1996 TOYOTA AVALON recommended oil

Part 2
11 3
INFORMATION
BEFORE DRIVING
YOUR TOYOTA

Break-in period

Fuel

Operation in foreign countries

Three-way catalytic converter

Engine exhaust cautions

Facts about engine oil
consumption

Twin ground electrode spark
plugs

Brake system

Brake pad wear limit indicators

Luggage stowage precautions

Your Toyota's identification

Theft prevention labels

Suspension and chassis

Types of tires
Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But following a few simple tips
for the first 1600 km (1000 miles) can add
to the future economy and long life of your
vehicle:

Do not drive over 88 km/h (55 mph).

Run the engine at moderate speed be-
tween 2000 and 4000 rpm.

Avoid full-throttle starts.

Try to avoid hard stops during the first
300 km (200 miles).

Do not drive for a long time at any
single speed, either fast or slow.

Do not tow a trailer during the first 800
km (500 miles). 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 open-
ing.
The special nozzle on pumps with un-
leaded fuel will fit it, but the larger stan-
dard nozzle on pumps with leaded gas will
not.
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline will cause the
three-way catalytic converter tolose its effectiveness and the emis-sion control system to function im-
properly. Also, this can increasemaintenance costs.
NOTICE
OCTANE NUMBER
Select Research Octane number 91 (Oc-
tane Rating 87) or higher. For improved
vehicle performance, the use of pre-
mium unleaded gasoline with a Re-
search Octane number of 96 (Octane
Rating 91) or higher is recommended.
Break-in period Fuel
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127
CAUTION

Before driving off, make sure that
the parking brake if fully released
and the parking brake reminder
light is off.

Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is run-
ning.

Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. It can cause
dangerous overheating, needless
wear, and poor fuel economy.

To drive down a long or steep hill,
reduce your speed and downshift.
Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat
and not work properly.

Be careful when accelerating, up-
shifting, downshifting or braking
on a slippery surface. Sudden ac-
celeration or engine braking,
could cause the vehicle to spin or
skid.!
Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit
permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle
has high-speed capability tires.
Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury. Be sure to con-
sult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle
are high-speed capability tires or
not before driving at such speeds.

Do not continue normal driving
when the brakes are wet. If they are
wet, your vehicle will require a lon-
ger stopping distance, and it may
pull to one side when the brakes are
applied. Also, the parking brake
will not hold the vehicle securely. 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 dealerÐ
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
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168Engine oil selection
Use API SH, Energy-Conserving IIº mul-
tigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade en-
gine oil.
Recommended viscosity (SAE):
SAE 5W-30 is the best choice for your
vehicle, for good fuel economy and
good starting in cold weather.
If you use SAE 10W-30 engine oil in
extremely low temperatures, the en-
gine may become difficult to start, so
SAE 5W-30 engine oil is recom-
mended.
API service symbol
ILSAC certification mark
Oil identification marks
Either or both API registered marks are
added to some oil containers to help
you select the oil you should use.
The API Service Symbol is located any-
where on the outside of the container.
The top portion of the label shows the oil
quality by API (American Petroleum Insti-
tute)
designations such as SH. The center
portion of the label shows the SAE viscos-
ity grade such as SAE 5W-30. Energy-
Conserving IIº shown in the lower portion,
indicates that the oil has fuel-saving
capabilities. Oils marked Energy-Con-
serving IIº will have higher fuel-saving ca-
pabilities than oils marked Energy-Con-
servingº.
The ILSAC (International Lubricant Stan-
dardization and Approval Committee)
Certification Mark is displayed on the front
of the container.
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190Model:
1MZ-FE
Type:
6 cylinder V type 4 cycle, gasoline
Bore and stroke, mm (in.):
87.5 x 83.0 (3.44 x 3.27)
Displacement, cm
3 (cu. in.):
2995 (182.8) Fuel type:
Unleaded gasoline, Research Oc-
tane Number 91 (Octane Rating 87)
or higher. For improved vehicle per-
formance, the use of premium
unleaded gasoline with a Research
Octane Num ber of 96 (Octane Rating
91) or higher is recommended.
Fuel tank capacity, L (gal., Imp. gal.): 70 (18.5, 15.4) ENGINE
Valve clearance (engine cold), mm (in.):
Intake 0.15' 0.25 (0.006'0.010)
Exhaust 0.25 '0.35 (0.010' 0.014)
Spark plug type: NIPPONDENSO PK20TR11
NGK BKR6EKPB11
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
115 + 10
Power steering pump belt
115 + 20
ENGINE LUBRICATION
Oil capacity (drain and refill), L (qt., Imp.
qt.): With filter 4.7 (5.0, 4.1)
Without filter 4.5 (4.8, 4.0)
Fuel
Engine Service specifications
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191
Oil grade:
API SH, Energy-Conserving IIº mul-
tigrade engine oil or ILSAC multi-
grade engine oil is recommended.
Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
COOLING SYSTEM
Total capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.): 9.3 (9.8, 8.2)
Coolant type: With ethylene-glycol antifreeze
(Do not use alcohol type.) BATTERY
ÐMaintenance type battery
Specific gravity reading at 20
5C (685 F)
1.260 Fully charged
1.160 Half charged
1.060 Discharged
ÐNon-maintenance type battery
Open voltage* at 205 C (685F)
12.7 V Fully charged
12.3 V Half charged
11.9 V Discharged
*: Voltage that is checked 20 minutes af-
ter the key is removed with all the lights
turned off
Charging Rates: Non-maintenance battery 5 A max.
Maintenance type battery
Quick charge 15 A max.
Slow charge 5 A max.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
Automatic transmission Fluid capacity (drain and refill),
L (qt., Imp. qt.):
Up to 3.5 (3.7, 3.1) Differential
Fluid capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
0.85 (0.9, 0.7)
Fluid type: Automatic transmission fluid
DEXRON
[-II
BRAKES
Minimum pedal clearance when de-
pressed with the pressure of 490 N (50
kgf, 110 lbf) with the engine running, mm
(in.): 70 (2.8)
Pedal freeplay, mm (in.): 1' 6 (0.04' 0.24)
Pad wear limit, mm (in.): 1.0 (0.04)
Lining wear limit, mm (in.):
1.0 (0.04)
Parking brake adjustment when
depressed with the force of 294 N (30 kgf,
66.1 lbf):
3Ð6 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
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Publication No. OM22481U
Part No. 01999-22481
Printed in Japan 09- 9901- 02
Quick index

If a service reminder indicator or warning buzzer comes on 60 . . . . .

If your vehicle will not start 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If your engine stalls while driving 138 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If your vehicle overheats 138 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
.

If you have a flat tire 139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . .

If your vehicle needs to be towed 145 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tips for driving during break- in period 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How to start the engine 125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. .

General maintenance 158 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . .

Complete index 197 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . . . . .
Gas station information
Fuel type:
UNLEADED GASOLINE, Research Octane Number 91 (Octane Rating 87)
or higher. For improved vehicle performance, the use of premium unleaded
gasoline with a Research Octane Number of 96 (Octane Rating 91) or higher
is recommended.
See page 113 for detailed information.
Fuel tank capacity:
70 L (18.5 gal., 15.4 lmp. gal.)
Engine oil: API SH, Energy- Conserving IIº multigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade
engine oil is recommended.
See page 168 for detailed information.
Automatic transmission fluid: Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON
)-ll
Tire information: See pages 171 through 174.
Tire pressure: See page 192.
B
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