How to make your Toyota Last Over 300k Miles without Major Repairs 

Engine Oil - 5k miles or 6 months Transmission Fluid - 60k miles or 6 years Coolant - 50k miles or 5 years Brake Fluid - 3 to 5 years Power Steering - 50k to 70k miles Spark Plugs - 120k miles or 10 years Inspect it regularly Keep a log

This man is a legend and must be protected at all cost.

ASE Master Tech, and currently Toyota expert in all 5 disciplines (just waiting on some tenure for master Toyota): This is 100% spot on and exactly what I've seen and recommend to everyone. People who follow this advice will almost universally see their Toyota pass 300k miles. Unless you live in a state that believes in destroying your car with road salt mixed with magnesium chloride, such as my former state of Connecticut.

Just got me a 2009 Toyota Corolla, had my old car crashed into suddenly and I didn’t have much money to get a new car and I couldn’t financially afford a car loan at the moment. All my friends thought I was crazy. Why get a car that old? They asked. I told them that I heard Toyotas are great quality vehicles and didn’t really care what others thought about it. I got the car for an ok price, but it does need a bit of work. I need 4 things to replace as soon as possible, the radiator, the serpentine belt, radiator cap and the transmission fluid change. I absolutely have NO car experience whatsoever so this is all new to me, but I am enjoying learning about my car. I plan to customize this Toyota a little bit since I plan on owning it for the next 2 years. Other repairs can wait a bit, luckily since I have no car loan, I can pay for those things on my next paycheck. The mechanics quoted me to do the mechanical work for over 1.5k for the radiator, radiator cap, transmission fluid change and the serpentine belt. I literally went online and saw how to replace all of them and so far I truly think I can do those repairs myself, the only one I’m actually considering having a mechanic do is the transmission fluid change. Outside of that I’d be saving a lot of money. The radiator replacement and radiator cap would probably only run me about $130 if I did the work myself! I am up for the challenge. 💪🏻

I have maintained my vehicles since I was 16 and will be 55yrs old this summer and still do maintenance myself. I only drive Japanese cars, however a majority of our cars are Toyota/Lexus - this is THE BEST maintenance advice I have heard bar non. I also follow Scotty Kilmer's channel. This man knows what he's talking about.

This gentleman exemplifies the potential value of this RU-vid platform AND of honest car care for the car-loving community!

I love this guy! As someone who doesn’t know a lot about cars his videos have taught me so much. I wish I was lucky enough to have someone like him as the mechanic for our two Toyota vehicles. It seems to be more and more difficult to find such honest, highly experienced, expert mechanics like him.

This is the holy grail of preventive maintenance knowledge. Honestly thank you very much, you are a legend

I used 10k for my oil change intervals. I have a '97 4 Runner with the V-6. I switched to synthetic Mobil 1 at 5k miles. I kept on changing it at 5k until about 20k. I bumped up the interval to 7.5k mile and had the oil analyzed during the winter and summer to see how the oil was doing. The oil testing place informed me that I could increase the oil change interval to 10k. I did it and did the same thing by testing the oil during winter and summer to check the oil. The condition of the oil was still good, but I kept the oil change interval at 10k. I used my 4 Runner as my daily commute vehicle. 30 miles one way. I ran up the mileage to over 300k miles before I switched jobs. I wasn't doing a daily commute anymore, so I dropped my oil change interval to 5k. Right now, the 4 Runner is at 419k miles. It runs just fine. Highway driving fuel mileage has dropped almost 1 mpg compared to when it was new.

I have a 2002 Rav4 got it in 2004 with 27000 km on it. Now it's at 538000 and still running strong 💪

I'd like to add a suggestion to top off all fluids every 3K miles or 3Months if you drive the car regularly. While you top off the car its a great time to visually inspect your engine and check belts and hoses too.

Yes, I highly agree with keeping a maintenance log book in the glove box! Write down repairs, mileage, oil changes, everything! Makes an awesome reference for yourself, but also for potential buyers in the future. Let's normalize good car ownership in America!

Hey. I was a Lexus tech for 27 years. I really love your knowledge and drive. Unfortunately I was hurt in the field and was retired early. I enjoy your videos

I want to say, I love watching your videos and have learned SO MUCH over the last couple of months from watching them. I bought a 4 runner last march and have tried to learn as much as possible about the vehicle and how to take care of it. That is how I stumbled onto your channel. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

Love your videos!! They have been my guidance in taking care of my Toyota! I’m a definite subscriber and I spread the word. So much credit to this guy!!❤️👍🏽

As a toyota owner who does 95% of the work on my own 2000 camry 2.2l with 324kmi. Your later advice of documenting everything is perhaps the most important overall, love your videos and honesty, God bless.

I'm a Tech, and this is one of the most explanatory and informative videos I've ever seen. You sir are a true gem, bravo. People should be required to watch a quick video like this before ever owning/caring for a vehicle.

You absolute legend. Only recently found your channel, but you are a treasure to automotive enthusiasts.

I have a 2018 Avalon and I learned so much from your videos. You are a wealth of knowledge which is so valuable! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and please continue to post videos.

I work at an independent Toyota / Lexus repair shop....It's so important to stick to the maintenance schedules,use quality genuine parts and fluids and stay far far away from the quick lube shops that neglect to check other important things or overtighten or NOT tighten oil drain plugs.Your car is a big investment usually second to your house.DON'T cheap out on routine maintenance and ALWAYS have qualified people looking after it!

I have a 2005 Corolla with 372000 miles. Still runs and drives like new. Regular maintenance pays off. It has needed a few repairs, but nothing expensive.

Huge respect sir, your advice is GOLD. I recently bought a first gen Toyota Avalon, 23 years old but very well looked after, best value car I have ever purchased. Luckily it has a service manual that indicates regular servicing. Only 60,000 miles on the clock. The advice about regular oil changes is very pertinent, I've read some owners use synthetic motor oil every 3000 miles.

My 03 Camry SE just logged its 300th mile. Regular oil changes and a little TLC goes a long way. Toyota engineering is amazing.👍

You are the ONLY mechanic/technician I respect and trust. excellent, precise and clear explanation about the transmission maintenance 👍💪

This guy in my opinion is a genius. I have been following him for quite some time now. He loves what he does. My respect for him. Not only what he know but just taking the time im sure he does not have to share this valuable knowledge with all of us. Greetings from Tampa, Florida. Keep up with those amazing videos. Lord bless you and your family.

Such great advice... I just moved and lost my trusted mechanic, so now I know how to manage my 2012 Toyota Prius. Many Blessings to you!

Such good advice. Glad to know I’ve been doing the right things on my vehicle. 2012 highlander with 130k. Hoping to get to 300+ !

My 2001 Tacoma V6 4x4 has 516,000 miles on it. His advise is good. Change fluids as he recommends. As it gets more miles (over 250k) you need to watch the rpm’s and not push the vehicle. If you pull a trailer as I do start slowly and don’t strain the engine. Don’t stress or strain the engine. Drive carefully until vehicle warms up. Take it on long drives occasionally. This burns off some impurities in the engine. Now that my truck has over 400k miles I do not exceed 3000 rpm’s. Hey, I am not a mechanic but every new car or truck I have owned (Toyota or Honda) has gotten 350k or more miles. No major engine, or transmission problem (manual transmission) ever. Never owned automatic. Next truck I may need to buy automatic, darn!

A knowledgeable man passionate about his work, and no obnoxious music/editing. Perfect!

one of the most informative channels ever. thank you for your videos!

The car CARE nut has 1.05 million subscribers for a reason, need I say more. The Toyota car mechanic GOD !!!!

This was the best damn maintenance video I have ever seen. Especially for the average consumer.

I'm a Honda tech. Overall good advice. I do my oil every 3k miles (I get the oil for free from the dealer and the OEM Honda filter is $7). Trans fluid every 30k. My cars are stickshifts, but Honda uses very low viscosity fluid for it's manuals, so 30k is a good interval for them. I do the same in automatics. Definitely stick with OEM trans fluid for automatics. Manuals have a bit more leeway, and sometimes, like with V6 Honda Accords, you want to use a thicker fluid. I have a 2006 manual V6 Accord, and it's better to use GM Synchromesh fluid than Honda MTF. If you have a transmission filter, replace that with the fluid. If I have differentials or a transfer case, I do the fluid every 30k same as the transmission. Coolant I just do every 3 years. And if you have a timing belt, change the water pump with it every single time. It's a bit more expensive, but it removes a very dangerous point of failure. I also change my thermostat at the same time. That's the part that's most likely to fail, better to get it out of the way. Brake fluid I do every 2 years. If you have a manual transmission with a hydraulic clutch (which most do), do the clutch fluid at the same time. It also uses DOT 3/4 brake fluid. You want to completely flush it in either case. If you have hydraulic power steering, flush that every 2-3 years as well. Try to use the OEM fluid as some makes are less tolerant of universal fluid or ATF than others. Hondas especially do not like either. I check my air and cabin filters every oil change and replace them as needed. Same with wiper blades. Hondas use rubber inserts, so you don't have to replace the whole blade. I'd recommend seeing if your car does the same before replacing the entire blade. Spark plugs vary heavily by make, model, and year. Just go with the OEM recommendations and maybe do them 10-20k sooner if you're cautious. If your car has a fuel filter, change that at least every 50k miles. One thing that gets overlooked is tire rotations. Buy a cheap tread gauge and try to rotate often enough that the fronts and rears wear evenly. Make note of any abnormal wear and consider getting an alignment if you notice any. I like to replace tires when they get to around 4/32" of tread, a bit above the legal limit. Especially if you live someplace that gets a lot of rain or snow. I always do an alignment when I replace tires just in case. Another thing to consider is an annual undercoating. I personally use fluid film, but any oil, wax, or lanolin based coating can work well. You can do these yourself with a floor jack and some jack stands, and you can buy a couple cans from most auto parts stores for ~$30. I strongly recommend this if you live someplace that salts the roads in the winter. Also get the undercarriage washed after winter to remove any remnants of salt. Find a car wash that does this or maybe purchase a rolling sprayer if you have a hose.

Best video I have seen for you who are interested in transmission fluid!💪🏽

Our ‘13 Avalon has 100K and I don’t plan on replacing it any time soon. I’m in my mid ‘70s and no longer take long road trips so it will likely take me a long time to get the car to 200K. I’ve kept up the regular maintenance since it was new & detail the car annually. Just discovered your channel, keep up the good work.

Just hit 380245 on my Lexus. I pretty much follow these maintenance schedule. Looking forward to hitting 500k !

"MOSTEST" honest mechanic ever possible in RU-vid history...... Wonder how one can survive telling such level of truth . Respect

Hi, I am one that does maintenance on my car and this guy is worth every single word he said; i would give 10+++ or AAA+++ for his advises. Thank you for your honest and truthful video.

This is great info, but as someone who owns a Toyota 4Runner with ~320k miles on it, I truly don't think getting that far without "major repairs" is possible for most vehicles. Some stuff just wears out. Suspension, for example. Thousands to redo ball joints, control arm bushings, shocks, power steering, etc... Also, many seals. Axle seal leaks can quickly destroy rear brakes, and that's easily a thousand to have all of that redone. I mean, I still love my ride, but I don't think people should assume that a car will go that long with just fluid changes and new brakes or something.

You, SIR are a very generous man. In my opinion you have just given me and the rest of us ONE MILLION DOLLARS worth of car care advice. Thank YOU.

Thanks for the great advice as well as answering questions I had. Own a 2014 Camry SE with 445,000 miles. Following his advise, I know the car can reach 500k without issues.

my friend didn’t change the oil in his corolla for 3 years and has been in multiple accidents, still going strong at almost 400k KMS

I learned a lot from you even though I am an aircraft mechanic. It’s the little things that make a big difference in the life of a car. Keep up the great work.

I’m 64, and I’m buying my first Toyota soon. After dropping $6,400 this past April on a rebuilt transmission on my current (well maintained) American made ride, I asked my mechanic of 19 years what he advised. Immediately he said “Toyota”. He further told me he drives a Rav 4 with 300K, and he told me if I do regular maintenance (as I did on my American cars) that I should be able to do the same. I drive conservatively, so don’t beat on my cars. This gentleman is giving sound advice. I’m done with American vehicles.

I think engine air filter checking and replacement is worth a mention as well

I put my signature under every single issue! Real good advices. 👍👍👍

Wow you're awesome ! I'm a car person and my mom isn't. This explains things so much better than I could ever dream to do for her 😊

over 350k miles and going up in my yoda, Update: over 400k now with new ngk iridium plugs, a freshly cleaned and oiled reusable air filter, and a fresh full synthetic oil change. Drive safe yall

Thank you, I find you are more helpful than Scotty Kilmer. You Not only recommend, you help us understand the "why"( I am a big fan of Scotty also, but sometimes Scotty is all over the place)

As honest and ethical as always there should b be more like him. My son when he was doing his training saw many corners cut and a lot of the work done by apprentices on their own. He quit that game and now drives excavators and he services my car for me so I know he uses the correct fluid and regime.

My dad always said, "take care of your car and your car will take care of you." I've always lived by that motto. I have a 2004 Prius I bought new and it currently has a little more than 280,000 miles. However, I've put a deposit down for the 2023 Prius Prime so hopefully I'll have a new car by the end of 2023 if not sooner.

I had an 83 Corolla which I got over 400,000 miles and now I have a 2018 Highlander. Great job with explaining transmission fluid.

I don't even own a car and I love watching your videos!

I really appreciate the depth of your knowledge and communication skills!

For what it’s worth, if you’re having shift issues with your transmission, clean out your shift solenoids on the valve body! I have a 2008 Lexus GS350 with 183k miles on it. Did a transmission drain and fill + replacing filter - fluid was black and used up. Immediately started having trans problems. So I did three more drain and fills, kept having problems. Was banging my head against the wall trying to figure it out…FINALLY ended up pulling all 9 of the shift solenoids and cleaning them with MAF cleaner, popped them back in and the car shifts amazingly now. My theory is that the first drain and fill caused the solenoids to get debris stuck in them and clog. Hope that helps someone!

My parents had a 2000 millennium edition 4Runner. They just traded it in a few years ago for a used 2015 Highlander! Their 2005 Tundra is still going strong. A Toyota really will last forever. I just purchased a 2022 Limited Edition Highlander two days ago. I plan to have it forever.

Great advice as always. I have a 1993 Toyota Previa with 275,000 miles and it still runs as good as the day I drove it off the showroom. All of what you said here is what I have been mindful about throughout the years I owned it. Preventive maintenance is the key to longevity.

I have a 2008 scion TC with 163k miles and I want her to last to at least 300k hopefully more and I’m learning how to DIY. This is an amazing video and thank you for having this channel.

A had a 2013 Highlander, did 10K miles full synthetic oil changes religiously at the dealership, unfortunately never serviced the transmission, but I got 237K highway miles out of her before I sold her. I was lucky, you have great videos.

I have a 2008 Corolla auris manual 1.6L with 268,000 miles so i must be doing things right.

Hey AMD, My 2009 Avalon is at 347,024 miles and everything still works. Thanks for the great videos!!!

My wife drives a 2012 Highlander with low miles, just over 50,000. I have a folder of every thing that has been done to that vehicle since we bought it new. Now, 2.11.2024. It has never missed an oil change every 6 months as it does not get 5000 in six months. The car is like new but we did have the hood and top re-painted due to clear coat issues. It has been a dream to own and still is a very nice car. By watching your videos, we did have the transmission fluid changed at 49,000 miles and the coolant changed. What hurt my feelings is the damn water pump bearing went out. The cost of that repair was $1,420. With the last service, they told me it now has a timing cover leak but not bad. They said the cost for that repair will be $4,200. I have been driving Toyota cars and trucks since 1982. I still have an old 1994 4x4 pickup that runs. I have always had good words for Toyota and why I drive them but with the lates cost of repairs, I am not so sure anymore. Tomorrow I am to look at a 2015 Tundra Crewmax Platinum. It is a New Jersey salt pickup. I did get to look under the truck and it does not have a lot of rust, mostly surface rust. The truck has a very good Carfax report but it also has 175,000 miles. A very clean truck and must have had a lot of road miles. The asking price is $25,900. Would you take a chance on this truck?

Some time back, I decided that a 5,OOOk/6-month oil change is ideal. Thanks for reassuring me on that, sir!

Rule #1 - change oil every 4 - 5000 miles with a quality synthetic oil and a quality heavy duty oil filter. This is NOT the area you want to try to save money - this is the area to be VERY disciplined and NEVER extend the interval in which you change it. Rule #2 replace the radiator coolant every 60,000 miles no matter what anybody says and your radiator, thermostat, water pump , head gasket will last until their maximum life span. Rule #3 replace your automatic transmission fluid every 60,000 miles and you will get the maximum life out of this expensive component. These are the holy trinity of car maintenance and there is no way around them. Air filters should be changed every 30,000 miles - they are inexpensive and easy to change that anyone once shown can change it in less that 5 minutes. This component will affect your gas mileage so it will pay for itself.

Been wrenching for forty years and this man has hit the nail every time... great advice...knowledge is power.....

Clean fluids and filters... My mantra. Ahmed, you're a high-functioning human..Thank you-

Just subscribed to your channel, I just bought my first Toyota in decades, a 2021 Corolla SE APEX, yes I know you don't like them but I like the more sport suspension, plus it has the 6 speed manual transmission. I want to make this car last as long as I possibly can and you seemed like the right guy to listen too.

Thanks! you’re not only a good mechanic but a good adviser to car owner..👌

Great tips! My Lexus GX470 turned over 450000 km last month! Still running strong. Does camping trips loaded down and still conquers 4 star out of 5 4wd trails with ease summer and winter! Only wear/maintenance items have been required! Your bang on with the oil every 8000 km as well as keep up with the other oils. Oil and filters are way cheaper then the components they protect! It’s been a great car and now it is a fun game of how long can I keep it going! Love the content as I am a Toyota nut! Lol Cheers from BC Canada!

Thank you for your video, I did my oil change on a 2022 Toyota Sienna yesterday and I went to the dealership parts departments to buy Toyota original oil and oil filter.

This is the best transmission oil reccomendation I've heard to date. I wish more people would watch this.

My Corolla 2012, 160k miles, I followed all of these considerations and did the work myself. Still feels like new!

Finally! I've been waiting for this kind of advice, a complete advice. Most "expert mechanics/technicians" always lack the time interval. Thank you for this.

Great channel. Thank you for the priceless recommendations and clear, easy to understand explanations.

I buy cars with 40k mi & change oil every 6k mi. I replace coolant around 70k mi & sell the car at 100k mark for a respectful price. This method has been saving me a lot of 💵 💵

Seriously awesome videos that are comprehensive from an ACTUAL expert. I used to work at an SET dealership and one of the best master diagnostic technicians in the country worked there. It was nice having those resources to ask questions. Neither him nor I work there any more so it's nice that I've found your channel to reference. Keep up the great content.

20:33 Preach it brother! Thank you for your channel and all your honest advice. You are so right, people just hand their keys to the service department/swipe their card without understand everything. My girlfriend’s mother brought her (160k+ mi) Corolla to the same Toyota dealership for over two years. They charged her $400 (oil pan) because of an oil leak they caused when they stripped the drain plug, and flushed her coolant/transmission fluid after 500 miles…then flushed her transmission again after another 5,000 miles later. I’m glad this grand mother kept all her paperwork, and I was able to see what was done to her vehicle.

Super insightful video, thank you! I'm going to make a cheat-sheet list of all of this

I have a Non Turbo Mazda 2022 CX 30 zoom zoom , i use this gentleman for my Mazda advice. I don’t see a lot maintenance advice for my Mazda. Thank you sir , appreciate you . 🍀

Just bought a 2018 Camry SE with just under 50k miles. Love it, and really want to make it last. This is a great roadmap for doing just that. Much appreciated.

This has to be one of the most valuable videos on the Internet! Thank you, Mr. Nut.

Very good advice, thanks. The old ATF debate - I like your advice on this interval in particular.

This guy is one amazing person. Possibly the best on youtube !!!

One of your best videos yet. As a life long DIY person & avid Toyota enthusiast-owner … you hit the maintenance items right on the money. Thanks for the time invested & shared expertise!

Damn good point about just removing the spark plugs and re-installing them. My 2010 Corolla only has 72000 miles but the plugs have never been removed since I bought it new in December 2010. It is on my list to be done in the next few weeks as well as complete brake fluid flush. I have done all the other maintenance. He is 100% right about old coolant attacking the water pump first. I was shocked that I had to replace my water pump at only 58000 miles but I replaced the coolant completely as part of the water pump replacement job doing it all myself after just purchasing the pump and coolant from Toyota.

You convinced me to go with a used Toyota for our next family car and I am excited with our used Toyota Highlander!

My 2009 Toyota Tundra has 248k miles. I love it and it runs so good.

great video as always! my solara V6 MT has 230k on her and she runs and drives great. luckily the last owner took care of her getting the timing belt done on time and frequent oil changes. when i replaced the valve cover gaskets the internals were spotless with zero sludge! i did quite a bit of work to restore her, looking forward to hitting 300k!

Been working on cars and trucks for 50 years. This is an excellent video.

I started watching him at his house, in the garage! Glad he’s got 1 million subscribers this video is shared with new car drivers I know thanks , Texas USA

I had a 2008 Toyota Prius with 401,000 miles before I went and totaled it this video reminded me of my Prius

Good advice! My Toyota has 467,000km and still running good every day with no major repairs. Only regular timing belt replacement along with normal oil changes etc. The key is to always do regular inspection of all the systems to catch any problems early.

Dear i am a car lover... Had been seeking guidance for years on social media... Never had i come across such an incredible car professional explaining each and every bit in a very comprehensive way... Hatts off to u sir..

I did watch lots of video about cars on RU-vid but after i see your RU-vid channel i did subscribe to your RU-vid channel you are the master and i wish i can be your student and can learn lots from you about car from A to Z i just want to say thank you for your knowledge and sharing with us

I absolutely LOVE your maintenance videos

Excellent advice. Especially the fact that one must take charge and understand where they are at with respect to their car maintenance.

These videos are so helpful. Thank you so much for helping to educate us on our vehicles.

He’s so right. I have a 2006 Tacoma bought new. Right now at 211,000 miles I’m just starting to see a little tiny bit of oil on exhaust discharge but no noticeable oil level drop and some body rust, a noise from one of the pulleys. Otherwise with minimal maintenance this beast still runs great

One of the best videos ever #truth! I have 247K on my 2004 AWD Sienna and DIY all my own maintenance for fluids. Big stuff I take to aftermarket Toyota only mechanic, timing belt, etc. Thanks for the tip on Power Steering Fluid as I have always used ATF.

My wife’s 2005 Pontiac Vibe (Matrix) has 190,000 miles. We change oil twice a year. What I find amazing is the oil is always clean and never needs oil added between changes. We live in the Rust Belt and there are only a few small spots of rust on the vehicle after 17 years of ownership.