Get Informationbeforedriving -> Facts about engine oil consumption Guide for Toyota 4 Runner SUV Third Generation (1996-2002)

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)

Facts about engine oil

consumption

Engine exhaust cautions

FUNCTIONS OF ENGINE OIL

D Keep the back door and back win-

dow closed while driving. An open

or unsealed back door and back

window, may cause exhaust gases

to be drawn into the vehicle.

CAUTION

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.

D Avoid inhaling the engine exhaust.

It contains carbon monoxide, which

is a colorless and odorless gas. It

can cause unconsciousness or even

death.

ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION

D To allow proper operation of your

vehicle’s ventilation system, keep

the inlet grilles in front of the wind-

shield clear of snow, leaves, or oth-

er obstructions.

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.

D Make sure the exhaust system has

no holes or loose connections. The

system should be checked from

time to time. If you hit something,

or notice a change in the sound of

the exhaust, have the system

checked immediately.

D If you smell exhaust fumes in the

vehicle, drive with the windows

open and the back door and back

window closed. Have the cause im-

mediately located and corrected.

D 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.

D Do not run the engine in a garage

or enclosed area except for the

time needed to drive the vehicle in

or out. The exhaust gases cannot

escape, making this a particularly

dangerous situation.

D Do not remain for a long time in a

parked vehicle with the engine run-

ning. If it is unavoidable, however,

do so only in an unconfined area

and adjust the heating or cooling

system to force outside air into the

vehicle.

2001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)

195

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)

Twin ground electrode spark

plugs

D 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 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.

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.

Your engine is fitted with twin ground

electrode spark plugs.

A new engine consumes more oil, since

its pistons, piston rings and cylinder walls

have not become conditioned.

NOTICE

Failure to check the oil level regularly

could lead to serious engine trouble

due to insufficient oil.

Use only twin ground electrode spark

plugs and do not adjust gaps for your

engine performance.

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.

For detailed information on oil level check,

see “Checking the engine oil level” in Sec-

tion 7−2.

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.

2001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)

196

Informationbeforedriving -> Facts about engine oil consumption for Your Toyota 4 Runner SUV Third Generation (1996-2002)

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