2009 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Owners Manual

569
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Fuel infor mation
Gasoline engine
Your vehicle must use only unleaded gasoline.
Select octane rating 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or higher. Use
of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87 may result
in engine knocking. Persistent kno cking can lead to engine damage.
At minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the specifications
of ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB3.5-M93 in Canada.
Flex-fuel engine
Your vehicle must use only unleaded gasoline, E85, or a blend of the
two fuels.
Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 87 [Research Octane Number 91]
or higher), E85, or a blend of these two fuels is required for optimum
engine performance.
The use of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87
may result in engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to
engine damage.
The use of fuel with an ethanol concentration in excess of 85% will
have a negative impact on driv ing performance and can cause
damage to the fuel system components.
At minimum, the gasoline you us e should meet the specifications
of ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB3.5-M93 in Canada.
At minimum, the E85 you use should meet the specifications of
ASTM D5798 in the U.S.A.

570 6-1. Specifications
■Fuel tank opening fo r unleaded gasoline
To help prevent incorrect fueling, your Toyota has a fuel tank opening that
only accommodates the special nozzle on unleaded fuel pumps.
■ If your engine knocks
●Consult your Toyota dealer.
● You may occasionally notice light knocking for a short time while
accelerating or driving uphill. This is normal and there is no need for
concern.
■ Fuel quality
In very few cases, driveability problems may be caused by the brand of f\
uel
you are using. If driveability problems persist, try changing the brand of fuel.
If this does not correct the problem, consult your Toyota dealer.
■ Gasoline quality standards
●Automotive manufacturers in the US, Europe and Japan have developed
a specification for fuel quality called World-Wide Fuel Charter (WWFC)
that is expected to be applied worldwide.
● The WWFC consists of four categories that are based on required
emission levels. In the US, category 4 has been adopted.
● The WWFC improves air quality by lowering emissions in vehicle fleets,
and customer satisfaction through better performance.
■ E85 fuel (Flex-fuel vehicles)
●E85 fuel is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. However, E85
does not necessarily contain 85% ethanol. The ethanol content of E85 is
required by ASTM to be between 70% and 85%. For example, in cold
climates the ethanol content of E85 may be reduced during the winter
months to maintain cold weather starting performance.
● E85 has less energy per gallon than gasoline, so you will need to fill your
fuel tank more frequently when using E85.
● The number of fuel stations that sell E85 fuel is limited. For more
information about fueling stations, please refer to the U.S. Department of
Energy Web site.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/locator.html

571
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
■
Toyota recommends the use of gaso line containing detergent additives
● Toyota recommends the use of gasoline that contains detergent additives
to avoid build-up of engine deposits.
● All gasoline sold in the US contains detergent additives to clean and/or
keep clean intake systems.
■ Toyota recommends the use of cleaner burning gasoline
Cleaner burning gasoline, including reformulated gasoline that contains
oxygenates such as ethanol or MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) is
available in many areas.
Toyota recommends the use of cleaner burning gasoline and appropriately
blended reformulated gasoline. These types of gasoline provide excellent
vehicle performance, reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality.
■ Toyota does not recommend blended gasoline (Gasoline engine)
●Toyota allows the use of oxygenate blended gasoline where the
oxygenate content is up to 10% ethanol or 15% MTBE.
● If you use gasohol in your Toyota, be sure that it has an octane rating no
lower than 87.
● Toyota does not recommend the use of gasoline containing methanol.
■ Toyota does not recommend gasoline containing MMT
Some gasoline contains octane enhancing additive called MMT
(Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl).
Toyota does not recommend the use of gasoline that contains MMT. If fuel
containing MMT is used, your emission control system may be adversely
affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp on the instrument cluster may come on. If
this happens, contact your Toyota dealer for service.
■ Toyota does not recommend blended gasoline (Flex-fuel engine)
Do not use non-specified fuels such as the following.
• Fuels containing methanol.
• Fuels with more than 85% ethanol.
■ Toyota does not recommend the use of after-market fuel additives
(Flex-fuel engine)
Do not use any after-market fuel additives when repeatedly refueling with
E85, as some after-market fuel additives are not compatible with E85.

572 6-1. Specifications
NOTICE
■Notice on fuel quality
●Do not use improper fuels.
If improper fuels are used, the engine will be damaged.
● Do not use leaded gasoline.
Leaded gasoline can cause damage to your vehicle’s three-way catalytic
converters causing the emission control system to malfunction.
● Gasoline engine: Do not use gasohol other than that stated here.
Other gasohol may cause fuel system damage or vehicle performance
problems.
● Use of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87 may result in
engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage and
should be corrected by refueling with higher octane unleaded gasoline.
■ When use of non-specified fuels (Flex-fuel engine)
The use of non-specified fuels will have a negative impact on starting and
driving performance, and will cause damage to the fuel system components.
Therefore, do not add fuels such as the following.
• Fuels containing methanol
• Fuels with more than 85% ethanol
■ Fuel-related poor driveability
If after using a different type of fuel, poor driveability is encountered (poor
hot starting, vaporization, engine knocking, etc.), discontinue the use of that
type of fuel.
■ When refueling
Take care not to spill fuel.
It can damage your vehicle’s paint.

573
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Tire infor mation
Typical tire symbols
Tire size( P. 575)
DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN) ( P. 574)
Location of treadwear indicators ( P. 576)
Tire ply composition and materials
Plies are layers of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cords are the
strands which form the plies in a tire.
Uniform tire quality grading
For details, see “Uniform Tire Quality Grading” that follows.
Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( P. 578)
Maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( P. 578)
This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
TUBELESS or TUBE TYPE
A tubeless tire does not have a tube and air is directly filled in the
tire. A tube type tire has a tu be inside the tire and the tube
maintains the air pressure.

574 6-1. Specifications
Typical DOT and tire identification number (TIN)DOT symbol
*
Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
Tire manufacturer’s
identification mark
Tire size code
Manufacturer’s optional tire
type code (3 or 4 letters)
Manufacturing week
Manufacturing year
*:The DOT symbol certifies thatthe tire conforms to applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards.
Radial tires or bias-ply tires
A radial tire has RADIAL on the sidewall. A tire not marked RADIAL
is a bias-ply tire.
Summer tire or all season tire ( P. 576)
An all season tire has M+S on the sidewall. A tire not marked M+S
is a summer tire.

575
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Tire size
■ Typical tire size information
The illustration indicates typical
tire size.
Tire use
(P = Passenger car,
T = Temporary use)
Section width (millimeters)
Aspect ratio
(tire height to section width)
Tire construction code
(R = Radial, D = Diagonal)
Wheel diameter (inches)
Load index (2 digits or 3 digits)
Speed symbol
(alphabet with one letter)
■ Tire dimensions
Section width
Tire height
Wheel diameter

576 6-1. Specifications
Tire section namesBead
Sidewall
Shoulder
Tread
Belt
Inner liner
Reinforcing rubber
Carcass
Rim lines
Bead wires
Chafer
Uniform Tire Quality GradingThis information has been prepared in accordance with regulations
issued by the National Highway Tr affic Safety Administration of the
U.S.A. Department of Transportation.
It provides the purchasers and/or prospective purchasers of Toyota
vehicles with information on uniform tire quality grading.
Your Toyota dealer will help answ er any questions you may have as
you read this information.
■ DOT quality grades
All passenger vehicle tires mu st conform to Federal Safety
Requirements in addition to these grades. Quality grades can be
found where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
For example: Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A