I was looking at my mother's 1995 Toyota Avalon's owner's manual and according to it the car needs maintenance. I have some questions.
The engine oil and filter will need to be replaced soon. Do different brands of engine oil and different brands of filters offer better mileage/performance, or are they all the same? If they are different which ones are better and why are they better? Should I use petroleum based motor oil or synthetic motor oil and will synthetic motor oil ruin the engine?
The valve clearance should have been adjusted 5 years ago Exactly what is valve clearance and how do I adjust it?
The drive belts were changed 5-7 years ago and are in need of inspection. What are drive belts and how do I inspect them? If they need to be replaced, are there better brands of drive belts or will any brand have the same exact performance and reliability?
The engine coolant should have been changed 8 years ago. How do I change it and does the brand of coolant make a difference?
The exhaust pipes and mountings have never been inspected from my knowledge. How do I inspect them?
The air cleaner filter has never been replaced. Do different air cleaner filter brands exist and if they do, does the brand make a difference?
The fuel lines, connects, fuel tank vapor vent system hoses and fuel tank band need inspection. Exactly how do I inspect these?
The fuel tank cap gasket should have been replaced 5 years ago. Exactly what is it and how do I replace it? Are there different brands and does the brand make a difference?
The spark plugs should have been replaced 5 years ago. What brands of spark plugs are there on the market, which ones are better and why are they better?
What in the world is a charcoal canister and how do I inspect it?
The Chasis and Body need inspection, is there a guide somewhere that I could read on how to inspect this?
In the engine compartment diagram, I notice that there are two large fans in the front of the engine. I am a silent computing enthusiast (hence why I know nothing about automobile maintenance) and I have always wanted to make the car quieter, so I am wondering, are these replaceable with quieter fans that offer the same air flow and are these standard 120mm fans, like the one shown here:
If they are, could someone tell me what the CFM and electrical specifications are of the fan, so I could get a quieter alternative (e.g. fluid dynamic bearing with a low decibel rating)? If they are not, would someone please tell me if I have any options for replacing them with quieter alternatives without compromising the engine's cooling? Also, I figure that if the fans die, the engine will overheat so would someone be able to tell me what the life expectancy of the stock cooling fans is?
I was looking at my mother's 1995 Toyota Avalon's owner's manual and according to it the car needs maintenance. I have some questions.
The engine oil and filter will need to be replaced soon. Do different brands of engine oil and different brands of filters offer better mileage/performance, or are they all the same? If they are different which ones are better and why are they better? Should I use petroleum based motor oil or synthetic motor oil and will synthetic motor oil ruin the engine?
On that age car, I would use whatever oil has been it. Any oil filter, Purolator Pure One are good.
The valve clearance should have been adjusted 5 years ago Exactly what is valve clearance and how do I adjust it?
I don't think these need vavle adjustments.
The drive belts were changed 5-7 years ago and are in need of inspection. What are drive belts and how do I inspect them? If they need to be replaced, are there better brands of drive belts or will any brand have the same exact performance and reliability?
I like the Toyota belts. Look for cracks or wear.
The engine coolant should have been changed 8 years ago. How do I change it and does the brand of coolant make a difference?
That should probably be done at a shop or lube place.
The exhaust pipes and mountings have never been inspected from my knowledge. How do I inspect them?
If it is not clunking or banging, forget it. Or take it to a muffler shop for a free inspection.
The air cleaner filter has never been replaced. Do different air cleaner filter brands exist and if they do, does the brand make a difference?
Again Toyota, I hope it has been changed in 11 years.
The fuel lines, connects, fuel tank vapor vent system hoses and fuel tank band need inspection. Exactly how do I inspect these?
More detail than I can get in to here. I would not sweat it, if you are worried pay to have a mechanic look at it.
The fuel tank cap gasket should have been replaced 5 years ago. Exactly what is it and how do I replace it? Are there different brands and does the brand make a difference?
I would not worry about it, unless it throws a check engine code because of it
The spark plugs should have been replaced 5 years ago. What brands of spark plugs are there on the market, which ones are better and why are they better?
They are usually good for at least 60K. Again Toyota.
What in the world is a charcoal canister and how do I inspect it?
See fuel line inspection
The Chasis and Body need inspection, is there a guide somewhere that I could read on how to inspect this?
You would need a factory service manual. I would not sweat this either.
In the engine compartment diagram, I notice that there are two large fans in the front of the engine. I am a silent computing enthusiast (hence why I know nothing about automobile maintenance) and I have always wanted to make the car quieter, so I am wondering, are these replaceable with quieter fans that offer the same air flow and are these standard 120mm fans, like the one shown here:
If they are, could someone tell me what the CFM and electrical specifications are of the fan, so I could get a quieter alternative (e.g. fluid dynamic bearing with a low decibel rating)? If they are not, would someone please tell me if I have any options for replacing them with quieter alternatives without compromising the engine's cooling? Also, I figure that if the fans die, the engine will overheat so would someone be able to tell me what the life expectancy of the stock cooling fans is?
I have never noticed these to be noisy, do you ride in the engine compartment?
I have never noticed these to be noisy, do you ride in the engine compartment?
I have very sensitive ears so I have always dreamed of driving a car and hearing absolutely nothing from the outside world. That is why I am looking into whether or not the fans can be changed for quieter ones with the same CFM. I am also thinking of trying what was suggested in the following thread to further lower noise:
Also, I am interested in boosting the cars' fuel economy. The car has 76,000 miles on it and I heard that synthetic oils increased MPG. Is it really a bad idea to use a synthetic oil in it at this point?
As for the air cleaner filter, my father says that he never replaced it. The car has went for yearly inspections and things that could have been problems were resolved before they were problems but to my knowledge I do not know if the air filter had ever been replaced.
Lastly, sometimes when I break, I hear a squealing noise. The owner's manual says that the brake pads need to be replaced. Do different brands of brake pads last longer or break faster or should I go with Toyota's brake pads too?
Last edited by ShiningArcanine; 07-22-2006 at 10:00 PM.
it's almost impossible to teach you everything you need to know about car maint. on this one thread...i suggest start reading alot, buy a good manual....i've seen original toyota service manuals for 95-97 on ebay as low as 25.00. as far as fans....the cooling fans are nothing like a computer fan. i don't know cfm specs...but it's prob at least fifty times more than that electronics fan, plus you would be hard pressed to incorporate an electronics fan into the shrouds and electrical system. not to mention that it has to be capable of withstanding the enviroment of being under the hood of a car, ie heat, cold, water etc. it's never too late to start using synthetic oil in the engine, and ANY air filter and oil filter and oil is better than none at all, so go to whatever autoparts store is in your area and get the best they have..unless you get into performance braking systems, pretty much any pads will perform well, get the best ones they have available. as far as mileage from oils, synthetics have been proven to give better mileage, but it's really negligable. for best performance it's the combination of all things, clean oil, clean air filter, good plugs, tire air pressure etc. the biggest gains can be made from a clean fuel system. if it's never been done, get a good gas additive such as BG products 44K, or chevron techron, this cleans deposits from injectors, valves etc, and can really boost mileage, especially in an older car that has never been cleaned. don't get the cheap stuff, it's useless.
This car is going to be mine in Janurary so I would like to go a bit beyond standard maintenance and make some improvements to it. With the synthetic oil, how would one go about switching to it without getting leaking problems?
Here is what I am planning to do so far:
Replace Air Filter - Denso 143-2081
Change Oil - Either what I am currently using or AMSOil/Mobile 1 if I go with synthetic
Install Denso IK20 Spark Plugs
Install Purolator PureONE Oil Filter
Replace Fuel Filter - I need to find a good brand
Change Engine Coolant - I also need to find a good brand
Put BG products 44K in Fuel Tank
Are these good ideas?
By the way, I optimized the tire pressure about two months ago so it should already be good.
I just went to autozone. They did not have the Denso Air Filter so I got a STP Air Filter. They also did not have the Purolator PureONE Oil Filter, but they did have the Mobile 1 but I wanted to buy the oil at the same time I buy the oil filter. Does anyone know where I can get Purolator PureONE Oil Filter? They were also out of fuel filters. They did not have the BG Products 44K Fuel Injector Cleaner so I got the Chevron Techron Fuel Injector Cleaner.
Also, I changed my mind on changing the coolant, as there is no way that I can get all of it out of the radiator. I will need to check the coolant level though.
not sure where to get a purolator, i used a fram when i can't get toyota. and don't change your mind on the coolant. it may be a little harder job, but is very important in an older car if you don't know the last service. with the alum engines it is real important to keep fresh coolant to prevent corrosion and water pump problems. there is a plug in the bottom of the radiator, remove that plug and the radiator cap, most of the coolant will drain from the car. if you have to, remove the bottom hose to drain it. unless you already have an oil leak, swithching to synthetic won't create one.
That is good news. What coolant should I get (i.e. what is the best coolant that is compatible with a 1MZ-FE engine)?
Edit: Hey, I am curious, is there any way to check the oxygen sensors to make sure that they are operating correctly or would that be a waste of time? I am currently getting 20 mpg, driving 95% city.
Last edited by ShiningArcanine; 07-23-2006 at 07:37 PM.
there are many good brands of anti-freeze/coolant out there, and some new ones that will last longer than the usual 2 years, but i don't know alot about them. i'm the sort who uses what has worked good for the last 30 years, so i use prestone. if one of your O2 sensors was not operating properly, your check engine light would come on.
I read that Toyota uses something called Toyota Red but it is only one of the components of what I would want to put into the coolant reservoir. What else would I want to put in it and in what ratios would I want to put it into the reservoir? Is it just 50% antifreeze and 50% distilled water?
Last edited by ShiningArcanine; 07-23-2006 at 08:26 PM.
The red is the color of Toyota anti-freeze, again I would recommend using what came with the car. Some of the green anti-freezes are not kind to aluminum, at least that use to be the case. You use 50/50 with distilled water.
You may be smart, but if you don't know mechanical stuff you can cause yourself a lot of heartaches and headaches through ignorance. No offense, but you do not sound competent to do the tasks you want to do..
I would suggest going to your neighborhood garage, ask a mechanic to do everything that you want done to your car and just stick around and watch. Next time around, you'll be able to do it yourself with some level of confidence.
Nothing will beat the recommendation of a competent mechanic. It is very difficult to diagnose the problems of a vehicle if you can't actually see it. Think of it this way, have you ever tried walking someone through a task in software that they aren't familiar with over the phone? That's sort of this way.
And if you want to make the car quieter, do try to replace all the weatherstrips.
The red is the color of Toyota anti-freeze, again I would recommend using what came with the car. Some of the green anti-freezes are not kind to aluminum, at least that use to be the case. You use 50/50 with distilled water.
You may be smart, but if you don't know mechanical stuff you can cause yourself a lot of heartaches and headaches through ignorance. No offense, but you do not sound competent to do the tasks you want to do..
I do not know what came with the car. I am assuming that it was the Toyota Red antifreeze at a fifty percent concentration with distilled water. Either that or the Toyota Pink, which is pre-mixed.
Anyway, I have an uncle who was really into cars when he was younger and he was able to service cars back then just as well as I am able to service my computer now. After they digitalized car parts, it became too expensive for him to be an automobile enthusiast but he still is familiar with routine maintenance like changing automobile coolant. I am planning on enlisting his help. It should save money on the labor costs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by carloi
I would suggest going to your neighborhood garage, ask a mechanic to do everything that you want done to your car and just stick around and watch. Next time around, you'll be able to do it yourself with some level of confidence.
Nothing will beat the recommendation of a competent mechanic. It is very difficult to diagnose the problems of a vehicle if you can't actually see it. Think of it this way, have you ever tried walking someone through a task in software that they aren't familiar with over the phone? That's sort of this way.
And if you want to make the car quieter, do try to replace all the weatherstrips.
What would I want to replace the weather strips with? Do you have any recommendations?
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