Servicing your Prius should be a regular affair, both to keep your Prius in top shape, and also to prevent unnecessary repairs. Fortunately, Prius vehicles rarely break down, but regular service is what keeps even those rare repairs at bay.
Oil change is, naturally, the most frequent, and some would argue, most important service. Regular oil changes extend engine life. They are doubly important for Prius vehicles, though, because most Prius models tend towards excessive oil consumption. Some of the older Prius vehicles can consume as much as 1 quart per 1000 miles driven.
At Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs, we recommend that you check engine oil regularly, and top it off every 1000 – 2000 miles, especially if your Prius tends to consume engine oil in large quantity ( your vehicle should consume very little engine oil between oil changes – 1 quart over 5000 miles would be considered borderline excessive).
Another reason to bring your Prius to our Valley Springs auto care facility is preventive maintenance. At Toole’s Garage we offer free digital vehicle inspection with every service or repair. We send you an electronic copy of the inspection results so you can plan any upcoming maintenance or repairs.
Brake fluid change should be performed every 2 years. Brake fluid chemically deteriorates over time, and more importantly, absorbs moisture. When the moisture content of the brake fluid exceeds safe levels, extended braking distance will become the norm, and in extreme cases it can lead to brake failure.
Speaking of brakes, brake pads replacement will be an infrequent event for Prius owners. That’s because Prius regenerative braking keeps the brakes “unemployed” most of the time. As a result, your Prius may be able to travel over 100,000 miles on the same set of brake pads.
Tire rotation should be performed with every oil change, and tire replacement will be a more frequent event than when owning a vehicle with only internal combustion engine. That’s because regenerative braking and battery weight add to the more rapid tire wear. That’s why we recommend regular tire rotation to extend tire life.
At Toole’s Garage in Valley Springs we can perform these and other Prius services and repairs. Toole’s Garage is a hybrid vehicle specialist, so when your Toyota Prius needs service or repairs, call us for appointment.
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Toole's Garage in California highlights the warning signs of a failing water pump before it leads to engine overheating.
Seeing that little engine-shaped icon glow on your dashboard can be unsettling. We get it—your car seems fine, maybe even drives “just the same,” but the warning light won’t quit. Here in Stockton, where our vehicles face dust, variable traffic, and stop-and-go commutes, we’ve seen plenty of drivers shrug off the illuminated warning. In this article we’ll demystify the “Check Engine” light (CEL) , explain some of the most common causes, why ignoring it can cost you more than you expect, and why scheduling a diagnostic sooner is the smart move.