Toyota Advice

The end of financial year might be the best time to nab a deal on any new car, but the deals on a spanking-new ute can be absolutely stratospheric.

Everyone wants their new car to look factory-fresh for as long as possible, but this can be a challenge. Tree sap, road tar, bird poo and even industrial fallout can take their toll on your ride, which is why car paint protection is so important.New car paint protection is generally a chemical spray put on by the dealer or a qualified detailer, providing a barrier between the painted surface and the outside world. This can be a chemical layer, like a super-strong wax film, or even a ceramic layer and there are several ways to obtain the paint protection.The big question most people face is: is paint protection worth it? The cost to respray a car’s paint work or fix small imperfections is very high, running into the tens of thousands of dollars in some cases, so for a minimal outlay of up to $2000 it seems prevention is a far better option than cure.Most paint protection products will spray on as a liquid and dry clear, although some products in the past featured a clear plastic film applied to at-risk parts of the car to prevent stone chips or scratches from road grime. Companies like 3M still sell these wraps, which will do a good job of preventing light damage and are fairly cheap.Paint protection can also be applied to second-hand used cars, though often these vehicles will need to have a professional detailer to a full paint correction detail first, adding to the expense. The benefit of this is that it gets your paint locked in looking as good as possible before the protective layer is then applied, sealing the car’s duco.This doesn’t mean you can then abuse your car, or leave it filthy dirty, but it just means your car is better protected. Some paint protection products will need to be reapplied as often as once-a-year if the car is left outside in harsh conditions. Unfortunately, in Australia harsh conditions is just about anywhere the sun shines as the high levels of UV light does huge damage to modern paint products.You can purchase a paint protection kit from websites that sell professional-grade detailing equipment. For the car enthusiast used to polishing and waxing their car at home, some of these products will be easy to apply themselves, but novices should seek out professional detailers.If your car came with a pearl or candy-style paint job, like the type offered by Mazda, you should definitely seek out this service. Mazda paint protection is a good option, and adding a high-quality European ceramic aftermarket sealant on top will ensure your car looks its best for years to come.Similarly, Toyota paint protection would be a good starting point for anyone with a HiLux, LandCruiser, Kluger, HiAce, or any vehicle that is going to get dirty or be used for work.There are many options for car paint protection in Sydney with some businesses able to come to you if you have somewhere undercover and clean to apply the product. The same is true for paint protection in both Melbourne and Brisbane.When it comes to applying paint protection in Adelaide and Perth the harsh summer sun means you’re likely better off with a high-quality ceramic sealant, and booking your car in for a full detail annually to keep your paint fresh.

Ever tightening speed limits and heavy road law enforcement has seen a corresponding boom in so called 'track days' where enthusiast drivers take their (usually sporty) car to a race track.

Purchase price is only half the battle in ownership — these are the champions come trade-in time. Buying the right new car can save you thousands of dollars. With depreciation tearing the largest chunk out of any motoring budget, easily beating the costs of fuel or servicing or insurance, it pays to go with a

In days of yore, when vehicles were simple, it was quite common for men, and women, who liked the feeling of oil on their skin and tools in their hands to do simple car maintenance, like changing oil and filters, themselves.In the modern world, however, this has become something of an anachronism, partly because oil changes just aren’t required quite as often, and partly because we all just tend to get out cars serviced regularly by professionals.If you want to change the oil yourself in your Toyota Corolla, however, because you’re a DIY kind of person, you’ll need to know how often to change the oil and the oil filter. You might not want to try and do the whole service yourself, because a mechanic at a service centre is going to be better equipped and know more about your car’s specifications.As far as changing Toyota Corolla oil goes, however, you’ll need to know what type of oil it needs, and how often to change that oil. Our helpful tables will allow you to work this out, because there are an awful lot of Corollas and things do change over the years and model changes.What we can tell you in simple terms is that you need to change oil on a Toyota Corolla every six months, or 10,000km, whichever one comes first, and that the instructions for doing so will be in the manual included with your car.That was the case with Corollas sold right up until last year, and if you’ve got a 2018 model Corolla hatch, you can take it easy, because your oil only needs changing every 12 months or 15,000km.Your 2018 Toyota Corolla will require 4.6 litres of oil if you’re also changing the oil filter, or 4.3 litres if you’re not.If you have a 2018 or 2019 Corolla Hybrid you also get the 12 months/15,000km change period, and you’ll need 4.2 litres with the filter or 3.9 litres without.All Corollas of model years up to and including 2017 will need 4.2 litres of oil with the filter change, or 3.9 litres without.Obviously Toyota gives you both of those figures because you can choose to replace the filter or not, but it is recommended that you change the oil filter with each oil change.  If I want to change the oil myself, how do I do it?Here are the details, from our own resident mechanical expert, Iain Kelly:As with any maintenance task, if you're unsure of completing it successfully, our best advice is to use the services of a professional mechanic. If an oil change isn't done correctly, you risk significant mechanical and financial damage, along with serious safety concerns.If you're hell bent on giving it a go yourself, the process for changing the oil in a Corolla is the same as pretty much any other car. Look up what grade of oil your car needs and how much oil capacity it has, all of which is listed in your owner's manual, and purchase a brand new oil filter. Drive the car for approximately 10 minutes to ensure the oil is warm as this makes it easier to drain. Park the car on a level surface, open the bonnet and loosen the oil filler cap so it is just resting on top of the filler tube, then slide a drain tray underneath your engine. There will be a small flap in the undertray to be undone so you can access the oil drain plug with a ring spanner or socket. Undo the sump plug with a wrench, being careful not to burn yourself as the hot oil rushes out into the drain tray. Let it drain for 10 minutes, then do up the sump plug with a new washer and being careful not to over-tighten the plug - do it snug, then turn it another quarter-turn. Slide the drain pan under the oil filter and remove this again being cautious to not splash hot oil on yourself. Before installing the new oil filter check the rubber seal came off with the old filter, then smear a little fresh oil on the new filter's rubber seal before winding it on and doing it up a quarter-turn past snug. Fill the engine with fresh oil as per the owner's manual. Once you have replaced the oil filler cap and confirmed there is no oil leaking out, start the engine, let it warm up and then check the oil level as per the above procedure. If you cannot reach under your car to undo the oil filter or sump drain plug, use the factory jacking points recommended in the owner's manual to lift the car off the ground at the front and rear, lifting the front first, and use four weight-rated chassis stands to support the car at the factory recommended support points. Do not use the scissor jack in the boot for this job. What do I do if the engine oil-pressure-warning light comes on?This is bad. Not just “oh, there’s a warning light” bad, but quite worryingly bad. Do not pass Go, do not drive until you find a Toyota dealer. Pull over, stop your car in a safe place and call your roadside assistance provider, Toyota dealer, or your mechanic, for advice, because if the oil pressure is too low you could be about to destroy your engine. And that’s expensive.  Checking the oil level1. Park the vehicle on level ground. After turning off the engine, wait more than five minutes for the oil to drain back into the bottom of the engine. 2. Hold a rag under the end and pull the dipstick out. 3. Wipe the dipstick clean. 4. Flat dipstick: Reinsert the dipstick fully. Non flat dipstick: Reinsert the non-flat dipstick fully with its protruding areas pointing towards the engine. 5. Holding a rag under the end, pull the dipstick out and check the oil level. 6. Wipe the dipstick and reinsert it fully. N.B. There are two oil level markings, the one near the end is the 'low' indicator, the one further up the dipstick is the 'full' indicator.  2007 to 2013 Sedan / 2010 to 2013 Hatch and Sedan 2010 - 2013 Sedan / 2012 - 2017 Hatch, Sedan 2010 to current Hatch 2013 to current Sedan† If you use SAE 10W-30 or a higher viscosity engine oil in extremely low temperatures, the engine may become difficult to start, so SAE 5W-30 or lower viscosity engine oil is recommended. 2015 to 2018 Corolla Hybrid 2016 to current Hatch* Recommended viscosity (SAE): If you use SAE 10W-30 or a higher viscosity engine oil in extremely low temperatures, the engine may become difficult to start, so SAE 0W-20, 5W-20 or 5W-30 engine oil is recommended. Oil viscosity (0W-20 is explained here as an example):The 0W portion of the oil viscosity rating indicates the characteristic of the oil which allows cold startability. Oils with a lower value before the W allow for easier starting of the engine in cold weather. The 20 in 0W-20 indicates the viscosity characteristic of the oil when the oil is at high temperature. An oil with a higher viscosity (one with a higher value) may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or under extreme load conditions. 

Truly Australian car brands – as in brands that mass manufactured cars locally, regardless of the origin of their overseas parent companies, became a thing of the past in 2017.

While the HiLux and 70-series Land Cruiser have stamped Toyota’s authority on the ute market in Australia, there is an even bigger workhorse in their American line-up. Since 2000 the Tundra has competed in the full-size pick-up market in the USA against traditional trucks like Ford’s F150, Dodge’s Ram and Chevrolet’s Silverado.The current XK50-generation Tundra dates back to 2007, though there was a significant model update for the 2014 model year. The engines have carried over since a 2010 model update, with a 201kW 4.0-litre V6, a 231kW 4.6-litre V8, and a 284kW 5.7-litre V8.The 2014-on Tundra is available in several body styles, including a two-door “regular cab”, four-door dual cab, and the long-wheelbase four-door Crewmax. Toyota sells the pick-up in varying trim levels, ascending from SR, through SR5, Limited, and Platinum, topping out with the 1794. In 2015 Toyota added the performance Tundra TRD Pro.In the USA the base SR model lists at US$31,250, while the luxury 1794 starts at US$47,480 before options or delivery costs, and the performance Tundra TRD Pro begins at US$49,745.There are several companies who sell Tundras in Australia, including Performax International and American Vehicle Specialists. As part of selling these trucks they have to be converted to right-hand drive and go through a compliance approval process for use on our roads, which includes ensuring tyres and seat belts comply with Australian Design Rules.This process involves complex engineering and isn’t cheap, so right-hand drive Tundras with delivery kilometres often cost between $110,000 and $150,000 on the second-hand market, depending on the trim level, options, and mileage.Toyota Australia was quoted in the media at the end of 2018 admitting they have been investigating the option of selling Tundras in Australia to bolster the hugely popular HiLux ute. As the Tundra is only built in America in left-hand-drive layout that means Toyota wouldn’t be likely to be able to sell right-hand-drive Tundras in Australia until at least 2021, when the next-generation Tundra model is expected to go on-sale.

First seen at the 2014 North American International Auto Show, the Toyota FT-1 set the Internet ablaze with conjecture that Toyota were looking to bring back the Supra hero car.

If there’s one thing Toyota 86 fans will tell you, it's that despite the coupe’s looks, it’s just not all about straight line speed.

Australians have always loved the idea of the ute, an iconic vehicle with outback cred, and indeed one that was invented here by a Ford engineer, but that didn't mean we actually bought them.