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Toyota RAV4 (2018 year). Instruction - part 34

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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■Engine oil consumption

A certain amount of engine oil will be consumed while driving. In the following

situations, oil consumption may increase, and engine oil may need to be

refilled in between oil maintenance intervals.

● When the engine is new, for example directly after purchasing the vehicle or

after replacing the engine

● If low quality oil or oil of an inappropriate viscosity is used

● When driving at high engine speeds or with a heavy load, when towing, or

when driving while accelerating or decelerating frequently

● When leaving the engine idling for a long time, or when driving frequently

through heavy traffic

WARNING

■ Used engine oil

● Used engine oil contains potentially harmful contaminants which may

cause skin disorders such as inflammation and skin cancer, so care

should be taken to avoid prolonged and repeated contact. To remove used

engine oil from your skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water.

● Dispose of used oil and filters only in a safe and acceptable manner. Do

not dispose of used oil and filters in household trash, in sewers or onto the

ground.

Call your Toyota dealer, service station or auto parts store for information

concerning recycling or disposal.

● Do not leave used engine oil within the reach of children.

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NOTICE

■ To prevent serious engine damage

Check the oil level on a regular basis.

■When replacing the engine oil

● Be careful not to spill engine oil on the vehicle components.

● Avoid overfilling, or the engine could be damaged.

● Check the oil level on the dipstick every time you refill the vehicle.

● Be sure the engine oil filler cap is properly tightened.

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Engine coolant

The coolant level is satisfactory if it is

between the “FULL” and “LOW”

lines on the reservoir when the engine is cold.

1

Reservoir cap

2

“FULL” line

3

“LOW” line

If the level is on or below the

“LOW” line, add coolant up to the

“FULL” line. (→P. 666)

■ Coolant selection

Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or a similar high quality ethylene

glycol based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant with

long-life hybrid organic acid technology.

U.S.A.:

“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 50% coolant and 50%

deionized water. (Minimum temperature: -31°F [-35°C])

Canada:

“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and 45%

deionized water. (Minimum temperature: -44°F [-42°C])

For more details about coolant, contact your Toyota dealer.

■ If the coolant level drops within a short time of replenishing

Visually check the radiator, hoses, engine coolant reservoir cap, drain cock

and water pump.

If you cannot find a leak, have your Toyota dealer test the cap and check for

leaks in the cooling system.

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WARNING

■ When the engine is hot

Do not remove the engine coolant reservoir cap.

The cooling system may be under pressure and may spray hot coolant if the

cap is removed, causing serious injuries, such as burns.

NOTICE

■When adding coolant

Coolant is neither plain water nor straight antifreeze. The correct mixture of

water and antifreeze must be used to provide proper lubrication, corrosion

protection and cooling. Be sure to read the antifreeze or coolant label.

■ If you spill coolant

Be sure to wash it off with water to prevent it from damaging parts or paint.

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Radiator and condenser

Check the radiator and condenser and clear away any foreign objects.

If either of the above parts is extremely dirty or you are not sure of

their condition, have your vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.

WARNING

■ When the engine is hot

Do not touch the radiator or condenser as they may be hot and cause seri-

ous injuries, such as burns.

Brake fluid

■ Checking fluid level

The brake fluid level should be

between the “MAX” and “MIN”

lines on the tank.

■ Adding fluid

Make sure to check the fluid type and prepare the necessary item.

Fluid type

FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid

Items

Clean funnel

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■ Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air

Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause a dangerous loss of braking effi-

ciency. Use only newly opened brake fluid.

WARNING

■ When filling the reservoir

Take care as brake fluid can harm your hands and eyes and damage

painted surfaces.

If fluid gets on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean

water immediately.

If you still experience discomfort, see a doctor.

NOTICE

■ If the fluid level is low or high

It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads

wear out or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.

If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, there may be a serious problem.

Battery

Check the battery as follows:

■ Battery exterior

Make sure that the battery terminals are not corroded and that

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there are no loose connections, cracks, or loose clamps.

1

Terminals

2

Hold-down clamp

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WARNING

■Chemicals in the battery

A battery contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid and may produce

hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. To reduce the risk of death

or serious injury, take the following precautions while working on or near the

battery:

● Do not cause sparks by touching the battery terminals with tools.

● Do not smoke or light a match near the battery.

● Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothes.

● Never inhale or swallow electrolyte.

● Wear protective safety glasses when working near the battery.

● Keep children away from the battery.

■ Where to safely charge the battery

Always charge the battery in an open area. Do not charge the battery in a

garage or closed room where there is not sufficient ventilation.

■ How to recharge the battery

Only perform a slow charge (5 A or less). The battery may explode if

charged at a quicker rate.

■ Emergency measures regarding electrolyte

● If electrolyte gets in your eyes

Flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes and get immedi-

ate medical attention. If possible, continue to apply water with a sponge or

cloth while traveling to the nearest medical facility.

● If electrolyte gets on your skin

Wash the affected area thoroughly. If you feel pain or burning, get medical

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attention immediately.

● If electrolyte gets on your clothes

It can soak through clothing on to your skin. Immediately take off the cloth-

ing and follow the procedure above if necessary.

● If you accidentally swallow electrolyte

Drink a large quantity of water or milk. Get emergency medical attention

immediately.

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

NOTICE

■ When recharging the battery

Never recharge the battery while the engine is running. Also, be sure all

accessories are turned off.

Washer fluid

If any washer does not work or the

warning message appears on the

multi-information display,

the

washer tank may be empty. Add

washer fluid.

WARNING

■ When adding washer fluid

Do not add washer fluid when the engine is hot or running as washer fluid

contains alcohol and may catch fire if spilled on the engine etc.

NOTICE

■ Do not use any fluid other than washer fluid

Do not use soapy water or engine antifreeze instead of washer fluid.

Doing so may cause streaking on the vehicle’s painted surfaces, as well as

damaging the pump leading to problems of the washer fluid not spraying.

■ Diluting washer fluid

Dilute washer fluid with water as necessary.

Refer to the freezing temperatures listed on the label of the washer fluid bot-

tle.

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Tires

Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance sched-

ules and treadwear.

Checking tires

Check if the treadwear indicators are showing on the tires. Also check

the tires for uneven wear, such as excessive wear on one side of the

tread. Check the spare tire condition and pressure if not rotated.

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New tread

2

Worn tread

3

Treadwear indicator

The location of treadwear indicators is shown by a “TWI” or “Δ” marks,

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etc., molded into the sidewall of each tire.

Replace the tires if the treadwear indicators

are showing on a tire.

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Tire rotation

Rotate the tires in the order shown.

 Vehicles with compact spare

 Vehicles with full-size spare

tire

tire

Front

Front

Do not fail to initialize the tire pressure warning system after tire rota-

tion.

To equalize tire wear and extend tire life, Toyota recommends that tire

rotation is carried out at the same interval as tire inspection.

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Tire pressure warning system (if equipped)

Your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses

tire pressure warning valves and transmitters to detect low tire infla-

tion pressure before serious problems arise.

If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is

warned by a warning light. (→P. 621)

◆ Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters

When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and

transmitters must also be installed.

When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are

installed, new ID codes must be registered in the tire pressure

warning computer and the tire pressure warning system must be

initialized. Have tire pressure warning valve and transmitter ID

codes registered by your Toyota dealer. (→P. 573)

◆ Initializing the tire pressure warning system

When the tire size is changed, the tire pressure warning system

must be initialized.

When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire

inflation pressure is set as the benchmark pressure.

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

■ How to initialize the tire pressure warning system

Park the vehicle in a safe place and turn the engine switch to the

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“LOCK” position (vehicles without smart key system) or off (vehi-

cles with smart key system).

Initialization cannot be performed while the vehicle is moving.

Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire inflation

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pressure level. (→P. 679)

Make sure to adjust the tire pressure to the specified cold tire infla-

tion pressure level. The tire pressure warning system will operate

based on this pressure level.

Turn the engine switch to the “ON” position (vehicles without

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smart key system) or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with smart

key system).

Press and hold the tire pres-

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sure warning reset switch

until the tire pressure warn-

ing light blinks slowly 3 times.

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Vehicles without smart key system: Wait for a few minutes

with

the engine switch in the “ON” position and then turn the engine

switch to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position.

Vehicles with smart key system: Wait for a few minutes with the

engine switch in IGNITION ON mode and then turn the engine

switch off.

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◆ Registering ID codes

The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a

unique ID code. When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and

transmitter, it is necessary to register the ID code. Have the ID code

registered by your Toyota dealer.

■When to replace your vehicle’s tires

Tires should be replaced if:

●The treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.

● You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to

expose the fabric, and bulges indicating internal damage

● A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size

or location of a cut or other damage

If you are not sure, consult with your Toyota dealer.

■Replacing tires and wheels (vehicles with the tire pressure warning

system)

If the ID code of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not reg-

istered, the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. After driv-

ing for about 20 minutes, the tire pressure warning light blinks for 1

minute and stays on to indicate a system malfunction.

■ Tire life

Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even

if it has seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.

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■Routine tire inflation pressure checks (vehicles with the tire pressure

warning system)

The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation

pressure checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of

your routine of daily vehicle checks.

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

■Maximum load of tire

Check that the number given by dividing the maximum load by 1.10 of the

replacement tire is greater than 1/2 of the Gross Axle Weight Ratings

(GAWR) of either the front axle or the rear axle, whichever is greater.

For the GAWR, see the Certification

Label. For the maximum load of the tire,

see the load limit at maximum cold tire

inflation pressure mentioned on the

sidewall of the tire. (→P. 684)

■ Tire types

● Summer tires

Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway

driving under dry conditions. Since summer tires do not have the same

traction performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for

driving on snow-covered or icy roads. For driving on snow-covered

roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When install-

ing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.

●All season tires

All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to

be adequate for driving in most winter conditions as well as for use

year-round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction

performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Also, all

season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performance com-

pared with summer tires in highway driving.

● Snow tires

For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using

snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, con-

struction and load capacity as the originally installed tires. Since your

vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow

tires also have radial construction. Do not install studded tires without

first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. Snow tires

should be installed on all wheels. (→P. 317)

■If the tread on snow tires wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)

The effectiveness of the tires as snow tires is lost.

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