TOYOTA tC 2012 Owners Manual (in English)

291
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
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.
■ After installing the support rod into the slot
Make sure the rod supports the hood securely from falling down on to your
head or body.
NOTICE
■When closing the hood
Be sure to return the support rod to its clip before closing the hood. Closing
the hood with the support rod up could cause the hood to bend.

292
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
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

293
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
CAUTION
■
When raising your vehicle
Make sure to observe the following precautions to reduce the possibility of
death or serious 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 underneath the vehicle when it is sup-
ported only by the floor 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 shift
the shift lever in P (automatic transmission) or R (manual transmission).
● 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.

294
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
Engine compar tment
Washer fluid tank (P. 308)
Engine coolant reservoir 
(  P. 299)
Engine oil filler cap 
(  P. 296)
Engine oil level dipstick 
(  P. 295)Brake fluid reservoir 
(  P. 301)
Fuse box ( P. 330)
Battery ( P. 304)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( P. 301)
Radiator ( P. 301)

295
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
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 5 minutes for the oil to drain back into the bot-
tom of the engine.
Holding a rag under the end, 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
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6

296 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
■Adding engine oil
If the oil level is below or near
the low level mark, add engine
oil of the same type as that
already in the engine.
Make sure to check the oil type and prepare the items needed before
adding oil.
Remove the oil filler cap by turning it counterclockwise.
Add engine oil slowly, checking the dipstick.
Install the oil filler cap by turning it clockwise.
Engine oil selection P. 4 1 9
Oil quantity
(Low  Full) 1.6 qt. (1.5 L, 1.3 Imp.qt.)
Items Clean funnel
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

297
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
■
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 and
frequent 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 Imp.qt./600 miles,1.0 L per
1000 km)
● If your vehicle consumes more than 1.1 qt. (1.0 L, 0.9 Imp.qt.) every
600 miles (1000 km), contact your Scion dealer.

298 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
CAUTION
■Used engine oil
● Used engine oil contains potentially harmful contaminants which may
cause skin disorders such as inflammation and 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 Scion dealer, service station or auto parts store for infor-
mation 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 a 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.

299
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
Engine coolant
The coolant level is satisfactory if it is between the “FULL” and “LOW”
lines on the reservoir when the engine is cold.
Reservoir cap
“FULL” line
“LOW” line
If the level is on or below the
“LOW” line, add coolant up to the
“FULL” line. (P. 408)
■Coolant selection
Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or a 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. (Minimum temperature: -31 F [-35 C])
Canada: “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and 45% deionized water. (Minimum temperature: -44 F [-42 C])
For more details about engine coolant, contact your Scion dealer.
■ If the coolant level drops within a short time of replenishing
Visually check the radiator, hoses, engine coolant reservoir caps, drain cock
and water pump. 
If you cannot find a leak, have your Scion dealer test the cap and check for
leaks in the cooling system.

300 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Scion_tC_U_(OM21041U)
CAUTION
■When the engine is hot
Do not remove the engine coolant reservoir cap. 
The cooling system may be under pressure and may spray hot coolant if the
cap is removed, causing serious injuries, such as burns.
NOTICE
■ When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor strai ght antifreeze. The correct mixture of
water and antifreeze must be used to provide proper lubrication, corrosion
protection and cooling. Be sure to read the antifreeze or coolant label.
■ If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to prevent damaging parts or paint.