TOYOTA AVALON 2011 XX30 / 3.G Owners Manual

391
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Hood
CAUTION
■Pre-driving check
Check that the hood is fully closed and locked.
If the hood is not locked properly it may open while the vehicle is in motion
and cause an accident, which may result in death or serious injury.
Release the lock from the inside of the vehicle to open the hood.
Pull the hood lock release
lever.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Lift the hood catch and lift the
hood.

392
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Positioning a floor jack
When raising your vehicle with a floor jack, position the jack cor-
rectly. Improper placement may damage your vehicle or cause injury.
Front
Rear

4
Maintenance and care
393 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■When raising your vehicle
Make sure to observe the following to reduce the possibility of death or seri-
ous injury.
●When using a floor jack, follow the instructions of the manual provided with
the jack.
●Do not use the jack that was supplied with your vehicle.
●Do not put any part of your body or get underneath the vehicle supported
only by the jack.
●Always use floor jack and/or automotive jack stands on a solid, flat, level
surface.
●Do not start the engine while the vehicle is supported by the floor jack.
●Stop the vehicle on level firm ground, firmly set the parking brake and put
the shift lever in “P”.
●Make sure to set the floor jack properly at the jack point.
Raising the vehicle with an improperly positioned floor jack will damage
the vehicle and may cause the vehicle to fall off the floor jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle while someone is in the vehicle.
●When raising the vehicle, do not place any objects on top of or underneath
the floor jack.
●Lift up the vehicle using a floor jack
such as the one shown in the illustra-
tion.

394
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Engine compar tment
Engine coolant reservoir
(P. 400)
Power steering fluid
reservoir (P. 403)
Engine oil filler cap
(P. 397)
Engine oil level dipstick
(P. 396)Brake fluid reservoir
(P. 402)
Fuse box (P. 432)
Battery (P. 405)
Radiator (P. 401)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser (P. 401)
Washer fluid tank
(P. 408)

4
Maintenance and care
395 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Engine compartment cover
■Removing the cover
■Installing the clips
Open
Insert
Press
NOTICE
■After installing an engine compartment cover
Make sure that the cover is securely installed in its original position.

396 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Engine oil
With the engine at operating temperature and turned off, check the oil
level on the dipstick.
■Checking the engine oil
Park the vehicle on level ground. After turning off the engine,
wait more than five minutes for the oil to drain back into the
bottom of the engine.
Hold a rag under the end and
pull the dipstick out.
Wipe the dipstick clean.
Reinsert the dipstick fully.
Holding a rag under the end, pull the dipstick out and check
the oil level.
Wipe the dipstick and reinsert it fully.
Low
Full

4
Maintenance and care
397 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)■Adding engine oil
If the oil level is below or near
the low level mark, add engine
oil of the same type as already in
the engine.
Make sure to check the oil type and prepare the items needed before
adding oil.
Remove the oil filler cap.
Add engine oil slowly, checking the dipstick.
Install the filler cap, turning it clockwise.
Engine oil
selectionP. 510
Oil quantity
(Low  Full)1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 Imp.qt.)
Items Clean funnel

398 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■Engine oil consumption
●The amount of engine oil consumed depends on the oil viscosity, the
quality of the oil and the way the vehicle is driven.
●More oil is consumed under driving conditions such as high speeds, fre-
quent acceleration and deceleration.
●A new engine consumes more oil.
●When judging the amount of oil consumption, keep in mind that the oil
may have become diluted, making it difficult to judge the true level accu-
rately.
●Oil consumption: Max. 1.1 qt./600 miles, 0.9 lmp.qt./600 miles (1.0 L per
1000 km). If the vehicle consumes more than this amount, contact your
Toyota dealer.
■After changing the engine oil (U.S.A.only)
The oil change system should be reset. Perform the following procedures:
Switch the display to the odometer. (P. 165)
Turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch or the engine switch OFF.
Vehicles with smart key system: While pressing the trip meter reset
button, turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch to IGNITION ON
mode. Continue to press and hold the button until the trip meter dis-
plays 000000.
Vehicles without smart key system: While pressing the trip meter
reset button, turn the engine switch to the “ON” position. Continue
to press and hold the button until the trip meter displays 000000.

4
Maintenance and care
399 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains potentially harmful contaminants which may
cause skin disorders such as inflammation or skin cancer, so care should
be taken to avoid prolonged and repeated contact. To remove used engine
oil from your skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
●Dispose of used oil and filters only in a safe and acceptable manner. Do
not dispose of used oil and filters in household trash, in sewers or onto the
ground.
Call your Toyota dealer, service station or auto parts store for information
concerning recycling or disposal.
●Do not leave used engine oil within the reach of children.
NOTICE
■To prevent serious engine damage
Check the oil level on regular basis.
■When replacing the engine oil
●Be careful not to spill engine oil on the vehicle components.
●Avoid overfilling, or the engine could be damaged.
●Check the oil level on the dipstick every time you refill the vehicle.
●Be sure the engine oil filler cap is properly tightened.

400 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Engine coolant
The coolant level is satisfactory if it is between the “F” and “L” lines on
the reservoir when the engine is cold.
Reservoir cap
Full
Low
If the level is on or below the “L”
line, add coolant up to the “F” line.
■If the coolant level drops within a short time after replenishing
Visually check the radiator, hoses, coolant reservoir cap, radiator cap, drain
cock and water pump.
If you cannot find a leak, have your Toyota dealer pressure test the cap and
check for leaks in the cooling system.
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or similar high quality ethylene
glycol based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant
with long-life hybrid organic acid technology.
U.S.A.: “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 50 % coolant and
50 % deionized water. (Enabled: -31F [-35C])
Canada: “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 55 % coolant
and 45 % deionized water. (Enabled: -44F [-42C])
For more details about coolant, contact your Toyota dealer.