
135
(b) Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Lightand Buzzer
The light and buzzer act as a reminder to
buckle up the driver’s seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to “ON” or
“START”, the reminder light flashes and
the buzzer sounds if the driver ’s seat belt
is not fastened. Unless the driver fastens
the belt, the light continues flashing and
the buzzer sounds 4 to 8 seconds.
(c) Front Passenger ’s Seat Belt Re- minder Light
The light acts as a reminder to have the
front passenger buckle up the seat belt.
Once the ignition key is turned to “ON” or
“START”, the reminder light flashes if a
passenger sits in the front passenger seat
and does not fasten the seat belt. Unless
the front passenger fastens the belt, the
light continues flashing.
If luggage or other load is placed on the
front passenger seat, depending on its
weight and how it is placed on the seat,
built −in sensors in the seat cushion may
detect the pressure, causing the reminder
light to flash. (d) Charging System Warning Light
This warning light comes on when the
ignition key is turned to the “ON” position,
and goes off when the engine is started.
When there are problems in the charging
system while the engine is r
unning, the
warning light comes on.
NOTICE
When the charging system warning
light comes on while the engine is
running, malfunctions such as the en-
gine drive belt being broken may have
occurred. If the warning light comes
on, immediately stop the vehicle in a
safe place and contact your Toyota
dealer.
(e) Engine Oil Replacement Reminder Light
This light acts as a reminder to replace
the engine oil.
This light will come on when the ignition
switch is turned to “ON”, and will go off
after about a few seconds. When you drive for about 7200 km (4500
miles) after engine oil replacement, this
light illuminates for about 3 seconds and
then flashes for about 12 seconds with
the ignition key is turned to “ON” position.
If you continue driving without engine oil
replacement, and if the driving range ex-
ceeds 8000 km (5000 miles), the light will
come on after the ignition key is turned
to “ON” position. The light will remain on
thereafter.
If the light is flashing, we recommend that
you replace the engine oil at an early
opportunity depending on the driving and
road condition. If the light comes on, re-
place it as soon as possible.
You need to reset the light after the en-
gine oil replacement. Reset the light by
following the procedure below:
1. Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” position
with the odometer reading
shown. (For details, see “Odometer and
trip meter” on page 131).
2. Turn the ignition key to the “ON” posi- tion while holding down the “ODO/
TRIP” knob.
Hold down the knob until the light goes
off. Before the light goes off, it illuminates
for 3 seconds, flashes for 2 seconds, illu-
minates for 1 second.

233
INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING
YOUR TOYOTA
Information before driving your Toyota
Off−road vehicle precautionss 234
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Break −in period 235
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . .
Fuel 235
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel pump shut off system 237
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation in foreign countries 237
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Three −way catalytic converter 238
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust cautions 239
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
Facts about engine oil consumption 240
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Iridium −tipped spark plugs 241
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system 241
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Brake pad wear limit indicators 245
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear step bumper 245
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . .
Limited −slip differential 246
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
Your Toyota’s identification 246
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theft prevention labels 247
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
Suspension and chassis 247
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
Tire information 248
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . .
Vehicle load limits 256
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . .
Cargo and luggage 257
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . .
Types of tires 260
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 2

240
FUNCTIONS OF ENGINE OIL
Engine oil has the primary functions of
lubricating and cooling the inside of the
engine, and plays a major role in main-
taining the engine in proper working order.
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION
It is normal that an engine should con-
sume some engine oil during normal
engine operation. The causes of oil
consumption in a normal engine are as
follows.
Oil is used to lubricate pistons, piston
rings and cylinders. A thin film of oil
is left on the cylinder wall when a pis-
ton moves downwards in the cylinder.
High negative pressure generated when
the vehicle is decelerating sucks some
of this oil into the combustion chamber.
This oil as well as some part of the oil
film left on the cylinder wall is burned
by the high temperature combustion
gases during the combustion process.
Oil is also used to lubricate the stems
of the intake valves. Some of this oil
is sucked into the combustion chamber
together with the intake air and is
burned along with the fuel. High tem-
perature exhaust gases also burn the
oil used to lubricate the exhaust valve
stems.
The amount of engine oil consumed de-
pends on the viscosity of the oil, the
quality of the oil and the conditions the
vehicle is driven under.
More oil is consumed by high −speed driv-
ing and frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
A new engine consumes more oil, since
its pistons, piston rings and cylinder walls
have not become conditioned.
Oil consumption: Max. 1.0 L per 1000
km (1.1 qt./600 miles, 0.9 Imp.qt/600
miles)
When judging the amount of oil con-
sumption, note that the oil may become
diluted and make it difficult to judge
the true level accurately. As an example, if a vehicle is used for
repeated short trips, and consumes a nor-
mal amount of oil, the dipstick may not
show any drop in the oil level at all, even
after 1000 km (600 miles) or more. This
is because the oil is gradually becoming
diluted with fuel or moisture, making it
appear that the oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out
when the vehicle is then driven at high
speeds, as on an expressway, making it
appear that oil is excessively consumed
after driving at high speeds.
IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE OIL LEVEL
CHECK
One of the most important points in prop-
er vehicle maintenance is to keep the en-
gine oil at the optimum level so that oil
function will not be impaired. Therefore, it
is essential that the oil level be checked
regularly. Toyota recommends that the oil
level be checked every time you refuel
the vehicle.
NOTICE
Failure to check the oil level regularly
could lead to serious engine trouble
due to insufficient oil.
Facts about engine oil
consumption