Ahmed and David - seriously, this would be the dream team for Toyota and Lexus owners - between them they could cover every aspect of each model, no problem.
I’m retired now but was in the auto industry for 42 years, these tips have a lot of value. For vehicles that aren’t used regularly a trickle/battery maintenance charger is very important, especially in cold climates. A fully charged battery can survive down to -40*f but a discharged or dead battery can freeze at 32*f destroying its internal structure. It will never come back. So get a charger made for colder climates. 😊
This young man has so much good information. In my opinion, the most important item he lists is checking your tire pressures, making sure you do this every first of the month. So important.
I used to park my 69 GMC pickup under the apple tree in our yard and me and my kids would climb on the hood and roof of the truck to pick apples! Never dented anything!! Try that with a new truck!! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Another thing that might be good to know about the wipers is some of them can have just the rubber or silicone strip replaced rather than the whole blade. You can also get more life out of that rubber by cleaning them with a paper towel and some WD-40 or similar spray, as that stuff is excellent at lifting existing dirt off.
Good advice :). For mice 🐭 toned areas, mix peppermint and cinnamon essential oils, into an emulsion, and spray that around. No more mice. I drive trucks and heavy equipment in Saskatchewan, lots of mice looking for homes come fall…. That solution has completely solved nice issues.
I fill up an orange bucket from the shower until it gets warm before I shower. I don’t waste water. I use two wash cloths to wipe down my car. One towel for wiping above the door molding and the other for below the molding. Because the wash cloth below the molding has sand in it and will scratch the paint.
Great video, here are some of my notes: 22:00 Some aftermarket companies produce OEM parts for manufacturers. In that case, you are just paying a markup for a rebrand. I prefer to use OEM parts where tolerances are more unforgiving, like the serpentine belt which using aftermarket may squeal. Same with the timing belt tensioner, idler pulleys, etc. If it’s a radio, then it does not matter if it’s aftermarket IMO. Knowing when it is acceptable to use aftermarket is a good balance between cost and reliability because OEM parts add up FAST. 23:00 Buy a reputable trickle battery charger, ideally with overcharge protection. Sometimes, overcharging shows as corrosion on the positive terminal. At least on my car it did. 29:30 The average driver does not have the skills to out drive their bone stock car. Mod the driver first (autocross, drag, HPDE or other driver improvement education), then mod the car after.
Genuine parts are not OEM. OEM parts are made by makers that supply genuine parts to a manufacturer. OEM parts can be great, but they are not Genuine. I work for an OEM manufacturer..: we make parts for different automakers to their specs. We also sell the nearly same parts we make for the automaker to places like Autozone (as OEM of course). OEM does not equal Genuine. Example: Genuine BMW filter can be made by Mahle. The filter you buy at the dealership will be labeled as BMW it is very specific in terms of QC and specs. The OEM filter Majle makes might look the same, but will likely differ QC and materials slightly. If you want to save a couple of bucks, go online and buy a Mahle filter- they will make nearly the same exact filter that fits same car with minor or no differences. The Mahle filter will be OEM at the point. Original Equipment Manufacturer. There is a difference.
For bird poo, simply wet a paper towel, drain excess water, fold it, and place on the poo for 20-30 minutes, leave longer if super dry in hot, summer climate. 😊
Apparently turning off the start/stop doesn't prevent wear anymore, the cars that have it ship with more robust starters, and the engine is going to stay warm. The engineers have studied it and found that starting a warm engine won't cause wear the same way that starting it cold does, especially with the lower friction piston rings and thinner modern oils. Also it takes about 7 seconds worth of fuel at idle to start the car, so it's almost always going to save fuel. For those who want to reduce the risk of fine scratching or marring when washing their car, don't rinse with water to start if you can help it, start with a soap or foam stage so the dirt will lift off and be encapsulated rather than being sandblasted against the paint by high pressure water.
More use = more wear Everything else is marketing speak and flowery disingenuous justifications. This system adds numerous completely unnecessary over-engineered new points of failure, not just at the starter, the increased costs are passed right to the customer for something with virtually no practical benefit.
@@NerdlySquared By that reasoning, if I am able to bend an aluminum bat that's got 1mm thick of aluminum by smashing it on something, I should be able to bend a 5mm thick one by applying the same force. The benefit of a start/stop system are improved fuel economy, one of the largest costs for owners of SUVs and trucks. Not a big factor for compact sedan/hatch owners though. Studies have shown that startup burns the same amount of fuel as 7 seconds of idle, so if you are stopped at a light for say 20 seconds on average, you will save big over your years of ownership, and if the starter is built to be 5x as resilient and only costs $100 more, it's still a big net savings.
I disconnected the i-stop feature on my Mazda 6 2.5T to prevent cooking the oil in the turbo at every traffic light. There seems to be plenty of prematurely deceased batteries resulting from I-stop too, which are extra costly to replace.
@@thedon7530 Yeah I think turbos and batteries are probably the two exceptions to the rule of these start/stop systems being good. If you are driving at highway speed and then stop and immediately shut the car off without giving the turbo time to cool down, you will eventually prematurely wear out the turbo. If you have a manual shutoff for start/stop, I would definitely use it in a non-hybrid car if you're hitting a ton of stop signs, or if you were going fast and then had to come to a sudden stop for a train or something like that.
Can somebody bring back the car of the 1990s and early 2000s that were well-built and lasted forever. Of course I'm talking about mostly imports. Why do we really need all of this stuff that just breaks things that are add ons
You mean you want me to actually use physical labor to scoot my seat forward and back? It's not enough that I had to pull on the handle and then pull the door open 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I agree with most of your suggestions. However, one I disagree with is ( never use rains) I have used it for eons and it works great, as long as you maintain it. You mentioned wiper blades, you failed to mention using windshield washer fluid to periodically clean the blades. Along with that, new wiper blades need to be cleaned before their first use because the machining process leaves debris on the the blade.
OEM wiper blades. The man speaks pure truth. The cheap crap you get at auto parts stores doesn't even last a fraction of the time one can experience with OEM blades. I've gone 8-9 years on OEM's and ended up selling the car before I replaced the wipers because there was simply no need to do so. Threw auto parts store "premium" (I hate that word) blades on wife's car and the squeaking started immediately followed by a much needed replacement 2 years later.
All good points. I think you may have forgot one - run the air conditioner every week or two during the winter for 5-10 minutes on days when the outside temp is above freezing.
Great check list! Useful tips & tricks. I own a BMW 2-series, and have had expensive under hood rodent damage twice. BMW service tech recommended mint anti-rodent spray, available on Amazon. In the last 3 years since, no more chewing mice!
One big thing just before the summer heat is replacing the cabin air filter-filter's, I guess this could also be part of keeping it clean and Nice ice cold A/C, On our Honda's these filters are easy to change by dropping the glovebox down, Many how to Videos here on RU-vid of course for that and almost everything else. But a Great list so far Dave, You or the Car care nut also mentioned Not to use Ammonia based glass cleaner's on infotainment screens because it has destroyed some of them in the past, Anyways Thanks 🇺🇸👍.
All smart and common sense advice - thanks - especially for the early oil changes and the care of driving for the first 1,000 klms - I also advise changing oil after first 1,000 klms (as tiny micro metal bits break off when running in (I saw them when changing the oil myself after 1,000 klms). I also agree on OEM wipers! Yes! NEVER USE A CAR WASH ! And use sofy brushes when washing and rinse brushes regular in a separate bucket of clean water. PS NO engine cleaning on hybris cars - too much power running through some cables & wires!
David, Re: your mention of tackling the question of automotive undercoating in a future video. What do you think of simply using a high quality clear coat for a new car on those areas that are subject to corrosion, such as all painted areas, nut & bolts, frame/chassis , etc. The alternatives are usually messy and they have a short life & would need to be reapplied.
It will be difficult to find a clear coat paint that will stay on and not get peeled from road debris... but if you can find a clearcoat that's thicker than normal ones it may be worth a try.
Me too but also makes me mad. We literally just bought a rx350 and specifically asked about that. They sold us on newer leathers don’t do that but I think we got a story sold to us
@@CJ-rk5eg we had a 2010 Nissan with light colored leather. My wife’s jeans had been washed but definitely left a stain My jeans have been washed repeatedly for 10-20 years. I doubt they will stain! But I still feel we were sold a story by the Lexus salesmen on improved new leather quality not doing this
Great video David, just a couple of others that I’d like to let viewers know about. Never use glass cleaner on touch screens like windex as it will permanently damage the screen. Also touch up paint chips that have exposed bare metal as soon as possible, so the bare metal doesn’t start to corrode.
Engineer to engineer... Great points! All the things I practice and have learned over decades of vehicle ownership. 👍👍 I hate that auto stop/start system. One reason I changed to a hybrid! As far as rodents, I've found the only thing that works is to leave the hood up. If you have a garage, this works. Since doing that, never had a nest or damage. I do the same with my lawn equipment over winter, removing the engine covers, under which the mice love to nest. I also try to avoid dealer servicing at all costs! Expensive and poor quality work. I do my own maintenance. Oil filters do not need to be tightened so much that they require to be chiseled off after a dealer oil change! 😡
Fantastic advise and I really appreciate that you didn't say, "don't modify your car" in terms of more power etc.. but do your research and release more power can add more stress on the car.
During the winter, i use the clear flood mode, to allow the engine to turn over but not start, oil pump allows oil to circulate, water pump doesnt stay in same position, as well as serpintine belt. As far as varmints under the hood, i remove the engine beauty cover, which i found 90 % of most nest are built.
I just bought a new car and changed the engine oil at 600 kilometres …. usually I fill the oil filter but it’s a Subbie with the filter mounted on top of the motor …. the clear flood start is an excellent way to prime any engine with oil before starting, thanks for your advice. 👍
Fellow northshore person here, I thought I recognize that background! Thanks for all the info on your channel. For paint, I found out the hard way geyser water is really REALLY bad for your paint. Really really bad....
Always very insightful! I will save this video to a playlist, so I can rewatch it occasionally, because I have 2 rather expensive vehicles that I want to preserve, the best I can. Very helpful, as always. Thanks!😊
@@AutomotivePress Yes, I need a slightly bigger tire. The 8.9 inch clearance is a bit too low on trails, and I get rubbing on familiar trails, where my 4Runner never did, and at lower speed. I think 9.5 inch will be perfect and thinking Lexus should offer the Overtrail models with a factory lift. I was able to get a dealership option small lift and bigger off road tires for my previous 2019 4Runner TRD Offroad, so I wouldn't mind a similar dealer option for the GX. I can't modify it like I did the cheaper 4Runner, so a set of tires is all I need. I always appreciate your advice and insight!😊
@@lunamaria1048 I'm getting a set of Falcon Wildpeak AT4W with wide 9" wheels soon. Can't wait to try out... you should definitely upgrade your set too! I might be getting a GX Overtrail in November as well, so lots of things to figure out. Where and how are we going to meet up to do some comparison and off road driving?
@@AutomotivePress I think you will get a GX 550 lol. Which one? I do like the factory Toyo Open Country A/TIII tires on the Overtrail, but just want something a bit more durable to punctures. Utah has very diverse trails, with familiar forest trails like in BC, as well as dry desert trails, rocky trails, and the Overtrail handles it all very well! It handled the drive from Utah, to Vancouver (and back) very well too (over 3000 kilometers!). I am very happy with it, so far! How is the Land Cruiser compared to the 4Runner? I have 2 friends who traded their 4Runners for the LC and I hear good things! My next trip to Vancouver (for the holidays) won't be a drive, so I'm not sure how we can compare lol.
@@lunamaria1048 Hey so sorry that I missed this message! I have a Nori Green GX 550 Overtrail coming in November but I do have some second thoughts about it... anyhow, I just changed out the tires on the LC for a 285/55/20 Falkins with a small +20 offset - have to show you how good this setup is! Let me known when you are coming back this way!
Another but of advice. Don't buy an expensive nice car unless you have a garage to park it in. Parking a car outside causes severe wear and tear.. For awhile, had to park one of my cars on the street cause one of my garages was being worked on. The car that sat outside was always covered in dirt, grime, tree sap, bird poop, leaves, literally was awful. Never park your car outside if you are OCD about keeping it clean like me
You stated that car manufacturers service recs are the bare minimum. I disagree…. if anything they’re recommending some services too frequently…. probably to generate income. As an example, Acura ( in the owners manual) calls for differential oil changes every 15K miles for my MDX. Necessary? What do you think?
Great points thanks. I have a question. I’ve heard conflicting things. Can you apply a wax over paint that’s been ceramic coated? What type of wax can be applied? Thanks!
Great selection of tips. I put a small 3 x 5 canvas sack with cat fur in my engine bay and seems to keep animals away. Coincidence? Not sure! Would love to hear your thoughts on anti corrosion methods for the under carriage. Picking up a 6th gen 4runner and want to ensure inside of tail gate and underside stay rust free!
If you are in a heavy salt area I would go and get the undercarriage treated at a local anti rust shop. They can coat the whole undercarriage. Here in Seattle we don’t get rust but if you are in the rust zone you’ll have plenty of folks that offer that service. I would get done every 5 years probably.
Very good points. I would add not using some silicone based cleaning agents on the inside that can damage some surfaces and materials, using good products to clean and protect the leather. Overall, I agree with everything.
I didn’t quite get what you were saying to put on top of a clearcoat. My car is two years old. I live in Florida. We get love bugs and sun fades. Cars. Which soap do I use to wash the car with and I didn’t quite get what you were using to wash the windows I hope I can keep this up. I’m 78 seems so much easier to go through the car wash but if it’s better for the car, I’ll try to do it myself, I’m loving my Hyundai 2022 with all the safety features because I constantly hit the curbs now I can see him them lol
David, my wife just purchased a 2025 Lexus Nx 350 hybrid .Salesman says use regular fuel owners manual says 91 octane or higher recommended 87 minimum. Whats your take? Will 87 shorten the engine life ? Great videos. Looking forward to seeing more, thanks.
The lexus uses higher octane to get more horsepower out of the turbocharger. It won't hurt to use 87, it'll just be a little less powerful when driving
So many great tips. I finally just bought my first “brand new” car, at age72! A 2024 Honda Civic because I know I can rely on Honda quality. Alas I have to part with my (bought used) 2003 Honda Accord, as the trans is fading after 268,000 miles. I still love Honda, but the quality of products everywhere today is just not the same it seems. There is just no comparison. Still, I hope to have this Honda outlive me, even if it isn’t quite as posh as those of days gone by. So glad I found these pointers.
New Honda’s don’t have maintenance schedules. They have a maintenance minder system that adapts to your driving habits. The maintenance minder will show at 20% and will give a A code that indicates what services are needed. With the 2 year 24,000 mile free service the maintenance minder notification has to be showing to receive the free service.
My experience with late model Acuras and Hondas is that the maintenance minder comes on way too late for oil changes … typically 10,000 miles. That’s nuts.
@@codincoman9019Synthetic oil, even group 3, is good for 12k miles unless you beat on the car. Car manufacturers don’t want the car to wear out since you won’t buy another one from them. They want you to buy a new one because of new features.
Awesome video. I will not only wash my car by hand and drive my old garaged sports car once a week. Does ANYONE know how to get rid of the brembo low speed brake squeak? Been told that this is a known issue.
Thanks, David! Really great tips! Could I also ask about the Sports Mode that many new cars come with nowadays, with just a flick/push of the gear lever. What's your advice on driving with Sports Mode or should we stay off using that? Also about using manual override on automatic gearboxes. As you know, some gearboxes are not programmed well/optimised or that they shift too early etc. Would switching to manual override cause more damage to the engine? Thanks.
Neither of those would cause issues but they will use more gas since engine will rev up earlier and transmission shifting earlier as well. So a bit more wear and tear if you do those things...
This is exactly what I feel on my brand new Toyota highlander 2.4l turbo. My area is not flat but hilly. Putting it on Normal mode the car is lugging when going on an incline...so I have to force the transmission the down shift to get more power. Now, I am trying to put it in Sport Mode when going uphill. The ECO mode is even more pathetic. This new car has no better milage than the 2002 Sienna that I was replaced. I'm kind of disappointed,they should offer the V6 as an option. Can David share us the insight why every company is going this route?
What are your thoughts about undercoating? There's varying opinions out there as to what is best. And there's debate as to what practice is better: parking outside in winter when possible, or park in an insulated garage every night but sustain far more freeze/thaw cycles.
@@aaronsmegmasson7184 If you’re homeless you should be focused on buying a house not buying a nice car that needs washed. I shake my head when I see expensive cars at apartments. They should be driving old cars with faded paint.
@@user-tb7rn1il3qThis is a goofy post. It hasn't been economical to buy a home for years now. People renting out homes have mortgages at rates 7-8x better than those available. I'm going to punitively downvote you for boomer posting. Learn from this.
Why is paint quality going down? You would think with these outrageous prices the paint quality would be excellent. Prices up, quality down. Lets go brandon
Excellent video, David. I feel your pain on rodent damage. My 2022 4R ORP became a home for a family of mice. One of the issues is that a while back Toyota and other OEM's went to a soy based wire insulator, which mice love to eat.
I live in the rust belt, how do you feel about oil based undercoating to stop rusting during winter road salt season? I've seen here and there that hybrids aren't supposed to get it done.
What do you think about this? I have dodge chargers 2020 that 106,000 miles never changed the transmission fluid, it's these "sealed for life" ones. I already know this is BS. With these chargers to change the fluid you will have to change out the oil pane and filter because it's integrated. Can be pricey, but what I'm asking now is with this higher mileage would you just leave it or just change the oil pan and filter and just add new fluid without a flush? I've been trying to get good recommendations for a long time now, but everyone just keeps saying no fluid is for life, I'm past that now , I know this and I understand it is BS. What do you think? Oh I also have a 2023 V8 charger with about 4000 miles and I want to know for future reference for that vehicle also. Thanks
Don't have your car ceramic coated at the dealership. Go to a professional detailer who specializes in ceramic coating. My dealer failed miserably and skipped the whole (necessary) application process while billing me more than 300USD/17000 pesos.
Had some ppf coating my truck before. It helps with rock chips but they can still get through the coating. When it does get through the coating, it doesn't get to thr bare metal, so it was easy to touch up. I would get ppf on the headlights though. It makes it much more resistant to uv rays
