1996 TOYOTA TACOMA wheel

Part 7Checking the engine oil level
155
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 of the en-gine.
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 be cor- rect.
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 filler 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 and the full level
on the dipstick is indicated below for refer-ence.
When the level reaches within the correct range, install the filler cap hand-tight.
Oil quantity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
2RZ-FE and 3RZ-FE engines
1.5 (1.6, 1.3)
5VZ-FE engine Two-wheel drive models 1.5 (1.6,1.3)
Four-wheel drive models 1.2 (1.3,1.1)

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

159
c. Reinstall the filler cap.
d. Remove the filler cap again and look at the fluid level. If the fluid is cold, the level
should be in
the COLDº range on the dip-
stick. Similarly, if it is hot, the fluid level
should be in the HOTº range. If the level
is at the low side of either range, add auto-
matic transmission fluid DEXRON -II or
-III to bring the level within range.
e. After replacing the filler cap, visually check the steering box case, vane pump
and hose connections for leaks or dam-age.
CAUTION
The reservoir tank may be hot so be
careful not to burn yourself.!
Avoid overfilling, or the power steering could be damaged.
NOTICE
Keep your tire pressures at the proper level.
The recommended cold tire pressures,
tire size and the cargo weight rating are
given in Part 8.
You should check the tire pressures every
two weeks, or at least once a month. And
do not forget the spare!
Incorrect tire pressure can reduce tire
life and make your vehicle less safe to drive.
Low tire pressure results in excessive
wear, poor handling, reduced fuel econo-
my, and the possibility of blowouts from overheated tires. Also, low tire pressure
can cause poor sealing of the tire bead. If
the tire pressure is excessively low, there
is the possibility of wheel deformation and/or tire separation.
High tire pressure produces a harsh ride,
handling problems, excessive wear at the center of the tire tread, and a greater pos-
sibility of tire damage from road hazards.
If a tire frequently needs refilling, have it
checked by your Toyota dealer. The following instructions for check-
ing tire pressure should be observed:
The pressure should be checked
only when the tires are cold. If your
vehicle has been parked for at least 3hours and has not been driven formore than 1.5 km or 1 mile since, you
will get an accurate cold tire pressure reading.
Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of a tire can be mis-
leading. Besides, tire pressures that
are even just a few pounds off can de-
grade handling and ride.
Do not bleed or reduce tire pres-sure after driving. It is normal for the
tire pressure to be higher after driving.
Never exceed the cargo weight rat-ing. The luggage weight should be
distributed evenly.
Be sure to reinstall the tire inflation
valve caps. Without the valve caps,
dirt or moisture could get into the valve
core and cause air leakage. If the capshave been lost, have new ones put onas soon as possible.
Checking tire pressure

160
CHECKING YOUR TIRES Check the tire tread for the tread wear
indicators. If the indicators show, re-
place the tires.
The tires on your Toyota have built-in tread wear indicators to help you know
when the tires need replacement. When
the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06 in.)
or less, the indicators will appear. If you
can see the indicators in two or more adja-
cent grooves, the tire should be replaced.
The lower the tread, the higher the risk of skidding. The effectiveness of snow tires is lost
if the tread wears down below 4 mm (0.16 in.).Check the tires regularly for damage
such as cuts, splits and cracks. If any
damage is found, consult with a tech-
nician and have the tire repaired or re-placed. Even if the damage does not appear seri-
ous, a qualified technician should ex-
amine the damage. Objects which havepenetrated the tire may have caused in- ternal damage.
Any tires which are over six years old
must be checked by a qualified techni-
cian even if damage is not obvious.
Tires deteriorate with age even if they
have never or seldom been used.
This
also applies to the spare tire and tires
stored for future use.REPLACING YOUR TIRES
When replacing a tire, use only the
same size and construction as origi-
nally installed and with the same or
greater load capacity.
Using any other size or type of tire may se-
riously affect handling, ride, speedome-
ter/odometer calibration, ground clear-
ance, and clearance between the body
and tires or snow chains.
CAUTION
Do not mix radial, bias belted, or
bias-ply tires on your vehicle. It can
cause dangerous handling charac-
teristics, resulting in loss of con-trol.!
Toyota recommends all four tires, or at
least both of the front or rear tires be
replaced at a time as a set.
See If you have a flat tireº in Part 4 for tire
change procedure.
When a tire is replaced, the wheel
should always be balanced.
An unbalanced wheel may affect vehicle
handling and tire life. Wheels can get out
of balance with regular use and should
therefore be balanced occasionally.
When replacing a tubeless tire, the air
valve should also be replaced with a
new one.
Checking and replacing tires

161
Two-wheel drive models with steel wheels
Two-wheel drive models with alumi-
num wheels and four-wheel drivemodelsTo equalize tire wear and help extend
tire life, Toyota recommends that you
rotate your tires approximately every
12000 km (7500 miles). However, the
most appropriate timing for tire rota-
tion may vary according to your driv-
ing habits and road surface condi- tions.
See If you have a flat tireº in Part 4 for tire
change procedure. When rotating tires, check for uneven
wear
and damage. Abnormal wear is usu-
ally caused by incorrect tire pressure, im-
proper wheel alignment, out-of-balance
wheels, or severe braking. WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR CHAINS
Snow tires or chains are recom-
mended when driving on snow or ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional tires
provide better traction than snow tires. SNOW TIRE SELECTION
If you need snow tires, select the same
size, construction and load capacity
as the original tires on your Toyota.
Do not use tires other than those men-
tioned above. Do not install studded tires
without first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions.
SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION
Snow tires should be installed on all wheels. Installing snow tires on the front wheels
only can lead to an excessive difference
in road grip capability between the front
and rear tires which could cause loss of
vehicle control.
When storing removed tires, you should
store them in a cool dry place.
Mark the direction of rotation and be sure to install them in the same direction whenreplacing.
Installing snow tires and chains
Rotating tires

162
CAUTION
Do not drive with the snow tires in- correctly inflated.
Never drive over 120 km/h (75
mph) with any type of snow tires.!
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION Use the tire chains of correct size.
Regulations regarding the use of tire
chains vary according to location or
type of r oad, so always check them be-
fore installing chains.
CHAIN INSTALLATION Install the chains on the front tires as
tightly as possible. Do not use tire
chains on the rear tires. Retighten
chains after driving 0.5 '1.0 km
(1/4 '1/2 mile).
When installing chains on your tires, care- fully follow the instructions of the chain
manufacturer.
If wheel covers are used, they will be
scratched by the chain band, so removethe covers before putting on the chains.
Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or
the chain manufacturer's recom-
mended speed limit, whichever is
lower.
Drive carefully avoiding bumps,
holes, and sharp turns, which may
cause the vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked-
wheel braking, as use of chains
may adversely affect vehicle han- dling.
CAUTION! WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS
If you have wheel damage such as
bending, cracks or heavy corrosion,
the wheel should be replaced.
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, the
tire may slip off the wheel or they may cause loss of handling control. WHEEL SELECTION
When replacing wheels, care should be
taken to ensure that the wheels are re-
placed by ones with the same load ca-
pacity, diameter, rim width, and offset.
Correct
replacement wheels are available
at your Toyota dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type may ad-
versely affect handling, wheel and bear-
ing life, brake cooling, speedometer/
odometer calibration, stopping ability,
headlight aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance, and tire or snow chain clearance to the body and chassis.
Replacement with used wheels is not rec-
ommended as they may have been sub- jected to rough treatment or high mileage and could fail without warning. Also, bent
wheels which have been straightened
may have structural damage and there-
fore should not be used. Never use an in-
ner tube in a leaking wheel which is de-
signed for a tubeless tire.
Replacing wheels

163

After driving your vehicle the first 1600
km (1000 miles), check that the wheel
nuts are tight.
If you have rotated, repaired, or
changed your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving
1600 km (1000 miles).
When using tire chains, be careful not
to damage the aluminum wheels.
Use only the Toyota wheel nuts and
wrench designed for your aluminumwheels.
When balancing your wheels, use only
Toyota balance weights or equivalent
and a plastic or rubber hammer.
As with any wheel, periodically checkyour aluminum wheels for damage. If
damaged, replace immediately.
Aluminum wheel precautions

Normal cab models Xtra-cab models
Overall length mm (in.) 4440 (174.8) *1
4910 (193.3) *1
4590 (180.7) *2
5055 (199.0) *2
Overall width mm (in.) 1690 (66.5) 1690 (66.5)
Overall height mm (in.) 1550 (61.0) *3,
5
1560 (61.4) *5
1555 (61.2) *4,
5
1575 (62.0) *6
1570 (61.8) *3,
6
1575 (62.0) *4,
6
Wheelbase mm (in.) 2625 (103.3) 3095 (121.9)
Front tread mm (in.) 1395 (54.9) *3
1425 (56.1)
1425 (56.1) *4
Rear tread mm (in.) 1415 (55.7) *3
1440 (56.7)
1440 (56.7) *4
Cargo weight rating kg (lb.) 500 (1100) *7
500 (1100)*7
430 (950) *8
430 (950)*8
295 (650) *9
*1 : Without rear step bumper
*2 : With rear step bumper
*3 : With P195/75R 14 tires
*4 : With P215/70R 14 tires
*5 : Unladen vehicle plus two occupants
*6 : Unladen vehicle
*7 : With 1 or 2 occupants
*8 : With 3 occupants
*9 : With 5 occupants
Part 8 Dimensions and weight
177
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions and weight
Engine
Fuel
Service specifications
Tires
Fuses
TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS

178FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
Model:
2RZ-FE, 3RZ-FE and 5VZ-FE
Type: 2RZ-FE and 3RZ-FE engine 4 cylinder in line, 4 cycle, gasoline
5VZ-FE engine 6 cylinder V type, 4 cycle, gasoline
Bore and stroke, mm (in.):
2RZ-FE engine 95.0 x 86.0 (3.74 x 3.39)
3RZ-FE engine
95.0 x 95.0 (3.74 x 3.74)
5VZ-FE engine 93.5 x 82.0 (3.68 x 3.23)
Displacement, cm 3
(cu. in.):
2RZ-FE engine 2438 (148.8)
3RZ-FE engine 2694 (164.4)
5VZ-FE engine
3378 (206.1)
Normal cab models Xtra-cab models
Overall length mm (in.) 4585 (180.5) 5055 (199.0)
Overall width mm (in.) 1690 (66.5) *1
1690 (66.5)*1
1720 (67.7) *2
1720 (67.7)*2
Overall height mm (in.) 1690 (66.5) *1,3
1685 (66.3)*1,3
1720 (67.7) *2,3
1715 (67.5)*2,3
1710 (67.3) *1,4
1700 (66.9)*1,4
1740 (68.5) *2,4
1735 (68.3)*2,4
Wheelbase mm (in.) 2625 (103.3) 3095 (121.9)
Front tread mm (in.) 1460 (57.5) *5
1460 (57.5)*5
1500 (59.1) *6
1500 (59.1)*6
Rear tread mm (in.) 1455 (57.3) *5
1455 (57.3)*5
1495 (58.9) *6
1495 (58.9)*6
Cargo weight rating kg (lb.) 500 (1100) 500 (1100) *7
317 (700) *8
*1 : With P225/75R 15 tires
*2 : With 31 x 10.5R 15 LT tires
*3 : Unladen vehicle plus two occupants
*4 : Unladen vehicle
*5 : With steel wheels
*6 : With aluminum wheels
*7 : With 3 occupants
*8 : With 5 occupants
Engine