1997 TOYOTA CAMRY engine coolant

181
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Engine coolant reservoir
3. Engine oil level dipstick
4. Engine oil filler cap
5. Brake fluid reservoir
6. Fuse blocks
7. Battery
8. Electric cooling fans
9. Windshield washer fluid tank
1MZ-FE engine
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If you perform maintenance by your-
self, be sure to follow the correct pro-
cedure given in this part.
You should be aware that improper or in-
complete servicing may result in operat-
ing problems.
Performing do-it-yourself maintenance
during the warranty period may affect
your warranty coverage. Read the sepa-
rate Toyota Warranty statement for details
and suggestions.
This part gives instructions only for those
items that are relatively easy for an owner
to perform. As explained in Part 6, there
are still a number of items that must be
done by a qualified technician with special
tools.
For information on tools and parts for do-
it-yourself maintenance, see Parts and
toolsº.
Utmost care should be taken when work-
ing on your vehicle to prevent accidental
injury. Here are a few precautions that
you should be especially careful to ob-
serve:
When the engine is running, keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from the moving fan and engine
drive belts. (Removing rings,
watches, and ties is advisable.)
Right after driving, the engine
compartmentÐthe engine, radia-
tor, exhaust manifold, power
steering fluid reservoir and spark
plug boots, etc.Ðwill be hot. So
be careful not to touch them. Oil,
fluids and spark plugs may also be
hot.
If the engine is hot, do not remove
the radiator cap or loosen the
drain plugs to prevent burning
yourself.
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames around fuel or the
battery. Their fumes are flamable.
Be extremely cautious when work-
ing on the battery. It contains poi-
sonous and corrosive sulfuric
acid.
Do not get under your vehicle with
just the body jack supporting it.
Always use automotive jack
stands or other solid supports.CAUTION
!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.
Do-it-yourself service
precautions
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Dispose of used oil and filter only in
a safe and acceptable manner. Do
not dispose of used oil and filter in
household trash, in sewers or onto
the ground. Call your dealer or a
service station for information con-
cerning recycling or disposal.
NOTICE
Remember that battery and igni-
tion cables carry high currents or
voltages. Be careful of accidentally
causing a short circuit.
Add only demineralized or distilled
water to fill the radiator. And if you
spill some of the coolant, be sure
to wash off with water to prevent it
from damaging the parts or paint.
Do not allow dirt or anything else to
fall through the spark plugholes.
Use only spark plugs of the speci-
fied type. Using other types will
cause engine damage, loss of per-
formance or radio noise.
Do not reuse platinum-tipped
spark plugs by cleaning or regap-
ping.
Do not overfill automatic trans-
mission fluid, or the transmission
could be damaged.
Do not drive with the air cleaner fil-
ter removed, or excessive engine
wear could result. Also backfiring
could cause a fire in the engine
compartment.
Be careful not to scratch the glass
surface with the wiper frame.
When closing the engine hood,
check to see that you have not for-
gotten any tools, rags, etc.
Here 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)
Parts and tools
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Part 7Checking the engine oil level
187
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 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 be
correct.
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 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.):
5S-FE engine 0.7 (0.7, 0.6)
1MZ-FE engine 1.5 (1.6, 1.3)

Avoid overfilling, or the engine
could be damaged.
Check the oil level on the dipstick
once again after adding the oil.
NOTICE
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Look at the see-through coolant res-
ervoir when the engine is cold. The
coolant level is satisfactory if it is be-
tween the FULLº and LOWº lines on
the reservoir. If the level is low, add
ethylene-glycol type coolant.
The coolant level in the reservoir will vary
with engine temperature. However, if the
level is on or below the LOWº line, add
coolant. Bring the level up to the FULLº
line.
Use only ethylene-glycol type coolant.
See information in the next column.
If the coolant level drops within a short
time after replenishing, there may be a
leak in the system. Visually check the ra-
diator, hoses, radiator cap and drain cock
and water pump.
If you can find no leak, have your Toyota
dealer test the cap pressure and check for
leaks in the cooling system.
To prevent burning yourself, do not
remove the radiator cap when the en-
gine is hot.
CAUTION!
Coolant type selection
Your coolant must contain ethylene-gly-
col antifreeze. In addition to preventing
freezing and subsequent damage to the
engine, this will also prevent corrosion.
Further supplemental inhibitors or addi-
tives are neither needed nor recom-
mended.
Read the antifreeze container for informa-
tion on freeze protection. Follow the
manufacturer 's directions for how much
to mix with water. The total capacity of the
cooling system is given in Part 8. We rec-
ommend 50% solution be used for your
Toyota, or a sufficient quantity to provide
protection to about -35C (-31C).
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze
or plain water alone.
NOTICE
To check the fluid level, simply look at
the see through reservoir. The level
should be between the MAXº and
MINº lines on the reservoir.
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go
down slightly as the brake pads wear. So
be sure to keep the reservoir filled.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, it
may indicate a serious mechanical prob-
lem.
If the level is low, add SAE J1703 or
FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3 brake fluid to the
brake reservoir.
Remove and replace the reservoir cover
by hand.
Checking brake fluid Checking the engine coolant
level
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ENGINE LUBRICATION
Oil capacity (drain and refill), L (qt., Imp.
qt.):
5S-FE engine
With filter 3.6 (3.8, 3.2)
Without filter 3.4 (3.6, 3.0)
1MZ-FE engine
With filter 4.7 (5.0, 4.1)
Without filter 4.5 (4.8, 4.0)
Oil grade:
API SH, Energy-Conserving IIº multi-
grade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade
engine oil is recommended.
Recommended oil viscosity (SAE):
Temperature range anticipated before next oil
change.
L70010
COOLING SYSTEM
Total capacity, L (qt., Imp.):
5S-FE engine 6.9 (7.3, 6.1)
1MZ-FE engine 9.1 (9.6, 8.4)
Coolant type:
With ethylene-glycol antifreeze
(Do not use alcohol type.)
BATTERY
Open voltage* at 20 C (68 F):
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: 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.):
5S-FE engine 2.6 (2.7, 2.3)
1MZ-FE engine 4.2 (4.9, 4.0)
Oil type:
Multipurpose gear oil API GL-4 or GL-5
Recommended oil viscosity:
SAE 75W-90
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
Automatic transmission
Fluid capacity (drain and refill),
L (qt., Imp. qt.):
5S-FE engine Up to 2.5 (2.6, 2.2)
1MZ-FE engineUp to 3.5 (3.7, 3.1)
Fluid type:
Automatic transmission fluid D-II or
DEXRON
[III (DEXRON[II)
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