bud and possibly save hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

6 - Not washing your vehicle regularly.  Washing your car does more than just make it look good. It gets rid of dirt and chemicals from the road that can cause damage to the paint. During the spring and summer, tree sap and bird droppings left on vehicles can eat into the paint and need to be removed as soon as possible

7 - Not waxing your vehicle regularly. Waxing your car a few times a year provides a barrier that protects its clear coat and the paint below it. Waxing creates a layer that takes the abuse and sheds dirt and other chemicals.

8 - Not using your emergency brake. When you park and rely on your transmission to hold the car, you risk costly transmission damage and create a possible safety hazard when you don't use the parking brake. Leaving the car in park alone can put tremendous stress on the transmission especially on the hills in the Atlanta area.

9 - Not using the correct fuel.  Surprisingly a lot of folks use the wrong fuel in their vehicle. Simply using premium unleaded in a car that only requires regular unleaded won’t cause you any trouble but in your wallet. Doing the opposite might cost you some power, but it usually won’t damage anything. However, using ethanol (E85) or diesel in a car not designed for it is a route to costly repairs. See your owner's manual for the correct fuel for your car.

10 - Don’t overfill your gas tank. Topping off your gas tank can compromise your car’s performance, damage your paint, and increase air pollution. When you overfill the tank, excess fuel can flow into the car’s vapor collection system, allowing liquid into a charcoal canister that is intended to hold fuel vapor, not fuel itself.

11 - Don’t run out of gas. When you run the car out of gas, you risk damaging your fuel pump, which is cooled and lubricated by the flow of gas. This obviously also can cause an unsafe situation.

12 - Not slowing down enough for speed bumps. Speed bumps are designed to slow your pace through neighborhoods and other congested spaces. If you do them right, they increase safety and won’t affect your car. Do them wrong, and you risk damaging your suspension, bumper, and underbody.

Don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. AHR is equipped to handle all your Toyota and Lexus service needs. AHR is smaller, so often it's easier to get an appointment. Gas powered and hybrids are welcome. Located at 5630 Peachtree Blvd. 1 mile away from the main shop across the street from Wendy’s and the Kia dealership. Call Robbie for appointment at 770-492-7437

Extending the Life of Your Vehicle

Our Technicians have compiled tips to keeping your car running better and extending the life of your vehicle. Keeping up with your car’s maintenance and getting problems fixed before they become bigger problems are the keys to getting those extra years of life out of your car.

Tips for getting extra years out of your car and saving money in the long run.

1 - Change oil regularly, every 3000 - 5000 miles (longer if using synthetic, 7500)

2 - Check all fluid levels every few months (Transmission, brake, coolant and power steering)

3 - Change air filter (Usually every 6 months, car will get higher gas mileage and run better )

4 - Check tire pressure and wheels (Properly inflated tires give you better gas mileage, uneven wear from being out of balance or alignment causes vibration that can cause stress on the car's suspension).

5 - Fluid flushes (Transmission, brake and power steering flushes. These fluids breakdown contaminated by impurities, dirt, moisture and corrosive properties that cause these systems to have expensive problems.

6 - Schedule a safety inspection twice a year, more often if you do a lot of driving. (We perform a safety inspection with every oil change)

7 - Protect your car's exterior and interior. (Have your car waxed twice a year and keep the dirt and grime from the inside. This will increase your car’s value when it’s time to sell and it just feels better)

8 - Fix the small issues now (Small issues with your car often turn into big issues if they are not repaired in a timely manner, coolant leaks, oil leaks)

9 - Know your car (be sure to glance through your owner's manual to get an idea about your scheduled maintenance, as always we will be glad to help you with your scheduled maintenance)

All of these tips are inexpensive and have a huge effect on how well your vehicle runs. These simple tips will absolutely help lengthen the life of your car.

Make Your Holiday Travel Safer

Get an Oil Change and a Vehicle Safety Inspection

With a busy holiday season going on don't forget that we do get extremely busy and it can be difficult to get an appointment.

During your Oil Change we will perform a Safety Inspection Check of the following items:

Tires  
Tire Pressure
Batteries
Brakes
Hoses
Belts
Air Filters
Wipers

Lights
Fluid Levels including Engine Oil, Brake Fluid, Transmission Fluid, Power Steering Fluid, Windshield Wiper Solvent and Antifreeze/Coolant.

A reminder that our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair / ToyoTechs 2 is now servicing Gas Powered and Hybrid, Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Mazda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Nissan and other brands.

For Appointments

AHR / ToyoTechs 2 - 770-492-7437