Get DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE Engine and Chassis Guide for Toyota Prius 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2009)

SECTION 8– 2

DO−IT−YOURSELF MAINTENANCE

Engine and Chassis

Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400

Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402

Checking the radiator and condenser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404

Checking brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404

Checking tire inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405

Checking and replacing tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407

Rotating tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409

Installing snow tires and chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410

Replacing wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411

Aluminum wheel precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412

399

Checking the engine oil level

3. Reinsert the dipstick—push it in as far

as it will go, or the reading will not be

correct.

If the oil level is below or only slightly

above the low level, add engine oil of

the same type as already in the engine.

Low level

Full level

4. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil

Remove the oil filler cap and add engine

oil in small quantities at a time, checking

the dipstick. We recommend that you use

a funnel when adding oil.

level while holding

end.

a

rag under the

82p001a

CAUTION

Add oil

O.K.

Too full

The approximate quantity of oil needed to

raise the level between low and full on the

dipstick is indicated as follows:

Be careful not to touch the hot ex-

haust manifold.

1.5 L (1.6 qt., 1.3 Imp.qt.)

For the engine oil capacity, see “Service

specifications” on page 427.

NOTICE

With the hybrid system at operating

temperature and turned off, check the

oil level on the dipstick.

When the level reaches within the correct

range, install the filler cap hand−tight.

Be careful not to drop engine oil on

the vehicle components.

1. To get a correct reading, the vehicle

should be on level ground. After turning

off the hybrid system, wait a few min-

utes for the oil to drain back into the

bottom of the engine.

2. Pull the dipstick out, hold the rag un-

der the end and wipe it clean.

400

ENGINE OIL SELECTION

If SAE 5W−30 oil is not available, SAE

10W−30 oil may be used. However, it

should be replaced with SAE 5W−30 at

the next oil change.

NOTICE

“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” is used in

your Toyota vehicle. Use Toyota approved

“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent

to satisfy the following grade and viscos-

ity.

z Be careful not to spill engine oil on

the vehicle components.

z Avoid overfilling, or the hybrid sys-

tem could be damaged.

Oil grade:

z Check the oil level on the dipstick

once again after adding the oil.

ILSAC multigrade engine oil

Recommended viscosity:

SAE 5W−30

oil008

Outside temperature

SAE 5W−30 is the best choice, for good

fuel economy, and good starting in cold

weather.

401

Checking the coolant level

CAUTION

The coolant heat storage tank reaches

high temperature inside. It is danger-

ous if hot coolant is discharged when

replacing. For replacement of the

coolant, contact your Toyota dealer.

Look at the see−through coolant reser-

voir when the hybrid system is cold.

The coolant level is satisfactory if it is

between the “FULL” and “LOW” lines

on the reservoir. If the level is low, add

the coolant. (For the coolant type, see

“Coolant type selection” described be-

low.)

Oil identification mark

To ensure excellent lubrication perfor-

mance for your engine, “Toyota Genuine

Motor Oil” is available, which has been

specifically tested and approved for all

Toyota engines.

Please contact your Toyota dealer for fur-

ther details about “Toyota Genuine Motor

Oil”.

The ILSAC (International Lubricant Stan-

dardization and Approval Committee) Certi-

fication Mark is added to some oil con-

tainers to help you select the oil you

should use.

The coolant level in the reservoir will vary

with hybrid system temperature. However,

if the level is on or below the “LOW” line,

add coolant. Bring the level up to the

“FULL” line.

If the coolant level drops within a short

time after replenishing, there may be a

leak in the system. Visually check the

radiator, hoses, radiator cap and drain

cock and water pump.

402

If you can find no leak, have your Toyota

dealer test the cap pressure and check

for leaks in the cooling system.

For Canada—“Toyota Super Long Life

Coolant” is a mixture of 55% coolant and

45% deionized water. This coolant pro-

vides protection down to about −42ꢀC

(−44ꢀF).

CAUTION

NOTICE

To prevent burning yourself, do not

remove the radiator cap when the en-

gine is hot.

Do not use plain water alone.

Coolant type selection

Use of improper coolants may damage

your cooling system.

Toyota recommends “Toyota Super Long

Life Coolant”, which has been tested to

ensure that it will not cause corrosion nor

result in malfunction of your coolant sys-

tem with proper usage. “Toyota Super

Long Life Coolant” is formulated with

long−life hybrid organic acid technology

and has been specifically designed to

avoid cooling system malfunction on

Toyota vehicles.

Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant”

or similar high quality ethylene glycol

based non−silicate, non−amine, non−nitrite,

and non−borate coolant with long−life

hybrid organic acid technology. (Coolant

with

long−life

hybrid

organic

acid

technology is

a

combination of low

phosphates and organic acids.)

For the U.S.A.—“Toyota Super Long Life

Coolant” is a mixture of 50% coolant and

50% deionized water. This coolant pro-

vides protection down to about −35ꢀC

(−31ꢀF).

Please contact your Toyota dealer for fur-

ther details.

403

Checking the radiator and

condenser

Checking brake fluid

If either of the above parts is extremely

dirty or you are not sure of their condi-

tion, take your vehicle to a Toyota dealer.

If the level is low, take your vehicle to

a Toyota dealer as soon as possible. Do

not drive if the red brake system warn-

ing light is on. Call a Toyota dealer for

assistance.

CAUTION

If the fluid level goes down soon after your

vehicle is serviced, it may indicate a seri-

ous mechanical problem.

To prevent burning yourself, be care-

ful not to touch the radiator or con-

denser when the engine is hot.

82p002b

CAUTION

NOTICE

Brake fluid can harm your hands or

eyes. If fluid gets on your hands or

in your eyes, flush the affected area

with clean water immediately. If you

still feel uncomfortable with your

hands or eyes, go to the doctor.

To prevent damage to the radiator

and condenser, do not perform the

work by yourself.

To check the fluid level, simply look at

the see−through reservoir. The level

should be between the “MAX” and

“MIN” lines on the reservoir.

It is normal for the brake fluid level to go

down slightly as the brake pads wear or

when the fluid level in the accumulator is

high.

NOTICE

If you spill some of the fluid, be sure

to wipe it off to prevent it from dam-

aging the parts or paintwork.

404

Checking tire inflation

pressure

Keep your tire inflation pressures

at the proper level.

ꢁ Always use a tire inflation pres-

sure gauge. The appearance of

a tire can be misleading. Besides,

tire inflation pressures that are

even just a few pounds off can de-

grade ride and handling.

The recommended cold tire inflation

pressures, tire sizes and the com-

bined weight of occupants and cargo

(vehicle capacity weight) are de-

scribed on pages 426 and 429. They

are also described on the tire and

loading information label as shown.

ꢁ Take special care when adding

air to the compact spare tire.

The smaller tire size can gain

pressure very quickly. Add com-

pressed air in small quantities and

check the pressure often until it

reaches the specified pressure.

You should check the tire inflation

pressure every two weeks, or at least

once a month. And do not forget the

spare!

82p105b

ꢁ Do not bleed or reduce tire

inflation pressure after driving.

It is normal for the tire inflation

pressure to be higher after driving.

The following instructions for

checking tire inflation pressure

should be observed:

ꢁ The

pressure

should

be

ꢁ Never exceed the vehicle capac-

ity weight. Passenger and lug-

gage weight should be located so

that the vehicle is balanced.

checked only when the tires are

cold. If your vehicle has been

parked for at least 3 hours and has

not been driven for more than 1.5

km or 1 mile since, you will get

an accurate cold tire inflation pres-

sure reading.

405

5. After completing the tire inflation

pressure measurement and adjust-

ment, apply soapy water to the

valve and check for leakage.

Tire inflation

pressure gauge

CAUTION

Keep your tires properly inflated.

Otherwise, the following condi-

tions may occur and cause an ac-

cident resulting in death or seri-

ous injuries.

6. Install the tire valve cap.

If a gauge and air pump are not avail-

able, have your vehicle checked by

your Toyota dealer.

Low tire pressure (underinfla-

tion)—

CAUTION

ꢁ Excessive wear

ꢁ Uneven wear

ꢁ Poor handling

Be sure to reinstall the tire valve

caps. Without the valve caps, dirt

or moisture could get into the

valve core and cause air leakage.

If the caps have been lost, have

new ones put on as soon as pos-

sible.

INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT

PROCEDURE

ꢁ Possibility of blowouts from an

overheated tire

1. Remove the tire valve cap.

ꢁ Poor sealing of the tire bead

2. Press the tip of the tire inflation

pressure gauge to the tire valve.

ꢁ Wheel deformation and/or tire

separation

3. Read the pressure using the grad-

uations of the gauge.

Incorrect tire inflation pressure

may waste fuel, reduce the comfort

of driving, reduce tire life and

make your vehicle less safe to

drive.

ꢁ A greater possibility of tire

damage from road hazards

4. In case the tire inflation pressure

is not within the prescribed range,

insert the compressed air from the

valve. In case of applying too much

air, press the center of the valve

and release the air to adjust.

If a tire frequently needs refilling,

have it checked by your Toyota deal-

er.

406

Checking and replacing tires

The tires on your Toyota have built−in

tread wear indicators to help you

know when the tires need replace-

ment. When the tread depth wears to

1.6 mm (0.06 in.) or less, the indica-

tors will appear. If you can see the

indicators in two or more adjacent

grooves, the tire should be replaced.

The lower the tread, the higher the

risk of skidding.

High tire pressure (overinfla-

tion)—

Tread wear indicator

ꢁ Poor handling

ꢁ Excessive wear

ꢁ Uneven wear

ꢁ A greater possibility of tire

damage from road hazards

The effectiveness of snow tires is

lost if the tread wears down below

4 mm (0.16 in.).

CHECKING YOUR TIRES

If you have tire damage such as

cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to

expose the fabric, or bulges indi-

cating internal damage, the tire

should be replaced.

Check the tire’s tread for tread

wear indicators. If the indicators

show, replace the tires. The loca-

tion of tread wear indicators is

shown by the “TWI” or “Δ” marks,

etc., molded on the sidewall of

each tire.

If a tire often goes flat or cannot be

properly repaired due to the size or

location of a cut or other damage, it

should be replaced. If you are not

sure, consult with your Toyota dealer.

407

If air loss occurs while driving, do not

continue driving. Driving even a short

distance can damage a tire beyond

repair.

REPLACING YOUR TIRES

CAUTION

When replacing a tire, use a tire of

the same size and construction,

and the same or greater load ca-

pacity as the originally installed

tires.

Observe the following instruc-

tions. Otherwise, an accident

may occur resulting in death or

serious injuries.

Any tires which are over 6 years

old must be checked by a qualified

technician even if damage is not

obvious.

Using any other size or type of tire

may seriously affect handling, ride,

speedometer/odometer calibration,

ground clearance, and clearance be-

tween the body and tires or snow

chains.

ꢁ Do not mix radial, bias belted,

or bias−ply tires on your ve-

hicle, as this may cause dan-

gerous handling characteris-

tics resulting in loss of control.

Tires deteriorate with age even if they

have never or seldom been used.

This applies also to the spare tire and

tires stored for future use.

ꢁ Do not use tires other than the

manufacturer’s recommended

size, as this may cause danger-

ous handling characteristics

resulting in loss of control.

Check that the maximum load of the

replaced 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. As for the

maximum load of the tire, see the load

limit at maximum cold tire inflation

pressure mentioned on the sidewall

of the tire, and as for the Gross Axle

Weight Ratings (GAWR), see the Cer-

tification Label. For details about the

sidewall of the tire and the Certifica-

tion Label, see pages 332 and 330.

Toyota recommends all four tires,

or at least both front or rear tires

be replaced at a time as a set.

See “If you have a flat tire” on page

361 for tire change procedure.

408

Rotating tires

When a tire is replaced, the wheel

should always be balanced.

When rotating tires, check for uneven

wear and damage. Abnormal wear is

usually caused by incorrect tire infla-

tion pressure, improper wheel align-

ment, out−of−balance wheels, or se-

vere braking.

An unbalanced wheel may affect ve-

hicle handling and tire life. Wheels

can get out of balance with regular

use and should therefore be balanced

occasionally.

82p104a

CAUTION

When replacing a tubeless tire, the

air valve should also be replaced

with a new one.

Do not include a compact spare

tire when rotating the tires. It is

designed for temporary use only.

To equalize tire wear and help ex-

tend tire life, Toyota recommends

that you rotate your tires accord-

ing to the maintenance schedule.

(For scheduled maintenance infor-

mation, please refer to the “Sched-

uled Maintenance Guide” or “Own-

er’s

Manual

Supplement”.)

However, the most appropriate tim-

ing for tire rotation may vary ac-

cording to your driving habits and

road surface conditions.

The wheel assemblies must be ro-

tated as illustrated above.

409

Installing snow tires and

chains

WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR

CHAINS

SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION

TIRE CHAIN SELECTION

Snow tires should be installed on all

wheels.

Regulations regarding the use of tire

chains vary according to location or

type of road, so always check local reg-

ulations before installing chains.

Snow tires or chains are recommended

when driving on snow or ice.

Installing snow tires on the front wheels

only can lead to an excessive difference

in road grip capability between the front

and rear tires which could cause loss of

vehicle control.

On wet or dry roads, conventional tires

provide better traction than snow tires.

Use SAE Class “S” type radial tire chains,

with the exception of radial cable chains

or V−bar type chains.

SNOW TIRE SELECTION

If you need snow tires, select tires of

the same size, construction and load

capacity as the originally installed tires.

When storing removed tires, you should

store them in a cool dry place.

CHAIN INSTALLATION

Install the chains on the front tires as

tightly as possible. Do not use tire

chains on the rear tires. Retighten

chains after driving 0.5 − 1.0 km (1/4 −

1/2 mile).

Mark the direction of rotation and be sure

to install them in the same direction when

replacing.

Do not use tires other than those men-

tioned above. Do not install studded tires

without first checking local regulations for

possible restrictions.

CAUTION

When installing chains on your tires, care-

fully follow the instructions of the chain

manufacturer.

CAUTION

ꢁ Do not drive with the snow tires

incorrectly inflated.

Do not use snow tires other than the

manufacturer’s recommended size, as

this may cause dangerous handling

characteristics resulting in loss of

control. Otherwise, an accident may

occur resulting in death or serious

injuries.

If wheel covers are used, they will be

scratched by the chain band, so remove

the covers before putting on the chains.

ꢁ Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph)

with any type of snow tires.

410

Replacing wheels

WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS

Replacement with used wheels is not rec-

ommended as they may have been sub-

jected to rough treatment or high mileage

and could fail without warning. Also, bent

wheels which have been straightened may

have structural damage and therefore

should not be used. Never use an inner

tube in a leaking wheel which is designed

for a tubeless tire.

CAUTION

If you have wheel damage such as

bending, cracks or heavy corrosion, the

wheel should be replaced.

ꢁ Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or

the chain manufacturer’s recom-

mended speed limit, whichever is

lower.

If you fail to replace a damaged wheel,

the tire may slip off the wheel or cause

loss of handling control.

ꢁ Drive carefully avoiding bumps,

holes, and sharp turns, which may

cause the vehicle to bounce.

WHEEL SELECTION

When replacing wheels, care should be

taken to ensure that the wheels are re-

placed by ones with the same load ca-

pacity, diameter, rim width, and offset.

ꢁ Avoid sharp turns or locked−wheel

braking, as use of chains may ad-

versely affect vehicle handling.

This must be observed on compact spare

tire, too.

ꢁ When driving with chains installed,

be sure to drive carefully. Slow

down before entering curves to

avoid losing control of the vehicle.

Otherwise an accident may occur.

Correct replacement wheels are available

at your Toyota dealer.

A wheel of a different size or type may

adversely affect handling, wheel and bear-

ing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odom-

eter calibration, stopping ability, headlight

aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clear-

ance, and tire or snow chain clearance to

the body and chassis.

NOTICE

Do not attempt to use a tire chain on

the compact spare tire, as it may re-

sult in damage to the vehicle as well

as the tire.

411

Aluminum wheel precautions

ꢁ When installing aluminum wheels,

check that the wheel nuts are tight

after driving your vehicle the first 1600

km (1000 miles).

ꢁ If you have rotated, repaired, or

changed your tires, check that the

wheel nuts are still tight after driving

1600 km (1000 miles).

ꢁ When using tire chains, be careful not

to damage the aluminum wheels.

ꢁ Use only Toyota wheel nuts and

wrench designed for your aluminum

wheels.

ꢁ When balancing your wheels, use only

Toyota balance weights or equivalent

and a plastic or rubber hammer.

ꢁ As with any wheel, periodically check

your aluminum wheels for damage. If

damaged, replace immediately.

412

DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE Engine and Chassis for Your Toyota Prius 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2009)

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