oil type TOYOTA RAV4 1997 Owners Manual

Publication No. OM42453U
Part No. 01999-42453
Printed in Japan 01- 9705- 00
Quick index If a service reminder indicator or warning buzzer comes on 71 . . . . .
If your vehicle will not start 131
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If your engine stalls while driving 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle overheats 135
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If you have a flat tire 136
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If your vehicle needs to be towed 143 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tips for driving during break- in period 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to start the engine 119
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General maintenance 156
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Complete index 203
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Gas station information
Fuel type: UNLEADED gasoline, Octane Rating 87 (Research Octane Number
91) or higher.
For improved vehicle performance, the use of premium unleaded
gasoline with an Octane Rating of 91 (Research Octane Number
96) or higher is recommended.
See page 108 for detailed information.
Fuel tank capacity: 58 L (15.3 gal., 12.8 lmp. gal.)
Engine oil: API SH, ''Energy- Conserving II'' or ILSAC multigrade engine oil
is recommended.
See page 170 for detailed information.
Tire information: See pages 173 through 178.
Tire pressure: See page 198. U
3
I

Part 2Off-road vehicle precautions
107
INFORMATION
BEFORE DRIVING
YOUR TOYOTA
Off-road vehicle precautions
Break-in period
Fuel
Operation in foreign countries
Three-way catalytic converter
Engine exhaust cautions
Facts about engine oil consumption
Brake system
Brake pad wear limit indicators
Luggage stowage precautions
Limited-slip differential
Your Toyota's idenitification
Theft prevention labels
Suspension and chassis
Types of tires
This vehicle is one of the class of ve-
hicles which have higher ground
clearances and narrower tread in rela-
tion to the height of their center of
gravity to make them capable of per-forming in a wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design charac-
teristics
give it a higher center of gravi-
ty than ordinary cars. An advantage of
the higher ground clearance is a better
view of the road allowing you to antici-
pate problems. It is not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as con-
ventional two-wheel drive vehicles
any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road condtions.
CAUTION!
Always observe the following pre-
cautions to minimize the risk of se-
rious personal injury or damage toyour vehicle: Avoid loading any items on the
roof that will make the center of
gravity even higher.
Avoid sharp turns or abrupt ma-
neuvers, if at all possible. As with
other vehicles of this type, failure
to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or ve-
hicle rollover.
Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. Because of its high center
of gravity, your vehicle is more
sensitive to side winds than an or-
dinary passsenger car. Slowing
down will allow you to have much
better control.

122
The driver and all passengers
should fasten their seat belts when-
ever the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE
If driving through water, such as
when crossing shallow streams,
first check the depth of the water
and the bottom of the river bed forfirmness. Drive slowly and avoid
deep water.
Take all necessary safety measuresto ensure that water damage to the
engine or other components does
not occur.Water entering the engine air in-
take will cause severe engine dam-age.Water can wash the grease from
wheel bearings, causing rusting and premature failure, and mayalso enter the differentials, trans-
mission and transfer case, reduc-ing the gear oil's lubricating quali-ties.
Sand and mud that has accumu-lated in brake drums and around
brake discs may affect braking ef-
ficiency and may damage brakesystem components.
Always perform a maintenance in-
spection after each day of off- road driving that has taken you
through rough terrain, sand, mud,
or water. For scheduled mainte-nance information, refer to the
separate Owner's Manual Sup- plement/Maintenance Scheduleº.
Make sure you have ethylene-glycol
antifreeze in the radiator.
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze.
NOTICE
Check the condition of the battery and cables. Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of
any battery, so it must be in top shape to provide enough power for winter starting. Chapter 7-3 tells you how to visually in-
spect the battery. Your Toyota dealer and
most service stations will be pleased to check the level of charge.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See Chapter 7-2 for recommended vis-
cosity. Leaving a heavy summer oil in your
vehicle during winter months may cause
harder starting. If you are not sure about
which oil to use, call your Toyota dealer- he will be pleased to help. Keep the door locks from freezing. Squirt lock de-icer or glycerine into the
locks to keep them from freezing. To open
a frozen lock, try heating the key before in-serting it.
Winter driving tips

165
Be sure that the ignition is off if
you work near the electric cooling
fans or radiator grille. With the
ignition on, the electric cooling
fans will automatically start to run
if the engine coolant temperature
is high and/or the air conditioning
is on.
Use eye protection whenever you
work on or under you vehicle
where you may be exposed to fly-
ing or falling material, fluid spray,etc.
Used engine oil contains poten-
tially harmful contaminants which
may cause skin disorders such as
inflammation or skin cancer, so
care should be taken to avoid pro-
longed and repeated contact with
it. To remove used engine oil from
your skin, wash thoroughly with
soap and water.
Do not leave used oil within the reach of children.Dispose of used oil and filter only
in a safe and acceptable manner.
Do not dispose of used oil and fil-
ter in household trash, in sewers
or onto the ground. Call your deal- er or a service station for informa-
tion concerning recycling or dis- posal.

Remember that battery and igni- tion cable carry high currents or
voltages. Be careful of accidental-
ly causing a short circuit.
Add only demineralized or dis- tilled water to fill the radiator. And
if you spill some of the coolant, be sure to wash it off with water to
prevent it from damaging theparts or paint.
Do not allow dirt or anything elseto fall through the spark plug
holes.
Do not pry the outer electrode of aspark plug against the center elec-
trode.
Use only spark plugs of the speci- fied type. Using other types will
cause engine damage, loss of per-
formance or radio noise.
NOTICE
Do not overfill automatic trans-
mission fluid and transfer oil or
the transmission and transfercould be damaged.
Do not drive with the air cleaner fil-
ter removed, or excessive enginewear could result. Also backfiringcould cause a fire in the engine
compartment.
Be careful not to scratch the glasssurface with the wiper frame.
When closing the engine hood,
check to see that you have not for-
gotten any tools, rags, etc.

166Here is a list of parts and tools you will
need on performing do-it-yourself main-
tenance. Remember all Toyota parts are
designed in metric sizes, so your tools
must be metric. Checking the engine oil level Parts (if level is low):
Engine oil API SH, Energy-Conserv-
ing IIº multigrade or ILSAC multigrade
having viscosity proper for your cli-mate
Tools: Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding oil)
Checking the engine coolant level Parts (if level is low): Ethylene-glycol antifreeze
Demineralized or distilled water
Tools: Funnel (only for adding coolant)
Checking brake fluid Parts (if level is low): SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3 brake fluid Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Checking power steering fluid Parts (if level is low): Automatic transmission fluid DEX- RON [
-II or III
Tools: Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Checking battery condition Non-maintenance batteriesÐ
Tools: Warm water
Baking soda
Grease
Conventional wrench (for terminal clamp bolts)
Maintenance type batteriesÐ Parts (if level is low): Distilled water Tools:
Warm water
Baking soda
Grease
Conventional wrench (for terminal clamp bolts)
Coin (for vent plugs)
Funnel (only for adding distilled water)
Checking and replacing fuses Parts (if replacement is necessary): Fuse with same amperage rating as original
Tools: Screwdriver (for driver's side instru-
ment lower panel nut)
Conventional wrench (for passenger's
side kick panel nut)
Adding washer fluid Parts: Water
Washer fluid containing antifreeze (for winter use)
Parts and tools

Part 7Checking the engine oil level
169
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCEÐ
Chapter 7-2 Engine and Chassis
Checking the engine oil level
Checking the engine coolant level
Checking brake fluid
Checking power steering fluid
Checking tire pressure
Checking and replacing tires
Rotating tires

Installing snow tires and chains
Replacing wheels
Aluminum wheel precautions
With the engine at operating tempera- ture and turned off, check the oil level
on the dipstick.
1. To get a true reading, the vehicle
should be on a level spot. After turning
off the engine, wait a few minutes for
the oil to drain back into the bottom ofthe engine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, and wipe it clean with a rag.
3. Reinsert the dipstick 'push it in as far
as it will go, or the reading will not becorrect.
4. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil level on the end.
CAUTION!
Be careful not to touch the hot ex-
haust manifold.
If the oil level is below or only slightly
above the low level line, add engine oil
of the same type as already in the en- gine. Remove the oil filter cap and add engine oil in small quantities at a time, checking the dipstick.
The approximate quantity of oil needed to
fill between the low level line and the full
level line on the dipstick is indicated below
for reference.
When the level reaches within the correct range, install the filler cap hand-tight.
Oil quantity, L (qt., Imp. qt.): 1.0 (1.1, 0.9)

Avoid overfilling, or the engine could be damaged.
Check the oil level on the dipstick
once again after adding the oil.
NOTICE

195
Model:
3S-FE
Type: 4 cylinder in line, 4 cycle, gasoline
Bore and stroke, mm (in.):
86.0 X 86.0 (3.39 X 3.39)
Displacement, cm 3
(cu. in):
1998 (121.9) Fuel type:
unleaded gasoline, Research Octane Number 91 (Octane rating 87) or higher
Fuel tank capacity, L (gal., Imp. gal.):
58 (15.3, 12.8) ENGINE
Valve clearance (engine cold), mm (in.)
Intake 0.19 '0.29 (0.007 '0.011)
Exhaust 0.28 '0.38 (0.011 '0.015)
Spark plug type: NIPPONDENSO PK20R11
NGK BKR6EP-1 1
Spark plug gap, mm (in.): 1.1 (0.043)
Drive belt tension measured with Bor-
oughs drive belt tension gauge No.
BT-33-73F (used belt), Ibf: Generator belt 95 + 20
Air conditioning
compressor belt 66 - 99 Power steering
pump belt 80 + 20
ENGINE LUBRICATION Oil capacity (drain and refill), L (qt., Imp. qt.): With filter
4.1 (4.3, 3.6)
Without filter 3.9 (4.1, 3.4)
Engine Fuel Service specifications

196
Oil grade:
API SH, Energy-Conserving IIº mul-
tigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade en-
gine oil is recommended. Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
COOLING SYSTEM
Total capacity, L (qt., Imp., qt.):
Manual Transmission 8.0 (8.5, 7.0)
Automatic transmission
7.7 (8.1, 6.8) Coolant type:
With ethylene-glycol antifreeze (Do not use alcohol type.)
BATTERY Open voltage* at 20 C (68 F):
12.6 '12.8 V Fully charged
12.2 '12.4 V Half charged
11.8 '12.0 V Discharged
*: Voltage that is checked 20 minutes after
the key is removed with all the lights
turned off Charging rates: 5 A max.
CLUTCH
Pedal freeplay, mm (in.):
5' 15 (0.2 '0.6)
Fluid type: SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3
MANUAL TRANSAXLE
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.): Two-wheel drive models 3.9 (4.1, 3.4)
Four-wheel drive models
5.0 (5.3, 4.4) Oil type:
Two-wheel drive models
Multipurpose gear oil API GL-4 or GL-5
Four-wheel drive models
Multipurpose gear oil API GL-5
Recommended oil viscosity:
SAE 75W-90
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE Fluid capacity (drain and refill), L (qt., Imp. qt.): Two-wheel drive models Up to 3.3 (3.5, 2.9)
Four-wheel drive models Up to 7.0 (7.4, 6.2)
Fluid type:
Two-wheel drive models Automatic transmission fluid D-II or DEXRON [
III (DEX
RON [
II)
Four-wheel drive models Toyota automatic transaxle
fluid Type T or equivalent

197
TRANSFER
(four-wheel drive models with an au-
tomatic transaxle)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
0.7 (0.7, 0.6)
Oil type:
Multipurpose gear oil API GL-5
Recommended oil viscosity: SAE 75W-90
REAR DIFFERENTIAL (four-wheel drive models)
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.): 0.9 (1.0, 0.8)
Oil type: Hypoid gear oil API GL-5
Recommended oil viscosity:
Above -18 C (0 F)
SAE 90
Below -18 C (0 F)
SAE 80W or 80W-90 BRAKES Minimum pedal clearance when de- pressed with the pressure of 490 N (50
kgf, 110 lbf) with the engine running, mm (in.):
75 (3.0)
Pedal freeplay, mm (in.): 1' 6 (0.04 '0.24)
Pad wear limit, in. (mm): 1.0 (0.04)
Lining wear limit, in. (mm):
1.0 (0.04)
Parking brake adjustment when pulledwith the force of 196 N (20 kgf, 44 lbf): 5' 8 clicks
Fluid type: SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3
STEERING Wheel freeplay: Less than 30 mm (1.2 in.)
Power steering fluid type: Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON [
II or III