TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1998 Owners Manual

4RUNNER (1998)
Fuel
FUEL TYPE
Your new vehicle must use only un-
leaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mixups,
your Toyota has a new smaller fuel
tank opening. The special nozzle on
pumps with unleaded fuel will fit it,
but the larger standard nozzle on
pumps with leaded gas will not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use
should meet the specifications of
ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB
3.5- M93 in Canada.
NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline will cause thethree- way catalytic converter to
lose its effectiveness and the
emission control system to func-tion improperly. Also, this can in-crease maintenance costs.
OCTANE RATING
Select Octane Rating 87 (Research
Octane Number 91) or higher.
Use of unleaded gasoline with an oc-
tane rating or research octane number
lower than stated above will cause
persistent heavy knocking. If it is se-
vere, this will lead to engine damage.
If your engine knocks...
If you detect heavy knocking even
when using the recommended fuel, or
if you hear steady knocking while
holding a steady speed on level
roads, consult your Toyota dealer.
However, now and then, you may no-
tice light knocking for a short time
while accelerating or driving up hills.
This is no need of concern.
GASOLINES CONTAINING DETER-
GENT ADDITIVES
Toyota recommends use of gaso-
lines that contain detergent addi-
tives to avoid build- up of engine
deposits.
For further details, ask your Toyota
dealer or a local gasoline retailer. IMPROVED GASOLINES
The American Automobile Manufac-
turers Association (AAMA) has de-
veloped a specification of improved
gasolines. The AAMA specification
offers optimal fuel information for
better vehicle performance and bet-
ter protection of your engine.
Toyota recommends the use of gaso-
lines that meet the AAMA specifica-
tion, if available, for improved drive-
ability and emission control system.
GASOLINES CONTAINING MTBE
Gasolines that contain MTBE (Meth-
yl Tertiary- Butyl Ether) are available
in the market. If you use a gasoline
mixed with MTBE, make certain that
it does not contain more than 15%
of MTBE.
If the use of gasolines containing
MTBE causes poor driveability and/or
poor fuel economy, you should discon-
tinue the use of fuels containingMTBE.

4RUNNER (1998)
GASOLINES CONTAINING MMT
Some gasolines contain an
octane- enhancing additive called
MMT (methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl).
Toyota does not recommend the use
of gasolines that contain MMT. If fuels
containing MMT are used, your emis-
sion control system may be adversely
affected. The Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on the instrument cluster may
come on. If this happens, contact your
Toyota dealer for service.
GASOLINES CONTAINING ALCOHOL
If you use gasohol in your Toyota,
be sure that it is unleaded, has an
octane rating no lower than 87 and
does not contain more than 10%
ethanol.
Gasohol is a mixture of gasoline and
ethanol.
Toyota does not recommend the use
of gasolines containing methanol. If
you use gasoline containing methanol,
use only gasoline meeting the require-
ments above and also containing less
than 5% methanol with cosolvents and
corrosion inhibitors for methanol.NOTICE
Do not use gasohol other than
stated above. It will cause fuelsystem damage or vehicle per-formance problems.
If driveab ility problems occur
(poor hot starting, vaporizing, engine knock, etc.), discontinue
the use.
Take care not to spill gasoholduring refueling. Gasohol maycause paint damage.
FUEL TANK CAPACITY
70 L (18.5 gal., 15.4 Imp. gal.) Operation in foreign coun-
tries
If you plan to drive your Toyota in
another country...
First,
comply with the vehicle registra-
tion laws.Second, confirm the availability of the
correct fuel (unleaded and minimum
octane number).

4RUNNER (1998)
Three- way catalytic convert- er
The three- way catalytic converter is
an emission control device installed
in the exhaust system.
The purpose is to reduce pollutants in
the exhaust gas.
CAUTION
Keep people and combustible
materials away from the exhaust
pipe while the engine is run-
ning. The exhaust gas is very
hot.
Do not drive, idle or park your
vehicle over anything that might
burn easily such as grass,
leaves, paper or rags.

4RUNNER (1998)
NOTICE
A large amount of unburned
gases flowing into the three- waycatalytic converter may cause itto overheat and create a fire haz-
ard. To prevent this and otherdamage, observe the followingprecautions:
Use only unleaded gasoline.
Do not drive with an extremely
low fuel level; running out offuel could cause the engine to misfire, creating an excessive
load on the three- way catalyticconverter.
Do not allow the engine to runat idle speed for more than 20 minutes.
Avoid racing the engine.
Do not push- start or pull- start
your vehicle.
Do not turn off the ignitionwhile the vehicle is moving.
Keep your engine in good run-
ning order. Malfunctions in theengine electrical system, elec-tronic ignition system/distribu-
tor ignition system or fuel sys-tems could cause an extremelyhigh three- way catalytic con-
verter temperature.
If the engine becomes difficultto start or stalls frequently,
take your vehicle in for acheck- up as soon as possible.
Remember, your Toyota dealer
knows your vehicle and itsthree- way catalytic converter
system best.
To ensure that the three- waycatalytic converter and the en-
tire emission control system op-erate properly, your vehiclemust receive the periodic in-
spections required by the Toyo-ta Maintenance Schedule. For scheduled maintenance informa-
tion, refer to the separateºOwner 's Manual Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.
Engine exhaust cautions
CAUTION
Avoid inhaling the engine ex-
haust. It contains carbon mon-
oxide, which is a colorless and
odorless gas. It can cause un-
consciousness or even death.
Make sure the exhaust system
has no holes or loose connec-
tions. The system should be
checked from time to time. If
you hit something, or notice a
change in the sound of the ex-
haust, have the system checked
immediately.
Do not run the engine in a ga-
rage or enclosed area except
for the time needed to drive the
vehicle in or out. The exhaust
gases cannot escape, making
this a particularly dangerous
situation.
Do not remain for a long time
in a parked vehicle with the en-
gine running. If it is unavoid-
able, however, do so only in an
unconfined area and adjust the
heating or cooling system to
force outside air into the ve-
hicle.

4RUNNER (1998)
Keep the back door and back
window closed while driving. An
open or unsealed back door and
back window, may cause ex-
haust gases to be drawn into
the vehicle. If you must drive
with the trunk lid open to ac-
commodate a large object, close
the windows, open all the
instrument panel vents and
have the heating or cooling sys-
tem deliver fresh air into the
vehicle by turning the fan to
high speed with the air intake
control set at the outside air
position.
To allow proper operation of
your vehicle's ventilation sys-
tem, keep the inlet grilles in
front of the windshield clear of
snow, leaves, or other obstruc-
tions.
If you smell exhaust fumes in
the vehicle, drive with the win-
dows open and the back door
and back window closed. Have
the cause immediately located
and corrected.FUNCTIONS OF ENGINE OIL
Engine oil has the primary functions
of lubricating and cooling the inside of
the engine, and plays a major role in
maintaining the engine in proper work-
ing order.
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION
It is normal that an engine should
consume some engine oil during
normal engine operation. The
causes of oil consumption in a nor-
mal engine are as follows.
Oil is used to lubricate pistons,
piston rings and cylinders. A thin
film of oil is left on the cylinder
wall when a piston moves down-
wards in the cylinder. High nega-
tive pressure generated when the
vehicle is decelerating sucks some
of this oil into the combustion
chamber. This oil as well as some
part of the oil film left on the cylin-
der wall is burned by the high tem-
perature combustion gases during
the combustion process.
Oil is also used to lubricate the
stems of the intake valves. Some
of this oil is sucked into the com-
bustion chamber together with the
intake air and is burned along with
the fuel. High temperature exhaust
gases also burn the oil used to
lubricate the exhaust valve stems.
The amount of engine oil consumed
depends on the viscosity of the oil,
the quality of the oil and the condi-
tions the vehicle is driven under.
More oil is consumed by high- speed
driving and frequent acceleration and
deceleration.
A new engine consumes more oil,
since its pistons, piston rings and cyl-
inder walls have not become condi-
tioned.
When judging the amount of oil
consumption, note that the oil may
become diluted and make it difficult
to judge the true level accurately.
As an example, if a vehicle is used
for repeated short trips, and consumes
a normal amount of oil, the dipstick
may not show any drop in the oil
level at all, even after 1000 km (600
miles) or more. This is because the
oil is gradually becoming diluted with
fuel or moisture, making it appear that
the oil level has not changed.
Facts about engine oil
consumption

4RUNNER (1998)
The diluting ingredients evaporate out
when the vehicle is then driven at
high speeds, as on an expressway,
making it appear that oil is excessive-
ly consumed after driving at high
speeds.
IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE OIL LEV-
EL CHECK
One of the most important points in
proper vehicle maintenance is to keep
the engine oil at the optimum level so
that oil function will not be impaired.
Therefore, it is essential that the oil
level be checked regularly. Toyota rec-
ommends that the oil level be checked
every time you refuel the vehicle.
NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level regu-
larly could lead to serious enginetrouble due to insufficient oil.
For detailed information on oil level
check, see ºChecking the engine oil
levelº in Chapter 7- 2. Twin ground electrode spa
r
plugs (5VZ- FE engine)

4RUNNER (1998)
Your engine is fitted with twin
ground electrode spark plugs.
NOTICE
Use only twin ground electrode
spark plugs for your engine per-formance.
Brake system
TANDEM MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKE SYSTEM
The tandem master cylinder brake
system is a hydraulic system with two
separate sub- systems. If either sub-
system s hould fail, the other will still
work. However, the pedal will be hard-
er to press, and your stopping dis-
tance will be longer. Also, the brake
system warning light may come on.
CAUTION
Do not drive your vehicle with
only a single brake system. Have
your brakes fixed immediately.
BRAKE BOOSTER The brake booster uses engine vacu-
um to power- assist the brakes. If the
engine should quit while you are driv-
ing, you can bring the vehicle to a
stop with normal pedal pressure.
There is enough reserve vacuum for
one or two stopsÐbut no more!
CAUTION

Do not pump the brake pedal if
the engine stalls. Each push on
the pedal uses up your vacuum
reserve.

4RUNNER (1998)
Even if the power assist is
completely lost, the brakes will
still work. But you will have to
push the pedal hardÐmuch
harder than normal. And your
braking distance will be longer.
ANTI- LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(with ºABSº warning light)
The anti- lock brake system is de-
signed to automatically help prevent
lock- up of the wheels during sudden
braking or braking on slippery road
surfaces. This assists in providing
directional stab ility and steering per-
formance of the vehicle under these
circumstances.
The anti- lock brake system becomes
operative after the vehicle has accel-
erated to a speed in excess of
approximately 10 km/h (6 mph). It
stops operating when the vehicle de-
celerates to a speed below approxi-
mately 5 km/h (3 mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment for a few seconds when
the engine is started or just after the
vehicle is started. This means that the
anti- lock brake system is in the self
check mode, and does not indicate a
malfunction. Effective way to press the ºABSº
brake pedal: When the anti- lock brake
system function is in action, you may
feel the brake pedal pulsating and
hear a noise. In this situation, to let
the anti- lock brake system work for
you, just hold the brake pedal down
more firmly. Do not pump the brake.
This will result in reduced braking per-
formance.
The brake pedal pulsation caused by
the anti- lock brake system may indi-
cate hazardous road surface condi-
tions. Although the anti- lock brake
system assists in providing vehicle
control, it is still important to drive
with all due care, because the anti-
lock brake system cannot overcome
the laws of physics that act on your
vehicle:
Braking capab ility is dependent on
tire friction with the road surface.
Even though the anti- lock brake
system is operating, a driver can-
not maintain full control on certain
slippery road surfaces, when cor-
nering at high speeds, or in violent
maneuvers.
Avoid high speeds on wet roads.
The anti- lock brake system cannot
eliminate the risk of hydroplaning
and loss of tire friction. Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Compared
with vehicles not fitted with an anti-
lock brake system, your vehicle may
require a longer stopping distance in
the following cases:
Driving on rough, gravel or snow-
covered roads.
Driving with tire chains installed.
Driving on roads where the road
surface is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.
CAUTION
Do not use tires other than the
manufacturer 's designated tires,
and do not mix tires or wheels of
different sizes. You may prevent
the antilock brake system from
operating at full effectiveness.
Vehicles with rear differential lock sys-
tem 'The anti- lock brake system does
not operate when the rear differential
is locked. It is normal operation for
the ºABSº warning light to be on at
this time.

4RUNNER (1998)
Ty p e A
Ty p e B
ºABSº warning light This light comes on when the ignition
key is turned to the ºONº position.
After about 3 seconds, the light will
go off.

4RUNNER (1998)
When the light is on with the rear
differential locked, it indicates the
anti- lock brake system will not oper-
ate.
If either of the following conditions
occurs, this indicates a malfunction
somewhere in the parts monitored by
the warning light system. Contact your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on as
described above, or remains on.
The light comes on while driving
with the rear differential unlocked.
The light does not come on with
the rear differential locked.
The light comes on while driving. Even if the anti- lock brake system
should fail, the brake system will still
operate conventionally. However, when
the ºABSº warning light is on (and the
brake system warning light is off), the
anti- lock brake system is not assist-
ing brake performance so that the
wheels can lock- up during sudden
braking or braking on slippery road
surfaces. Have your vehicle checked
by your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible.
Brake pad wear limit indica-
tors