Essential Toyota Coaster Maintenance Tips For Your Bus
The Toyota Coaster bus has an excellent reputation as a reliable vehicle, and that is just one of the many reasons why it is a popular option to convert to a motorhome. If you have lovingly converted a bus to a motorhome, or spent good money buying one that has already been converted, you want to make sure you give it some love and look after it. Here are 10 essential Toyota Coaster maintenance tips to make sure your bus stays in tip top condition.
1. Park Your Bus In A Sheltered Spot
If you are able to, park your bus in a locked garage when it is not being used. This will help keep it clean and safe, and reduce the maintenance required. The more shelter you can provide for your motorhome, the longer it will last.
2. Wash Your Motorhome Regularly
Everyone can do this, right! It definitely needs to be on your essential Toyota Coaster maintenance tips checklist. Washing the bus keeps the paintwork in good condition and gets rid of anything that can cause long term damage to the paintwork. Think bugs, bird droppings, road tar and mud especially.
I use a heavy duty truck and car detergent. There are a few brands to choose from, and are available from hardware stores or automotive shops for about $10. The heavy duty wash is really good at removing all the nasty things that will damage your paint work, and does it pretty easily so there is not too much scrubbing involved.
Start with the roof of the bus. Yes, you will need a ladder to reach it, so be careful. Then use a long handled brush or a mop to clean the roof. Don’t climb up onto the roof, do your best to reach all areas from the ladder. Once the roof is clean, work your way around all sides of the bus to clean it, carefully checking for signs of rust at the same time. Finally, rinse it off with the hose and then go over the bus with a chamois to dry it.
It is worth applying a protective wax once or twice a year, depending on how much you use your bus. This will help prevent rust and sun damage. Rust is one of the most common problems with Toyota Coasters so it is worth doing everything you can to prevent it.
3. Check Your Oil and Water Levels
Checking your engine vitals regularly can give you peace of mind, confidence in your vehicle and even save you costly repairs by picking up potential problems early.
If you don’t already know, find out where to check your engine oil, radiator levels and windscreen wiper fluid levels. Whilst you are at it, check your that your headlights, indicators and brake lights are working, and that your tyre pressure is good. I do this prior to every trip.
4. Pest Control
Last year I removed the engine cover to check the oil and found a well built nest inside it, carefully put together with scraps of lawn clippings and leaves. No living creature inside it, thankfully! But it certainly made me jump.
Every since then I have set rat and mice traps in the garage around the bus, and make lots of noise when I go to check the engine! Thankfully we haven’t had a repeat of this situation but it is a good example of why you should check the engine regularly as part of your essential Toyota Coaster maintenance tips checklist. Mice and rats can do lots of damage to vehicle wiring and other parts if left unchecked.
It’s also a good idea to remove all food products from your bus when it is not being used because they could attract rodents and other animals and insects. Cockroach baits hidden in strategic places within the van are also a good idea, as is a can of insect spray to control flies and mozzies when you are on the road.
5. Interior Cleaning of your Toyota Coaster
Sweep and mop the interior floors, and wipe down all surfaces after every trip to keep your Toyota Coaster spick and span. Once a year I give the upholstery a good clean with upholstery cleaner.
6. Clean Drains and Pipes
After every trip and before the next one, I sanitise the toilet cassette and clean the drains.
For the toilet cassette, I personally use the Odour B Gone tablets, but there are many products available so choose one that suits your needs. For the tablets, I just drop one into the cassette and add half a cup of water, then leave it for a few days to work it’s magic. Then, simply empty the cassette and you are good to go.
For the greywater tank, I use the popular coke method where you tip 8 litres of cheap coke down the kitchen sink and then go for a drive for an hour or so to give it a good chance to mix around (make sure you shut off the drain pipe first!). Then, open the external drain pipe and let it all drain out into a bucket.
For the freshwater tank, here is a great guide to follow. Regularly sanitize the freshwater tank and pipes to avoid contamination, and drain the water tanks when not in use to prevent stagnation.
7. Fire Safety for your Motorhome
Pick a date and put it in your calendar as an annual reminder to check your fire safety items. Replace or service your fire extinguisher and test the batteries in your smoke alarm every year as part of your essential Toyota Coaster maintenance tips checklist. This is also a timely reminder to ensure your Toyota Coaster Motorhome is adequately insured.
8. Appliance check
Check that the fridge, stove, and air conditioning systems are working efficiently and consider having them serviced regularly to avoid costly repairs.
An annual inspection of gas and electrical fittings is a good idea to ensure they are safe and working correctly. Gas leaks in particular are dangerous and can be fatal, so be alert for suspicious gas smells when you are away in your bus, and make sure the gas bottle is turned off when you are not using it.
Maintain your heating and/or cooling system by cleaning vents and filters regularly. By doing this it will use less power and be more efficient.
9. Declutter your Bus
Do a regular stocktake of items stored inside the bus, remove any food items that are out of date, and anything that is no longer required. This will help keep the overall weight of the bus down, and therefore save on fuel. Make sure everything is secured properly so it stays put when the bus is on the move.
10. Mechanical Maintenance
It goes without saying that your Toyota Coaster needs regular mechanical maintenance. If you haven’t already done so, find yourself a good mechanic that is experienced with Toyota Coasters. As with all vehicles, your Toyota Coaster needs a service schedule to keep it in tip top condition. Here is what should be on your service schedule:
Regular Oil Changes: Change the oil and oil filter every 5,000 to 10,000 km to keep the engine running smoothly.
Check and Rotate Tires: Inspect tires regularly for wear, and rotate them every 10,000 km to ensure even tread and longevity.
Battery Care: Clean battery terminals, check electrolyte levels, and ensure the battery is properly charged before long trips.
Brake System Maintenance: Inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid levels regularly, replacing parts when necessary.
Cooling System Check: Keep an eye on the coolant level, radiator hoses, and cooling fan to prevent overheating.
Inspect Belts and Hoses: Check the condition of serpentine belts and hoses for cracks or wear, replacing them as needed.
Flush Transmission Fluid: Service the transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 km to avoid gear-shifting problems.
Monitor Exhaust System: Check for any signs of rust, leaks, or loud noises from the exhaust, which may signal an issue.
Look after your Toyota Coaster Motorhome and it will look after you!
Make the most of these easy and essential Toyota Coaster maintenance tips
By following these essential Toyota Coaster maintenance tips you will ensure your bus remains in good working order for many years to come.
If you own a Toyota Coaster bus you are in good company. Here in Australia, Coasters have been a popular choice of mini-bus for over 40 years. There are tens of thousands of them running around on the roads all over the country! Not only are they popular here, but also in China, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. From these countries they are exported all over the world.
Toyota is a reliable brand worldwide, so the Coasters are relatively inexpensive to service and find parts for. The body of the vehicle is strong and durable, and it has plenty of internal space to fit out as a motorhome. As a bonus, you can actually stand up inside it! You can’t do that with every bus or motorhome.
The diesel engine of the Toyota Coaster has a reputation for being extremely reliable, and has been known to be good for hundreds of thousands of kilometres. Some have been known to last up to 600,000 kilometres!
All this is proof that your Coaster Bus is worth looking after as it will hold its value for you in the long run. Follow these essential Toyota Coaster maintenance tips to help you do this.
Happy Coasting!
