Motor oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Just as your body operates best with a specific blood type, your engine operates in a similar way. Do you know what type of motor oil helps protect and optimize your engine’s output?

When you take your vehicle to a service department for an oil change, do you know which oil to request in your vehicle? With so many motor oil choices available, it can be confusing to know what type of oil will work the best in your vehicle’s engine. The easiest answer to this question is found in your owner’s manual. For most passenger car and light truck gasoline engines today, any oil that meets the American Petroleum Institutes “SH” rating. While that’s a pretty broad range of oils, here is a breakdown of the different types and functions of motor oil to help you choose which type is best for your engine.

Every motor oil is rated by viscosity, which indicates the oil’s resistance to flow. The higher the viscosity the slower it will flow. Most engine wear occurs immediately after a cold start, so it’s important to have oil that is thin enough to circulate easily.

5W-30 – most new engines today require a multi-viscosity oil for all-round driving. The lighter 5W-30 oils contain friction reducing additives that help improve fuel economy, and also allow the oil to quickly reach critical upper valvetrain components when a cold engine is first started.

10W-30, 10W-40 – used in older engines and engines that are driven at sustained highway speeds during hot weather.

20W-40 – used in high RPM, high-load applications primarily and are not recommended for cold weather driving.

Synthetic oils are also an option when choosing the right oil for your vehicle. Synthetic oil offers greater engine protection in high temperatures, increased durability and a better all-around performance than ordinary petroleum-based oils. These can cost up to three times as much as ordinary petroleum oils because they are manmade rather than refined. The premium priced synthetic oil is recommended for vehicles operated in extremely cold or hot climates, turbocharged or supercharged engines, performance or high output engines, vehicles used for towing and anyone who wants ultimate engine lubrication and protection. Synthetic oil improves the performance of your engine in virtually every aspect:

• Superior temperature resistance. Synthetics can safely handle higher operating temperatures without oxidizing (burning) or breaking down. The upper limit for most mineral based oils is about 250 to 300 degrees F. Synthetics can take up to 450 degrees F. or higher. This makes synthetics well-suited for turbo applications as well as high RPM and high output engine applications.
• Better low temperature performance. Synthetics flow freely at subzero temperatures, pouring easily at -40 or -50 degrees F. where ordinary oils turn to molasses. This makes for easier cold starts and provides faster upper valvetrain lubrication during the first critical moments when most engine wear occurs.
• Better engine performance. Synthetics tend to be more slippery than their petroleum-based counterparts, which improves fuel economy, cuts frictional horsepower losses and helps the engine run cooler. The difference isn’t great, but it can make a noticeable difference.
• Longer oil change intervals. Because synthetics resist oxidation and viscosity breakdown better than ordinary motor oils, some suppliers say oil change intervals can be safely extended — in some cases stretched to as much as 25,000 miles. Such claims are justified by the fact that synthetics don’t break down or sludge up as fast as ordinary mineral-based oils do in use.

Synthetics are available in the same grades as ordinary motor oils (5W-30, 5W-20 and 10W-30) as well as “extended” grades such as 15W-50 and even 5W-50.

Are you still unsure of what oil is best for your engine? The next time you take your vehicle for service at the Toyota of Tampa Bay Service Department, be sure to talk with our knowledgeable service advisors to determine what type and viscosity of engine oil will help keep your engine running like new for years to come.

Source: [Yahoo.com]

Into the hidebound minivan world, equally conservative Toyota strides with radical gait.

Hoping for a bounce-back in the moribund minivan market, the automaker has poured cash and cleverness into an update of its Sienna, out next month as a 2011 model. Four-cylinder and sport models will follow in April.

“Ready for a rebound,” says Toyota U.S. Vice President Bob Carter.

Toyota sees a market of young realists starting families who rightly see minivans as the most practical machines ever made – and who haven’t dismissed vans as dork-mobiles or as funless machines intended only for soccer moms.

That may be a pipe dream, but the Sienna revamp brings to market a very appealing van with notable differences from rivals:

• It’s the only minivan with optional all-wheel drive (AWD), making it a credible alternative to a crossover SUV for the open-minded. While just 10% of buyers are likely to bite, Toyota even invested in a new AWD system aimed at better real-world gas mileage, though federal ratings are about the same.

A bonus: The AWD is among Sienna models fitted with run-flat tires. Stiffer than conventional tires, their firmer feel could attract some fans of the taut Honda Odyssey. Of course, the price will be steeper when it’s time to replace those run-flats.

• Also exclusive in its class is the four-cylinder engine, to be available in the two lowest-level models for those who want to pay less and use less fuel.

Toyota predicts 15% of buyers will choose the four. It’s rated 187 horsepower, a hefty 79 hp less than the V-6. But a preproduction four tested here was surprisingly smooth, quiet, composed.

Until, that is, you hammered the throttle as you might to merge onto a freeway or climb a mountain road carrying the family and its gear. Then the four-cylinder engine got noisy and a bit coarse-feeling.

Still, for most people most of the time, it should be sufficient.

• The SE sport version is at least one Sienna that’s even crisper and more agile than the Odyssey. Serious tires, for one thing: 235/50 on 19-inch wheels; 235/55 18s are the biggest non-SE choice. Found only on showy cars not so long ago, the big skins on a family van are striking. Like the run-flats, however, they’ll cost you at replacement time.

The SE also has firmer suspension and steering and sits about half an inch closer to the ground.

The preproduction SE tester delivered agreeable firmness, what enthusiasts call “road feel,” that was preferable to the road isolation found in many vans.

Should you feel so moved, you can sling the two-plus tons of SE around tight corners with little enough body lean to avoid terrorizing yourself. The tender-tushed might find it slightly jiggly on rough pavement, but the better driving feel is worth it.

Among other notable Sienna features:

“Long slide” isn’t a reference to a nearsighted baseball player who dives 40 feet from home plate. It means the front of the second-row seat cushions tilt up as they slide forward, allowing a tighter fit behind the front seats. That opens more cargo space without wrestling the seats out of the van.

Dual-view rear video screen is a gee-whiz item that might be less than it seems. It’ll display two different programs simultaneously, but after a few minutes it seemed just distracting to passengers. You kept wanting to look at what the other person was watching. Use it for a single, wide-screen display and the picture is comically stretched. Center a single video in the screen and it looks fine if you don’t mind the wide black bars on either side.

Second-row lounge chairs in high-end models will wow some, strike others as too cumbersome. Lean back and a foot rest extends for a very laid-back position. Seems unsuited for use underway; safety belts wouldn’t be positioned right. Good for napping or reading till soccer practice is over.

Not new, but worth applause: Toyota provides a 3.5-inch screen as part of the driver info display. That’s big enough to see the optional backup camera display. Means you don’t have to buy a pricey navigation system to get a suitable backup screen.

Most vehicles that offer cameras without a navi confine the rear-view display to the corner of the inside mirror, where it’s hard to see.

The eight-passenger Sienna has a removable center section in the second row, like that in Toyota’s Highlander SUV. Remove it and create a walk-through. It stows in the wall of the cargo area.

A six-speed automatic, upgraded from the previous five-speed, provided solid acceleration and smooth gear changes. Toyota said it also was designed to hold back the van down steep hills – tap the brakes and it goes to work. The effect was between subtle and invisible on four test vehicles.

Outside, Toyota tried to mask the boxy van look. Wishful thinking. A minivan, by definition, is a roomy box with sliding side doors. Accept it.

If you do, if you’re a van fan, you should applaud Toyota for updating Sienna at a time when vanishing minivan sales surely gave its accountants a strong argument to leave well enough alone.

2011 Toyota Sienna

What? Updated version of conventional minivan. Seats seven or eight. Will offer four-cylinder engine, sport version with stiffer suspension and all-wheel drive. Most will sell with V-6, front-drive, standard suspension.

When? V-6, front-drive models due in February. SE sport model, four-cylinder due in April.

Where? Developed at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., styled at Toyota Calty studio in Newport Beach, Calif., built at Princeton, Ind.

Why? To be the freshest model on the market for what Toyota expects will be a resurgence of interest in minivans.

How much? Starts at $25,060 including $800 shipping for base, four-cylinder, front-drive; $40,570 for Limited AWD.

How many? 100,000 the first 12 months, Toyota forecasts.

How powerful? 3.5-liter V-6 rated 266 horsepower at 6,250 rpm, 245 pounds feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. 2.7-liter four-cylinder rated 187 hp at 5,800 rpm, 186 lbs. ft. at 4,100. Six-speed automatic transmission on all versions.

How big? Similar to full-size SUV: 200.2 inches long, 78.2 in. wide, 68.9 in. tall, on 119.3-in. wheelbase.

Weighs 4,275 to 4,545 lbs. Rated to carry 1,325 to 1,575 lbs. of people, cargo and accessories. Tows up to 3,500 lbs.

Passenger space: 164.4 cubic feet. Cargo space: 39.1 cu. ft. behind third row, 87.1 cu. ft. behind second row, 117.8 cu. ft. with second row folded, 150 cu. ft. with second row removed.

Turning circle diameter: 36.9 ft.

How thirsty? Four-cylinder rated 19 miles per gallon in town, 26 highway, 22 combined. V-6 FWD: 18/24/20. V-6 AWD: 16/22/18. Burns regular, holds 20 gallons.

Trip computers in V-6 test vehicles showed 17.4 to 18.6 mpg (5.75 to 5.38 gallons per 100 miles) in mix of suburban and highway driving.

Source: [USA Today]

This past holiday season, Toyota of Tampa Bay asked for help from the community to give back to those in need. The Toyota of Tampa Bay Food Drive that lasted from December 11th through December 21st collected over 250 pounds of non-perishable food items. All donations collected at Toyota of Tampa Bay were take to Homeless Emergency Project (HEP) for distribution into the community.

“HEP been overwhelmed by the generosity of our community this holiday season!  The food collected during the Toyota of Tampa Bay Holiday Food drive will ensure meals for those individuals and families with children displaced from their homes and jobs during these tough economic times. We thank you for your continued support,” said Rebecca Adams, HEP spokesperson.

HEP is one of Tampa Bay’s oldest and largest providers of housing and support services to the homeless in Pinellas County. HEP has been helping to build hope and transform the lives of families and individuals who are homeless, for the last 40 years.

Toyota of Tampa Bay would like to thank all those who helped to make this holiday season a little brighter for those in need.

In a perfect world, tires would never blow out, oil would never need changing, and batteries would last forever. In the real world, things always break at the worst possible time. During these trying economic times, more and more drivers are opting to skip scheduled maintenance on their vehicles, to save on monthly expenses. Unfortunately, in the long run, this only leads to bigger, more costly repairs.

To help tackle these unexpected budget busters, Toyota of Tampa Bay is proud to announce the availability of Platinum Preferred Service. At Toyota of Tampa Bay, you’ll enjoy no interest, if paid in full within 3 months.* Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date, if the purchase balance is not paid in full within 3 months, or if you make late payments. Minimum monthly payments are required.

At Toyota of Tampa Bay, we know how vital your vehicle is to you and your family. With Platinum Preferred Service, you can get the maintenance or repairs you need at the perfect monthly payment. Plus, you can rest assured knowing that your vehicle is in good hands at Toyota of Tampa Bay’s Service Center. It may not be a perfect world, but you are preferred, at Toyota of Tampa Bay.

*Minimum monthly payments required. APR: 22.8%. Minimum Finance Charge: $1.00. CFNA reserves the right to change APR, fees and other terms unilaterally.

Poor sleep is nothing to yawn at-it takes a toll on everything from your job performance to your overall health. And in women it’s been associated with feelings of hostility, depression, and anger, as well as higher risks of diabetes and heart disease. Here are 5 real ways to get the zzz’s you need.

Nix annoying noises

A snoring husband, that beeping delivery truck-whatever keeps you awake-tune it all out with a relaxing soundtrack. (Check iTunes for downloads of sleep-friendly sounds.) For comfort, try SleepPhones ($60), thin speakers inside a soft fleece headband; they’re especially nice for side-sleepers.

Prep your body

When you hit the sack, try this progressive relaxation technique, says Catherine Darley, N.D., director of the Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine in Seattle. Curl your toes tightly for a count of seven, and then relax. Repeat through each muscle group, working up from your toes to your neck.

Take notes

Your daily routine affects how well you sleep. A sleep log can help you make those connections, says Stephanie Silberman, Ph.D., author of The Insomnia Workbook. Every day, record how much caffeine you drink, when and how much you exercise, what you eat, when you go to bed and wake up, and your total sleep time. Share the log with a sleep specialist.

Keep cool

People doze off easier and sleep better when the room temperature is on the cooler side, according to Silberman. Set your thermostat to around 65 degrees or lower. If perimenopausal night sweats or hot flashes make you kick off the covers, then try a cooling mattress pad, moisture-wicking sheets, or a pair of breathable cotton pajamas.

Relax right

Instead of mulling over the day’s events when you get in bed, try journaling about the big stuff at least two hours earlier, so your mind’s not racing when you turn in, Darley says. Right before bed, try a relaxing imagery exercise: Picture any tranquil scene, like a day at the beach. Over time, the new routine will help cue your brain to settle down.

Source: [Health.com]