Is it time for an oil change? 5 signs that you're due

Not everyone is on a car care schedule - we get that. Life gets in the way and you get so busy that car maintenance can be pushed to the wayside until it's absolutely necessary. However, if you want your car to stay in top-notch condition, keeping up with routine car care is essential - especially when it comes to oil changes. If you don't have your car on an oil change schedule, Toyota of N Charlotte is here to help. Check out these 5 signs that you need to make this car maintenance appointment at our Toyota Service Center today. 

Don't miss these 5 signs that you need to schedule an oil change 

1. Your oil is the wrong color. 
Normal, clean motor oil is typically caramel or tan in color and free from debris. Keep that in mind - when you check your oil, it should never be dark in color (dark brown or black) or have flecks of dirt or debris in it. If you notice either of these signs, you need a Charlotte oil change. Dirty oil can't keep your car's engine cool or lubricated, which means you run the risk of your car overheating or parts inside the engine breaking. 

2. You can smell oil inside the cabin. 
If you smell motor oil inside of the cabin, you need to schedule Toyota service at Toyota of N Charlotte immediately. This means you have an oil leak, which can be costly and dangerous. Don't delay in fixing this issue. 

3. Your oil level is too low. 
Do you know how to check your car's oil level? When you pull the dipstick out of the engine, you'll see two tic marks on it. Your oil level should be somewhere in between those two tic marks. If it's falling below the bottom mark, you're running low and you need to schedule a Charlotte oil change. Remember, oil is what keeps your engine from overheating or breaking! 

4. You hear rumbling or knocking noises. 
Do you hear knocking, rumbling, or other strange noises coming from inside the engine bay? This can indicate that your oil level is too low and things are breaking inside your engine. Call Toyota of N Charlotte to set up an oil change and let them troubleshoot as soon as you can. 

5. Smoke is coming out of the exhaust pipe. 
Vapor coming out of your car's exhaust is fine, but the moment you see smoke, you've got a problem with your oil. Let our car care service center get things back on track under the hood. 

Toyota of N Charlotte can get your car back on track 

Want to schedule an oil change? Call us! Toyota of N Charlotte's service center is open seven days a week at (704) 659-2025. You can also swing by and see us at 13429 Statesville Road, just off I-77 at exit 23 in Hunterville. 

Sanitizing your ride: How to do it while you detail your car

When was the last time you sanitized your car?

With the wake of COVID-19, everyone is all about sanitization. People are constantly reminded to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer when they can't, and to disinfect their workspaces and homes. However, when was the last time you sat down and sanitized your vehicle? You undoubtedly spend a lot of time in it, so it's essential that you keep it clean and disinfected for your health and the health of those around you. Toyota of N Charlotte is here with 4 quick tips for sanitizing when you detail your car. Check it out!

4 tips for sanitizing when you detail your car 

Tip #1: Change up your cleaning supplies. 
The supplies you're using to detail your car now are probably perfect for keeping it clean and looking like-new, but they also probably don't do much in the sanitization department. Our N Charlotte Toyota dealership recommends that you swap them out for items that will disinfect your car. Antibacterial soap and water is perfect for your seats, upholstery, and any other fabric areas, while disinfectant wipes (like Lysol wipes) are great for plastic and metal (like your dash or door handles).

Tip #2: Focus on high-touch areas more often. 
High-touch areas are things that are touched often and a lot. You'll want to pay special attention to them and clean them more often than just when you detail your car. Focus on areas like your door handles (inside and out), your steering wheel, your shifter, your window buttons, your climate control buttons, your audio system, and your seatbelt buckles. Use lysol wipes to clean everything regularly and not let germs accumulate.

Tip #3: Clean car seats, booster seats, and storage items. 
Don't forget about the backseat and trunk! If you have car seats or booster seats in your N Charlotte Toyota, you'll want to sanitize them too when you detail your car. We recommend using antibacterial soap and water on the fabric parts, and wiping down plastic and metal with disinfectant wipes (pay attention to high-touch areas like the buckles and cupholders). Also, clean any storage bins or baskets you have in the trunk, especially the handles.

Tip #4: Stock your car and clean regularly. 
You don't need to wait for when you detail your car to sanitize it. Stock your N Charlotte Toyota with the right supplies and you'll be good to go. We recommend keeping disinfectant wipes nearby, as well as hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer will come in handy for those instances when your hands aren't clean but you need to touch your car (like after you pump gas). Also, get on a routine now - clean your car once a week at least and sanitize those high-touch areas more frequently.

Let Toyota of N Charlotte help you disinfect your ride 

Have more questions or need to shop supplies? Call Toyota of N Charlotte! We're here to serve you seven days a week at (704) 659-2025. Let us help you disinfect and detail your car like a pro!

What you should know about classic car restoration

When it comes to finding a new ride, sometimes modern options just won't suffice. There are plenty of choices available - your options range from affordable and sporty hatchbacks to large, luxurious SUVs and everything in between. However, for some people, modern solutions just don't cut it. This is typically when classic car restoration comes into play. A driver will take an older vehicle that's seen better days and restore it to get it up and running and back out on the road. But before you undertake a classic car restoration, there are a few things you should know, and Toyota of N Charlotte is here to help you out. 

4 things you should know about classic car restoration 

1. Make sure you have the resources. 
And when we say resources, we mean both time AND money. 

When it comes to time, you may find that you have to move at a slower pace than you'd like. Between finding authentic, vintage car parts and figuring out how to install them, it could take more than a year to get your classic car road-ready. Even if you're swapping out old parts for modern components, you still have to ensure they're compatible and get them properly installed in your new (old) ride. 

And let's not forget about the money aspect of restoring a classic car. It can add up pretty quickly finding parts and materials alone, but you'll also need to find a place to house your vehicle and if you're not well-versed in restoration, you'll likely need to pay a skilled mechanic to get the parts installed and get your ride back up and running. 

2. Find the right ride for your restoration project. 
You don't want to pick just any old car for your classic car restoration (after all, you are going to be investing a huge amount of time and money into it). But where should you look? After all, you can't just walk up to our N Charlotte Toyota dealership and sign the dotted line on a vintage car. Our top tip? Check the classifieds (whether in your local paper or online). Just make sure you go check out your prospective new ride in person and take a test drive before you hand over the cash. 

3. Find a workspace. 
If you're going to be tackling your car restoration on your own, our N Charlotte Toyota dealership recommends that you secure a workspace before you start. You'll want a pretty sizable space that's dry, well-lit, and has electricity for your tools. 

4. Invest in the right tools and materials. 
And don't forget, you'll need tools and materials. Our N Charlotte Toyota dealership recommends putting together a kit with tools like screwdrivers, sockets, wrenches, pliers, a jack, and a drill with various bits. On top of that, you may want to invest in tools like a blowtorch for welding and an engine crane and stand. (Just make sure you're well-versed in how to use these tools before you get started to avoid injury or damage to your car.) 

Let Toyota of N Charlotte help you get started on your classic car project 

That's not all you'll need to know when you're tackling a classic car restoration, but it's a solid start. Want more tips or need to start looking for parts? Let Toyota of N Charlotte help! We're open seven days a week at (704) 659-2025.