Car care tips for Toronto drivers

Plain-language advice from our shop at Leslie and Eastern, written for Toronto roads and Toronto weather.

Getting your car ready for a Toronto winter

The first cold snap is when we see the most no-starts, worn wipers and bald tires. Twenty minutes of checking now saves a tow in January. Here's what we look at on every winter check.

When to switch to winter tires in Toronto

Short answer: once daytime temperatures stay around 7 degrees Celsius or colder, which in Toronto is usually late October to mid November. Here's why, and how to make the most of your winter set.

Why your car won't start on a cold morning

A cold morning is the hardest test a car gets. Oil is thicker, the engine is harder to turn and the battery has less power to do it. Here's what usually goes wrong and how to tell which one you have.

Car heater blowing cold air? Here's why

Your car's heater uses hot coolant from the engine to warm the cabin. When the air stays cold, something in that loop isn't working. These are the five causes we see most.

How much does a tire swap cost in Toronto?

At our shop at Leslie and Eastern, an on-rim seasonal swap is $60 & up, an off-rim swap is $120 & up for a set of four, and winter tire storage is $100 & up per season. Which one you need depends on whether your winter tires have their own rims.

Ontario safety certificates, explained

A Safety Standards Certificate (often called a safety) shows that a vehicle met Ontario's minimum safety standards on the day it was inspected. We're a licensed Ontario inspection station at 810 Eastern Ave, so we can inspect your vehicle and issue one when it passes.

Is rust proofing worth it in Toronto?

For a car you plan to keep through several Toronto winters, usually yes. The city salts its roads all winter, and salty slush works into seams, wheel wells and the underbody. Rust proofing at our shop is $120 & up.

How often should you change your oil?

Follow your owner's manual or the car's oil-life monitor. For city driving in Toronto, use the severe-service schedule if your manual has one. A full-synthetic oil change at our shop is $60 & up.