Engine Exhaust Cautions; Facts About Engine Oil Consumption - Toyota Tacoma 1996 Instruction Manual

Engine exhaust cautions

CAUTION
!
S Avoid inhaling the engine ex-
haust. It contains carbon monox-
ide, which is a colorless and odor-
less gas. It can cause uncon-
sciousness or even death.
S Make sure the exhaust system has
no holes or loose connections.
The system should be checked
from time to time. If you hit some-
thing, or notice a change in the
sound of the exhaust, have the
system checked immediately.
S 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.
S Do not remain for a long time in a
parked vehicle with the engine
running. If it is unavoidable, how-
ever, do so only in an unconfined
area and adjust the heating or
cooling system to force outside
air into the vehicle.
S 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.
S If you smell exhaust fumes in the
vehicle, drive with the windows
open. Have the cause immediately
located and corrected.
S Toyota does not recommend occu-
pying the rear cargo area when it is
fitted with a slide-in camper,
camper shell or other type cover
while the engine is running. This
caution applies to both driving and
stopped or parked situations with
the engine running. Particular care
should be taken to prevent exhaust
gases from entering camper bod-
ies, trailers or other enclosures on
or around your vehicle. If exhaust
fumes are detected, open all win-
dows and thoroughly ventilate the
area.
Facts about engine oil
consumption
FUNCTIONS OF ENGINE OIL
Engine oil has the primary functions of lu-
bricating and cooling the inside of the en-
gine, and plays a major role in maintaining
the engine in proper working order.
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION
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.
S Oil is used to lubricate pistons, piston
rings and cylinders. A thin film of oil is left
on the cylinder wall when a piston
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.
S 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.
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