I’ve seen people talk about babying their cars on this forum, and I’m curious what everyone does to take care of their ride. Let’s put together a list!
Here’s what I do:
Stick to regular maintenance
Follow the manual as much as possible
Check the oil often
Keep tire pressure at the right level
Keep it clean inside and out
Wash the car regularly, especially if there’s bird poop or other stuff on it
Don’t let garbage pile up or stuff every corner with random junk
What are the little things you do to look after your car? I’ll update this post in a few days to include everyone’s tips!
Sometimes I drive my Corolla pretty hard just to clear out carbon buildup (at least, that’s my excuse). Once, I ended up needing new rotors after warping them—totally worth it. Toyota really made this generation fun to drive!
That said, I take good care of it. Oil gets changed regularly, transmission fluid every 40k miles, and tires rotated every 5k miles. I wax it seasonally and wash it often. When I do push it, I make sure it’s warmed up and avoid hard starts with the CVT. Most of my spirited driving happens once I’m already cruising.
I keep a folded Swiffer duster in a Ziploc bag in the center console to quickly dust the dashboard and other surfaces.
I park far away in lots to avoid door dings. Most people who park up close are in a rush and don’t care about other cars.
When the engine’s cold, I keep the RPMs low. I also use a charcoal-activated cabin filter for better odor control.
After the first rains in spring, I take it for a car wash with an underbody spray to get rid of winter salt. Throughout the year, I usually hand wash it. Around that time, I also check for new rock chips and fix them to prevent rust.
I clean the wheels and tires monthly and add a little tire dressing. Once a year, I remove water spots, use an iron remover, and clay the car. I might Scotchgard the interior after vacuuming.
Every few months, I wax the exterior and use protectants on the interior surfaces. Last fall, I went all out: decontamination, polishing, and ceramic coating. The coating also went on the doorjambs, wheels, glass, and high-touch interior areas. Hopefully, it’ll reduce scratches and make cleaning easier. Bonus: I even used the leftover coating on my kitchen appliances and my parents’ Tundra.
I’ve got a hybrid Corolla, so I’ve had to learn the differences in keeping it running smoothly. I’m also working on improving my driving habits to get better fuel economy. Once the weather gets nicer, I’m planning to do a full clean-up and some extra maintenance.