05:15 Don't flush your power steering fluid like this. You'll run the pump dry, and have tons of air in the system which can cause cavitation and ruin your pump. Instead, do what he shows as far as lifting the front and disconnecting the hoses, but don't turn on the engine. Turn the wheel by hand with the key in the ON position and the engine off. Turn the wheel from lock to lock, and then get out and check the reservoir, because as you turn the wheel you'll be pushing the old fluid out of your open hose. Pour fresh fluid into the reservoir as the fluid level drops. Continue doing this (turning the wheel, then pouring in new fluid, etc) until you have added about a quart of new fluid, and then you will have replaced all of the old fluid. You'll notice that the fluid exiting your open hos is clean. Next, close up the lines, but leave the reservoir lid open. Get back inside and turn the wheel again (engine OFF) from lock to lock about 5 times, then center the wheel. Check the fluid level: add fluid if needed (notice that the reservoir has two sets of marks -- one for "HOT" and one for "COLD", use the COLD marks). Get back in and turn the wheel again another 5 or so times from lock to lock. If you don't have any fluid level drop after that, you are good and have properly bled the system and saved your pump from cavitation.
I didn't realize you can flush the system with the engine off. Your way sounds better. It's less likely to make a mess and you can't damage the pump. I pinned your comment to the top. Thank you.
@@LabCoatPaul RIght on -- yeah, you have to be careful with power steering pumps because they are very sensitive to damage if run dry. Have fun with your Rav4!
This is a great tip. That being said I once got a power steering leak in my 2000 RAV4 and all the fluid drained out. I was out in the middle of nowhere so I drove the car home with the pump whining the whole way. Thankfully never had to replace the pump...
I feel like I hit the jackpot with your RAV4 series! Thanks for documenting all of this Paul! I bought a 4Runner last year and learned that there's a bunch of work you can do yourself on them. I'd never worked on my cars before, but the sheer amount of forums and videos showing you step-by-step how to do repairs and save a ton of $$$ made it look easy. So, I started doing some projects on my 4R and loving it. Then, I started feeling guilty because my wife has a 99 RAV4 and I've never done any work on it - just took it to the service shop when needed. I started looking online and on UA-cam to see if there's as much support for RAV4 repair as there is for 4Runners and found your series. Now I can start showing my wife's RAV4 some love too. Unfortunately, I'm gonna be busy on car projects for the next year. ;-)
Thanks for watching! Yes, you signed yourself up for a lot of work. Unfortunately, these RAV4's are 20 years old now, and they need everything repaired. You should join the Toyota RAV4 Owners of First Gen XA10 1994-2000 ONLY group on facebook: facebook.com/groups/287048125126229/
Thanks Paul for sharing this. I just got my own 97 Rav4 with 140 km. I'm looking to do a complete service and your steps help a lot! Subscribed from Vancouver, Canada. Also keep us up to date with your next upgrades! Cheers
Thanks for the love! Rav4's are awesome. A tune-up video is up next, so hopefully I'll get that up soon. As you can imagine, fixing up a car is a lot of work, so I don't upload the Rav4 stuff as often as I would like to. :)
Little sidenote on the differential fluid change. Back in the day these cars where sold (including the 2nd gen wich has the same diff) there was an option to include a torsen diff. Not many people have this torsen diff because it was fairly expensive. But if you have one you really should add an lsd additive to the oil. Or else your diff will start making ugly noises. You can recognize this torsen diff by a number stamped on the left front of the diff. If you have a 1 it’s a regular diff if it’s stamped 2 you are lucky enough with a torsen diff.
I'm doing some product testing on my 1999 Toyota RAV4. I've never changed the differential fluid the automatic transmission fluid or the coolant in 287,000 mi. The oil gets changed every 10,000 MI. So far the vehicle runs very nicely and I've driven across the country five times with it and I spent four years in Washington DC driving over the terrible roads and dealing with the winters on the east coast and then a year in the Appalachian mountains mostly off-road. I think the Toyota RAV4 is possibly the toughest vehicle we've ever created LOL
Not changing your transmission fluid often enough is very bad. It's probably running smooth now, because your transmission and differential fluid are at a much higher viscosity now that they're way too old. The day you change those fluids is the day you'll get multiple leaks and clunking from the differential. Your head gasket is probably being held together by dirt at this point, so changing that coolant will almost certainly blow the head gasket too. My RAV4 went 150,000 miles without changing the differential fluid. I changed it when I bought the car, and now it clunks when I put it into gear. I also replaced the original Toyota coolant in my RAV4 with the generic green coolant and installed an Autozone radiator cap that didn't fit right and let the pressure go way over 30psi. The combination of a different coolant and too much pressure blew my head gasket and caused coolant to get into the oil. I think at this point, your best option is to continue driving your RAV4, but maybe don't mess with those old fluids.
@@LabCoatPaul I would not think the green coolant would harm the cooling system as long as it was ethylene glycol antifreeze. Thats what it calls for, doesn't matter what color it is.
I'm getting a 99 RAV4 for a good price in pretty good condition with 190 k's unfortunately I won't put as much work as you have. I admire the amount of work you put into it! it looks awesome too!
Ill bet my brake fluid and gear oils are just as black as this. Remember to tighten up the slack in the throttle cable and clean the butterfly valve too when you get to the point to do all of this. Thx for the vid Paul!
Sadly someone put gasket maker on the thermostat housing and didn't wipe of the excess from the threads. So they tightened down the nuts and there was gasket maker on the threads. So now I'm having to cut off the thermostat housing to be able to get a grip on the nut. I have a new thermostat housing on the way. Sucks. I think I'm having the same issue as you with the thermostat. The heat would get hot but would get cold pretty quickly. The temp gauge stays in the middle though.
If you have a 1998-2000 model the T55 is also used for the drain plug on the rear diff, was confused to see it was different. Used royal purple oil tho, just so I can say my car is sipping on lean :)
In an auto AWD rav4 make sure you use T-IV aisin or Toyota ATF. My GF’s transmission was ruined when a dumb shop put dexron III In it. Dexron is only for the 2wd models.
I've had to Rev Toyota 97 for about 3 years it's worked wonderful air conditioning heater everything works well but right now what's going on starting the car it's making me started three times it could be the clutch but all this that I see that you're saying it's so scary because where do you go for all this I can't do it alone
Thanks Paul! This is great info for me. My RAV4 is a 1998 Automatic. Nearly 300,000 miles. I LOVE my RAV4. Have owned it for 15 years. It needs all the fluids changed. Oil is done... haha. Will these steps be comparable in these two models/years?
Synthetic oil is generally more slick and works better. It is also more likely to leak out through old worn out seals. With an older car like the RAV4, it's better to use conventional oil, or a synthetic blend, but not a full synthetic oil.
Hi LCP! I really appreciate your videos! I am changing the fluids in my 1998 RAV4 2WD A/T vehicle. I wish you had added a few more details about the thermostat and which gaskets are needed to reinstall. I'm guessing you bought 2 gaskets, but again, I'm not sure. What do the gaskets look like? Are they O-rings? This information would be helpful when buying the correct parts. Thanks again for the professional videos.
Hi sir. One of my friend has RAV4 2002(2nd Gen) model 2000cc having a 1AZ-FSE engine. According to him it sucked/consume engine oil about 1 quarter/ 750 miles.he said that it is also written in the said engine specifications. Is it correct or is there some issue in the said engine? Also it consumes too much gasoline and its SPARK PLUGS turn Black immediately after installation. Requests for your humble response/guidance. Thanks in anticipation.
5star video U have helped me a bit . Just Australia uses KMs and right hand drive . Going to be interesting my diff oil . My 95 gen 1 has 347 thousand ks
Mine is a manual and I need to change my transmission fluid. At the store they have transmission fluid and gear oil? So do I need to use gear oil instead if transmission fluid? My Rav4 is a 98.
Green coolant is the most common type, and I got the one that is compatible for all makes and models of cars. It's also more practical, because if I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere and I want to get some coolant from a gas station, they'll have the green stuff. As long as you completely flush the system, it's OK to change coolant types.
@@LabCoatPaul I agree 100%. As long as you get the good for all makes and models and compatible with any color there should be no problem. You're not really changing the types, just the color. It calls for ethylene glycol antifreeze and green is ethylene glycol.
Excelent as always mate !!!! I was playing with idea of adding a transmission cooler for longer off road/ overland trips as this transmission might get hot and burn out faster ...... have you considered such modification ? As always love the vids !!!!! Cheers
The RAV4 already has a small transmission cooler on the manual transmission model. It's behind the license plate. On the auto, I believe the fluid would get cooled in the radiator. You can definitely upgrade the transmission cooler if you want. I don't know if the cooler would make your transmission better. RAV4 GTT on youtube would know more about that than I do.
How can I check the transmission fluid level? I'm obsessed with my 2 door, '97 silver RAV. She's leaking something but oil, brake fluid and power steering levels are staying the same. Could it be the transmission fluid? How can I check the level to see? Love the you've got the exact same rig! And your videos are awesome!
Thanks for watching! With the manual transmission, you have to remove the fill plug to check the fluid level. It's common for these old RAV4's to leak transmission fluid from the CV axle seals. And... every seal because the car is 25 years old. Take care of your big leaks first.
I've changed oil before on my other cars but I now own a 1997 Toyota Rav4 and the oil filter is located differently then in your video! Mine is located near the alternator and you can't use a standard filter wrench (like the one you're using) because there's no room to fit it! You're reaching it on the bottom where mine is on top. Visited Auto Zone and said I have to purchase the wrench from Toyota dealer because it's an industrial tool wrench. Really?? Would an oil filter cap wrench work found at Walmart??? Thx
I have a ‘97 Rav4 as well. It appears that my fuel pump has gone bad. Will you do a video on that process or at least provide some information/instructions?
My Haynes Manual refers to changing the oil in the Transfer Box as a separate task to the Transmission oil. I assume that's what the second drain hole on the transmission is. Does it have a separate fill hole too ?. Thanks for the great video.
On the manual transmission, you can just fill the fluid through the hole in the front of the transmission and it will get into the transfer case. On the automatic, you may have to do it separately.
When you remove the radiator from the car, you drain about 1/2 the coolant. To properly flush it, you should run some water through the system and drain it a few times. The coolant in your overflow tank doesn't really circulate through the cooling system. A small amount of coolant moves in and out through the radiator cap to keep the radiator full, but most of the coolant just sits in the tank and doesn't do anything.
I’m curious. The old coolant looked like it was the OEM, either red Toyota Long Life or the pink Toyota Super Long Life. What made you flush and switch to the universal?
I've always used green coolant in my cars, and I like being able to just pick up coolant at any store instead of having to find the special one for my car. Some Toyota owners will say changing from Toyota to green coolant on a 23 year old car will cause the head gasket to leak. They are correct. I changed my coolant from red to green and my head gasket started leaking. It's not necessarily the coolant's fault, just that my car is too old.
@@LabCoatPaul That makes sense. Our family has owned nothing but Toyota’s since the late 70’s and I remember my dad trying to switch to green coolant on our 98 Tacoma and 97 Corolla. It resulted in water pump failure on the Corolla and head gasket failure on the front bank of the Tacoma. Since then I’ve been scared to switch from OEM coolant and fluids in my vehicles haha. I was just curious in your RAV4 though 🙂 Love your videos! Watching them makes me miss the 99 RAV4 L we used to have years ago ❤️
@@makaveli5681 Yes, red is the OEM coolant that Toyota used in the late 90's. They eventually switched to the pink pre-diluted. Either is safe to use in Toyota's, just not together lol.
@@bearstephens6722 Thank you for your response. I want to change it, I got pink antifreeze that reads ethelyn glycol and mixed it with water, is it ok for my rav 4?
Just bought a 97 rav4 with 141k miles and i have a question about coolant I noticed its a bit rusty so I'm gonna flush it should i buy the toyota long life or are there other less expensive options I just dont want my head gasket to blow haha also im pretty sure transmission oil has been neglected it doesn't smell burnt it doesn't shift rough but it is on the darker red side is it safe to change like a regular drain and fill ?
The gear oil you use (Valvoline 75w-90) does not appear to be compatible with synchromesh transmissions. Do you know if this is an issue? On a Rav4 forum folks are recommending synthetics such as Redline 75w-90ns. Your opinion? Thanks.
Hey Paul! thanks for this video, very helpful. I did come across a problem tho. when I changed my power steering fluid as shown in the video, it's making a very screechy noise and is leaking from the cap. I've tried to fill it again but same thing keeps happening. Can you help me please.
Try adding fluid and turning the steering wheel all the way left and right with the engine off. My method worked for me, but people have commented it can damage the power steering pump if it runs dry. It's better to do it with the engine off.
That's about right. There's another 1/2 gallon or so chillin' in the engine that won't come out by draining the radiator. Doing a coolant flush with water will dilute out any dirty old coolant, so you can put the new stuff in.
The manual transmission models share transfer case fluid with the transmission. It's 75W-90 GL5 gear oil. If you have an automatic transmission, the transfer case uses gear oil and has the dipstick by the right front wheel, and the transmission uses ATF.
Yikes! That's a lot of miles on the same fluid. I would still change the rear differential fluid. If the old fluid comes out thick and metallic, you can try 75w-140 gear oil instead of 75w-90.
Like the differential, you should also first try to loosen the transmission-filler-plug before draining... if it doesn't come lose you got a problem. Good vid, very clear!
Hey I have a leak at the junction where the upper radiator house feeds into the engine. I just replaced that upper radiator hose so I am thinking it might be one of the other two tubes that meet at that same junction. Just not sure what they are for and neither does autozone can you help me out? I can send pics if this is not descriptive enough. Thanks in advance.
Hello, I am the possessor of a 1996 rav4 and I was wondering if the oil filter is universal for this vehicle? Also, what Is the type of oil that is used for this vehicle? Thanks
In the video description, you'll find chapter markers. Click on each chapter and it will skip to the part of the video that lists the tools and parts needed for each procedure.
Hey! If my '97 rav is automatic, does the 30k rule apply? Also, could you apply the routine maintenance mileage for changing the fluids to other vehicles? For example, I drive a manual '07 pontiac vibe (which has a toyota engine). Could I apply the 30k rule to the transmission fluid or should I research the specifics for it?
Definitely check your owner's manual for the service interval. You can't go wrong with 30K miles, but some cars can go a bit longer than that on the same transmission fluid.
My RAV4 has 157,000 miles (253,000 km), and it leaks every fluid, the head gasket is blown, and the entire under side of the car was very rusty. Americans generally don't take care of their cars. Most old RAV4s here have around 200,000 miles and are also very beat up.
@@LabCoatPaul I am an American and I maintain my cars meticulously. I live in the SW so my 98 rav still doesn't have a spot of rust anywhere on it. Burns about 3/4 of a quart of oil every 5,000 miles and has no fluid leaks so far, not one. ONly things that have been replaced are the timing belt, shocks, struts , brakes, thermostat, spark plugs, pcv valve and fluids. Even the original stereo and speakers still work, I did finally upgrade to a Bluetooth deck though. Original upholstery with no rips on the seats. I even live by the rocky mountains and drive it on some fairly rough dirt roads and in mud and snow. The auto transmission seems to be holding up just fine, no serious issues yet. The only damage the Rav has is from a hail storm that left a few dents on it and the rear door has been replaced from being rear ended. Mine has been a very solid vehicle but it has been maintained at least appropriately. That being said, I agree many Americans are absolute idiots who don't care for anything they own. I suspect many of these people didn't spend their own hard earned money on the cars they drive or are just plane ignorant.
@@doctorwarpspeed8779 A 21 year old car with no leaks and no rust is very unusual. As a mechanic, I tend to focus on all the bad things. My old RAV4 leaks every fluid from every seal, and none of the bolts turn properly without the use of a torch. I haven't actually used it much yet, because it still needs more major repairs. I've always thought people who don't maintain their cars are idiots, but lately I've been thinking maybe I'm the idiot, spending all this time fixing up an old clunker. If you get a new car and just beat the shit out of it, you get all the enjoyment of driving around and none of the hard work fixing it. Then just get rid of it when it's worn out. If you treat the car like just some thing you use up and throw away, you can spend more time off roading, or hiking, or whatever - enjoying your life instead of giving it up to fix a thing that somebody else broke.
@@LabCoatPaul The bolts not turning off is a real killer. I really am lucky where I live humidity is very low. Salt in the winter isn't used as much as volcanic cinder and magnesium chloride. You have to make things rust where I live. For example I have an 81 Subaru brat that has been sitting for a year while I try to find some parts, the front disk brake rotors don't even have rust on them yet. The metal is still nice and shiny, I've been elsewhere and they rust like overnight almost. But as far as buying new or in good shape goes, I agree 100%. Honestly I love the engineering and mechanics of cars, I'm even good at fixing them but I hate every second of doing it. haha It's rare that I can do any kind of car work at all without working myself into knot. Some work is fine but dicking around with every part breaking, everything needing to be replaced just sucks. Unless you really do find it enjoyable to work on cars, just buy something that doesn't need work. Not saying beat it to death or don't fix things yourself when needed but it's not worth the hassle and headache for me. I bought this rav4 used but it needed very very minimal work and has every since I bought it. I take care of it well but don't baby it either.
05:15 Don't flush your power steering fluid like this. You'll run the pump dry, and have tons of air in the system which can cause cavitation and ruin your pump.
Instead, do what he shows as far as lifting the front and disconnecting the hoses, but don't turn on the engine. Turn the wheel by hand with the key in the ON position and the engine off. Turn the wheel from lock to lock, and then get out and check the reservoir, because as you turn the wheel you'll be pushing the old fluid out of your open hose. Pour fresh fluid into the reservoir as the fluid level drops.
Continue doing this (turning the wheel, then pouring in new fluid, etc) until you have added about a quart of new fluid, and then you will have replaced all of the old fluid. You'll notice that the fluid exiting your open hos is clean.
Next, close up the lines, but leave the reservoir lid open. Get back inside and turn the wheel again (engine OFF) from lock to lock about 5 times, then center the wheel. Check the fluid level: add fluid if needed (notice that the reservoir has two sets of marks -- one for "HOT" and one for "COLD", use the COLD marks). Get back in and turn the wheel again another 5 or so times from lock to lock. If you don't have any fluid level drop after that, you are good and have properly bled the system and saved your pump from cavitation.
I didn't realize you can flush the system with the engine off. Your way sounds better. It's less likely to make a mess and you can't damage the pump. I pinned your comment to the top. Thank you.
@@LabCoatPaul RIght on -- yeah, you have to be careful with power steering pumps because they are very sensitive to damage if run dry. Have fun with your Rav4!
I do that to my Hondas
This is a great tip. That being said I once got a power steering leak in my 2000 RAV4 and all the fluid drained out. I was out in the middle of nowhere so I drove the car home with the pump whining the whole way. Thankfully never had to replace the pump...
When I changed the steering fluid in my 1999 rav4, it was a bit hard to turn full throttle, anyone knows what happened
I feel like I hit the jackpot with your RAV4 series! Thanks for documenting all of this Paul! I bought a 4Runner last year and learned that there's a bunch of work you can do yourself on them. I'd never worked on my cars before, but the sheer amount of forums and videos showing you step-by-step how to do repairs and save a ton of $$$ made it look easy. So, I started doing some projects on my 4R and loving it. Then, I started feeling guilty because my wife has a 99 RAV4 and I've never done any work on it - just took it to the service shop when needed. I started looking online and on UA-cam to see if there's as much support for RAV4 repair as there is for 4Runners and found your series. Now I can start showing my wife's RAV4 some love too. Unfortunately, I'm gonna be busy on car projects for the next year. ;-)
Thanks for watching! Yes, you signed yourself up for a lot of work. Unfortunately, these RAV4's are 20 years old now, and they need everything repaired.
You should join the Toyota RAV4 Owners of First Gen XA10 1994-2000 ONLY group on facebook: facebook.com/groups/287048125126229/
Dude, u can’t imagine how much I love watching your videos. I wish I’m mechanicaly incline as you are. Going to watch all episodes!!
He started low too. It's a skill to learn and have fun with. And on top saves you alot of money
"It's just a plug. It doesn't hold your car together."
Tell that to the Jiffy Lube tech who used an impact wrench on my old cars oil drain plug.
Best video ever when you own a 1st generation rav4 ; comentary very clear and efficient, no useless bla bla. Merci beaucoup !
Agreed. Meow meow meow 😁
salut :)
Thanks for including proper disposal of old fluids.
Thanks Paul for sharing this. I just got my own 97 Rav4 with 140 km. I'm looking to do a complete service and your steps help a lot! Subscribed from Vancouver, Canada. Also keep us up to date with your next upgrades! Cheers
Thanks for the love! Rav4's are awesome. A tune-up video is up next, so hopefully I'll get that up soon. As you can imagine, fixing up a car is a lot of work, so I don't upload the Rav4 stuff as often as I would like to. :)
Congrats on the Rav! They are work horses when maintained. :D
:D
The single greatest tough to beat Rav4 maintenance video of all time is what this is like.
Little sidenote on the differential fluid change. Back in the day these cars where sold (including the 2nd gen wich has the same diff) there was an option to include a torsen diff. Not many people have this torsen diff because it was fairly expensive. But if you have one you really should add an lsd additive to the oil. Or else your diff will start making ugly noises. You can recognize this torsen diff by a number stamped on the left front of the diff. If you have a 1 it’s a regular diff if it’s stamped 2 you are lucky enough with a torsen diff.
Very informative! My mechanic teacher always said two fingers tight on the oil plug. Meaning only tighten it with two fingers on the wrench.
Best if watched at .75 speed. Great vid, thanks!
I'm doing some product testing on my 1999 Toyota RAV4. I've never changed the differential fluid the automatic transmission fluid or the coolant in 287,000 mi. The oil gets changed every 10,000 MI. So far the vehicle runs very nicely and I've driven across the country five times with it and I spent four years in Washington DC driving over the terrible roads and dealing with the winters on the east coast and then a year in the Appalachian mountains mostly off-road. I think the Toyota RAV4 is possibly the toughest vehicle we've ever created LOL
Not changing your transmission fluid often enough is very bad. It's probably running smooth now, because your transmission and differential fluid are at a much higher viscosity now that they're way too old. The day you change those fluids is the day you'll get multiple leaks and clunking from the differential. Your head gasket is probably being held together by dirt at this point, so changing that coolant will almost certainly blow the head gasket too.
My RAV4 went 150,000 miles without changing the differential fluid. I changed it when I bought the car, and now it clunks when I put it into gear.
I also replaced the original Toyota coolant in my RAV4 with the generic green coolant and installed an Autozone radiator cap that didn't fit right and let the pressure go way over 30psi. The combination of a different coolant and too much pressure blew my head gasket and caused coolant to get into the oil.
I think at this point, your best option is to continue driving your RAV4, but maybe don't mess with those old fluids.
So did you changed it man, i got mine 250k miles and never changed rear differential fluid
@@LabCoatPaul I would not think the green coolant would harm the cooling system as long as it was ethylene glycol antifreeze. Thats what it calls for, doesn't matter what color it is.
I'm getting a 99 RAV4 for a good price in pretty good condition with 190 k's unfortunately I won't put as much work as you have. I admire the amount of work you put into it! it looks awesome too!
Thanks! Just keep up with the maintenance on your RAV4, and it should last a really long time.
Ill bet my brake fluid and gear oils are just as black as this. Remember to tighten up the slack in the throttle cable and clean the butterfly valve too when you get to the point to do all of this. Thx for the vid Paul!
The automatic transmission fluid is DEXTRON III type.
Hi! I'm enjoying all of your Rav4 videos. I inherited a 1998 Rav4 in very bad condition and your vids are helping me a lot. Good Job!
We needed this man thank you
While you’re at it, replace all plugs with new ones. Gearbox plugs, oil pan plug etcetera .
There is a special tool for the hard to get to hose clamp.
Besides locating the correct plug, this video also helped me with OBD2 connector position :) Thank you twice :)
Old oil is also useful to coat the underside of the car to help with rust prevention.....I watched Matt from Diesel Creek do it on his old F250.
Using oil as rust prevention would definitely work, but products like fluid film are less messy.
Cool
I bought one yesterday
Love from Saudi Arabia
Sadly someone put gasket maker on the thermostat housing and didn't wipe of the excess from the threads. So they tightened down the nuts and there was gasket maker on the threads. So now I'm having to cut off the thermostat housing to be able to get a grip on the nut. I have a new thermostat housing on the way. Sucks.
I think I'm having the same issue as you with the thermostat. The heat would get hot but would get cold pretty quickly. The temp gauge stays in the middle though.
Super helpful video! Also, sweet magnet!
If you have a 1998-2000 model the T55 is also used for the drain plug on the rear diff, was confused to see it was different.
Used royal purple oil tho, just so I can say my car is sipping on lean :)
Hello,Thanks for usefull videos.Could you advise ,did and how you replaced the windscreen on this RAV4?Thanks in advance,
Love your videos. Just got a 2 door first gen! Thank you.
Dope! You make it look so easy. Thanks for the video
I'm glad you like it!
The captions at the start say “my name is polish baka” and I think it’s amazing
i just acquired one of the 95 4 doors recently, i will be doing all of this on the weekends 😂
In an auto AWD rav4 make sure you use T-IV aisin or Toyota ATF. My GF’s transmission was ruined when a dumb shop put dexron III
In it. Dexron is only for the 2wd models.
I've had to Rev Toyota 97 for about 3 years it's worked wonderful air conditioning heater everything works well but right now what's going on starting the car it's making me started three times it could be the clutch but all this that I see that you're saying it's so scary because where do you go for all this I can't do it alone
Thanks Paul! This is great info for me. My RAV4 is a 1998 Automatic. Nearly 300,000 miles. I LOVE my RAV4. Have owned it for 15 years. It needs all the fluids changed. Oil is done... haha. Will these steps be comparable in these two models/years?
Great job on the tutorial; straight to the point. By chance do you think synthetic gear oil is worth getting or is conventional preferred?
Synthetic oil is generally more slick and works better. It is also more likely to leak out through old worn out seals. With an older car like the RAV4, it's better to use conventional oil, or a synthetic blend, but not a full synthetic oil.
Hi LCP! I really appreciate your videos! I am changing the fluids in my 1998 RAV4 2WD A/T vehicle. I wish you had added a few more details about the thermostat and which gaskets are needed to reinstall. I'm guessing you bought 2 gaskets, but again, I'm not sure. What do the gaskets look like? Are they O-rings? This information would be helpful when buying the correct parts. Thanks again for the professional videos.
Check out my cylinder head video at 42:55 ua-cam.com/video/Ksv98JvBqXs/v-deo.html
7:55 why don't you remove the screw (under the exhaust manifold) to drain all the liquid in 1 step ?
Hi sir.
One of my friend has RAV4 2002(2nd Gen) model 2000cc having a 1AZ-FSE engine.
According to him it sucked/consume engine oil about 1 quarter/ 750 miles.he said that it is also written in the said engine specifications.
Is it correct or is there some issue in the said engine?
Also it consumes too much gasoline and its SPARK PLUGS turn Black immediately after installation.
Requests for your humble response/guidance.
Thanks in anticipation.
5star video U have helped me a bit .
Just Australia uses KMs and right hand drive . Going to be interesting my diff oil . My 95 gen 1 has 347 thousand ks
You are awesome! Love your rav4! Have a white one just like it in Denver, and a few more Toyotas.
Mine is a manual and I need to change my transmission fluid. At the store they have transmission fluid and gear oil? So do I need to use gear oil instead if transmission fluid? My Rav4 is a 98.
Does the year engine not have a block drain port for the coolant?
Sweet magnet. Funny. Why would you put green coolant in a Toyota? Ive read there is a significant chemical composition difference.
Green coolant is the most common type, and I got the one that is compatible for all makes and models of cars. It's also more practical, because if I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere and I want to get some coolant from a gas station, they'll have the green stuff. As long as you completely flush the system, it's OK to change coolant types.
@@LabCoatPaul I agree 100%. As long as you get the good for all makes and models and compatible with any color there should be no problem. You're not really changing the types, just the color. It calls for ethylene glycol antifreeze and green is ethylene glycol.
Excellent tutorial buddy...thx!!!!
Excelent as always mate !!!! I was playing with idea of adding a transmission cooler for longer off road/ overland trips as this transmission might get hot and burn out faster ...... have you considered such modification ? As always love the vids !!!!! Cheers
The RAV4 already has a small transmission cooler on the manual transmission model. It's behind the license plate. On the auto, I believe the fluid would get cooled in the radiator. You can definitely upgrade the transmission cooler if you want. I don't know if the cooler would make your transmission better. RAV4 GTT on youtube would know more about that than I do.
Excellent!! YOU ARE Awesome!
I was planning on changing my atf and was wondering if I could just pour the fluid from ontop where the dipstick is instead of using a pump ?
That is where I would fill it.
How can I check the transmission fluid level?
I'm obsessed with my 2 door, '97 silver RAV. She's leaking something but oil, brake fluid and power steering levels are staying the same. Could it be the transmission fluid? How can I check the level to see?
Love the you've got the exact same rig! And your videos are awesome!
Thanks for watching! With the manual transmission, you have to remove the fill plug to check the fluid level. It's common for these old RAV4's to leak transmission fluid from the CV axle seals. And... every seal because the car is 25 years old. Take care of your big leaks first.
I've changed oil before on my other cars but I now own a 1997 Toyota Rav4 and the oil filter is located differently then in your video! Mine is located near the alternator and you can't use a standard filter wrench (like the one you're using) because there's no room to fit it! You're reaching it on the bottom where mine is on top. Visited Auto Zone and said I have to purchase the wrench from Toyota dealer because it's an industrial tool wrench. Really?? Would an oil filter cap wrench work found at Walmart??? Thx
hey im trying to replace my clutch on my 98 fwd so is it easier dropping ir picking it up
When I come back in my next life I want to be your car 😂 you do such a wonderful job I'd buy a car from you any day.
I have a ‘97 Rav4 as well. It appears that my fuel pump has gone bad. Will you do a video on that process or at least provide some information/instructions?
My Haynes Manual refers to changing the oil in the Transfer Box as a separate task to the Transmission oil. I assume that's what the second drain hole on the transmission is. Does it have a separate fill hole too ?. Thanks for the great video.
On the manual transmission, you can just fill the fluid through the hole in the front of the transmission and it will get into the transfer case. On the automatic, you may have to do it separately.
If replacing the radiator, for the flush can you just top up the over flow and let it bleed through that?
When you remove the radiator from the car, you drain about 1/2 the coolant. To properly flush it, you should run some water through the system and drain it a few times.
The coolant in your overflow tank doesn't really circulate through the cooling system. A small amount of coolant moves in and out through the radiator cap to keep the radiator full, but most of the coolant just sits in the tank and doesn't do anything.
@@LabCoatPaul Oh man thanks for the speedy reply on such an old video!! Thank you so much!!
I’m curious. The old coolant looked like it was the OEM, either red Toyota Long Life or the pink Toyota Super Long Life. What made you flush and switch to the universal?
I've always used green coolant in my cars, and I like being able to just pick up coolant at any store instead of having to find the special one for my car.
Some Toyota owners will say changing from Toyota to green coolant on a 23 year old car will cause the head gasket to leak. They are correct. I changed my coolant from red to green and my head gasket started leaking. It's not necessarily the coolant's fault, just that my car is too old.
@@LabCoatPaul That makes sense. Our family has owned nothing but Toyota’s since the late 70’s and I remember my dad trying to switch to green coolant on our 98 Tacoma and 97 Corolla. It resulted in water pump failure on the Corolla and head gasket failure on the front bank of the Tacoma. Since then I’ve been scared to switch from OEM coolant and fluids in my vehicles haha. I was just curious in your RAV4 though 🙂 Love your videos! Watching them makes me miss the 99 RAV4 L we used to have years ago ❤️
@@bearstephens6722 my coolant is red, is it ok for toyota rav4 1996?
@@makaveli5681 Yes, red is the OEM coolant that Toyota used in the late 90's. They eventually switched to the pink pre-diluted. Either is safe to use in Toyota's, just not together lol.
@@bearstephens6722 Thank you for your response. I want to change it, I got pink antifreeze that reads ethelyn glycol and mixed it with water, is it ok for my rav 4?
Is there two different plugs for front differential and rear differential?
The front has two drain plugs and 1 fill plug. The rear differential has 1 drain plug and 1 fill plug.
Thanks so much for this video, im going to do the same with my 97 Rav4
Planning to do gearbox and diff oil on my 96 RAV4. Do you need new washers for the drain bolts?
Just bought a 97 rav4 with 141k miles and i have a question about coolant I noticed its a bit rusty so I'm gonna flush it should i buy the toyota long life or are there other less expensive options I just dont want my head gasket to blow haha also im pretty sure transmission oil has been neglected it doesn't smell burnt it doesn't shift rough but it is on the darker red side is it safe to change like a regular drain and fill ?
I'm curious to why you chose the RAV4
For AWD manual transmission, use GL-5 75W90 for both gearbox and differential?
Yes. Make sure it's rated GL-5 for manual transmissions. Also watch this video starting at the 25 minute mark: ua-cam.com/video/-Z0DZOtxCy0/v-deo.html
I wish I could send over my rav4 to you for service.
this is so good!! :D
thanks Paul!
The gear oil you use (Valvoline 75w-90) does not appear to be compatible with synchromesh transmissions. Do you know if this is an issue? On a Rav4 forum folks are recommending synthetics such as Redline 75w-90ns. Your opinion? Thanks.
I recently used Redline 75w90 MT-90 in my 99 Rav4 manual transmission. Its a GL-4 oil. No problems so far
Just curious does your thermostat have a jiggle valve ??
Why did you put gear oil in the transmission? It should go in the front differential…?
Oh it’s a manual 😅
Thank you polish baka(according to closed captions)
Hello - I have a 1st Gen Automatic, how do you fill the transmission? Is it through the dip stick?
Thats how I would do it. Probably the only way.
Hey did you not need to jack up the car when changing the engine oil n oil filter? That is so cool! Hello from New Zealand :)
Hi! The RAV4 has good ground clearance, so there's enough room to climb under it. Also, mine has a 3 inch lift.
Hey Paul! thanks for this video, very helpful. I did come across a problem tho. when I changed my power steering fluid as shown in the video, it's making a very screechy noise and is leaking from the cap. I've tried to fill it again but same thing keeps happening. Can you help me please.
Try adding fluid and turning the steering wheel all the way left and right with the engine off. My method worked for me, but people have commented it can damage the power steering pump if it runs dry. It's better to do it with the engine off.
Well done, Paul!
I couldn’t get more than 4 litres (gallon) of my coolant to drain, any pointers ?
That's about right. There's another 1/2 gallon or so chillin' in the engine that won't come out by draining the radiator. Doing a coolant flush with water will dilute out any dirty old coolant, so you can put the new stuff in.
Does your Toyota have a transfer case ? Rt frt side under side dip stick...Awd system. Thanks. 🚗 Los.
The manual transmission models share transfer case fluid with the transmission. It's 75W-90 GL5 gear oil. If you have an automatic transmission, the transfer case uses gear oil and has the dipstick by the right front wheel, and the transmission uses ATF.
Thx paul your the best!
I have changed all fluids expect rear differential, car just hit 250k miles. Should i bother change the rear differential fluid?
Yikes! That's a lot of miles on the same fluid. I would still change the rear differential fluid. If the old fluid comes out thick and metallic, you can try 75w-140 gear oil instead of 75w-90.
@@LabCoatPaul Im afraid if i change it than the new oil will leak
How do I change the front def oil on the automatic model 1996 year
I have the same car same year but automatic transmission and I can’t find the hole to fill the oil!! 😭😭😭 plz help!
You can fill the automatic transmission fluid through the transmission dipstick.
Like the differential, you should also first try to loosen the transmission-filler-plug before draining... if it doesn't come lose you got a problem. Good vid, very clear!
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!
Don't you fill the transmission at the dipstick tube?
@@ron4413 where do you see a dipstick at the transmission?
@@Aug-Ustinus I have an automatic, it is not far from the engine oil dipstick.
Hey I have a leak at the junction where the upper radiator house feeds into the engine. I just replaced that upper radiator hose so I am thinking it might be one of the other two tubes that meet at that same junction. Just not sure what they are for and neither does autozone can you help me out? I can send pics if this is not descriptive enough. Thanks in advance.
Take some good pictures and e-mail me at Paulz1265@gmail.com I can at least get you some part numbers.
Hello, I am the possessor of a 1996 rav4 and I was wondering if the oil filter is universal for this vehicle? Also, what Is the type of oil that is used for this vehicle?
Thanks
Watch the video at 0:29 The STP oil filter number is S4967XL and the oil is 5W-30 Valvoline High mileage synthetic blend.
What's the procedure to check automatic trans fluid on a 1996 Gen 1?
just got a 98 rav 4 going to do all this!
is this a 4wd or 2wd car? I have read that 2wd takes less transmission fluid.
Mine is all wheel drive. The 2wd doesn't have a transfer case, so it would take less fluid.
It would be greatly helpful if you could add a list of fluids and parts and a list of needed tools to the discription.:)
In the video description, you'll find chapter markers. Click on each chapter and it will skip to the part of the video that lists the tools and parts needed for each procedure.
@@LabCoatPaul Thank you!
@@LabCoatPaul Do the thermost or hoses have part numbers or are they universal?
Thank you!
Great stuff
Thankyou Paul, i have the same type of vehicle. I wish you could service my vehicle...
You forgot about the clutch. You did that one?
@4:40 he does it. It is shared with the brake fluid.
So you’ll need 2 litres of oil total for the FRONT and REAR differentials ? Thanks
That's just for the rear. The front differential is part of the transmission.
@@LabCoatPaul does that apply for a automatic 4wd model ?
@@bradl29 I don't know for sure, but I think on the automatic, your transmission and transfer case fluids are separate.
man i wish you had bought a 2013 frontier!
On my ‘97 RAV the bleeders take 1/4” inside diameter hose I got from Home Depot for $4
You are fckin amazing bro, helped a looot with your rav 4 videos. I have a Toyota Carina 3SFE
Where to change front differential oil?
Only rear
great vid!
Hey! If my '97 rav is automatic, does the 30k rule apply?
Also, could you apply the routine maintenance mileage for changing the fluids to other vehicles? For example, I drive a manual '07 pontiac vibe (which has a toyota engine). Could I apply the 30k rule to the transmission fluid or should I research the specifics for it?
Definitely check your owner's manual for the service interval. You can't go wrong with 30K miles, but some cars can go a bit longer than that on the same transmission fluid.
Very nice video
Good informative...thank you
I just want to confirm, the transmission and t case share the same fill up plug.
Can the transfer case take 75w90 also??????
Yes.
Excellent
Love my rav4 its a 98 with almost 250k miles i believe its overdue for maintenance
You are hilarious!
My 1996 RAV4 have 220k kilometers and he still run perfectly ! How many, you guys, have milles or kilometers on yours RAV4?
I have about 340,000 kms on my 98 rav. 212,000 miles baby, still going strong.
My RAV4 has 157,000 miles (253,000 km), and it leaks every fluid, the head gasket is blown, and the entire under side of the car was very rusty. Americans generally don't take care of their cars.
Most old RAV4s here have around 200,000 miles and are also very beat up.
@@LabCoatPaul I am an American and I maintain my cars meticulously. I live in the SW so my 98 rav still doesn't have a spot of rust anywhere on it. Burns about 3/4 of a quart of oil every 5,000 miles and has no fluid leaks so far, not one. ONly things that have been replaced are the timing belt, shocks, struts , brakes, thermostat, spark plugs, pcv valve and fluids. Even the original stereo and speakers still work, I did finally upgrade to a Bluetooth deck though. Original upholstery with no rips on the seats. I even live by the rocky mountains and drive it on some fairly rough dirt roads and in mud and snow. The auto transmission seems to be holding up just fine, no serious issues yet. The only damage the Rav has is from a hail storm that left a few dents on it and the rear door has been replaced from being rear ended. Mine has been a very solid vehicle but it has been maintained at least appropriately. That being said, I agree many Americans are absolute idiots who don't care for anything they own. I suspect many of these people didn't spend their own hard earned money on the cars they drive or are just plane ignorant.
@@doctorwarpspeed8779 A 21 year old car with no leaks and no rust is very unusual. As a mechanic, I tend to focus on all the bad things. My old RAV4 leaks every fluid from every seal, and none of the bolts turn properly without the use of a torch. I haven't actually used it much yet, because it still needs more major repairs.
I've always thought people who don't maintain their cars are idiots, but lately I've been thinking maybe I'm the idiot, spending all this time fixing up an old clunker. If you get a new car and just beat the shit out of it, you get all the enjoyment of driving around and none of the hard work fixing it. Then just get rid of it when it's worn out. If you treat the car like just some thing you use up and throw away, you can spend more time off roading, or hiking, or whatever - enjoying your life instead of giving it up to fix a thing that somebody else broke.
@@LabCoatPaul The bolts not turning off is a real killer. I really am lucky where I live humidity is very low. Salt in the winter isn't used as much as volcanic cinder and magnesium chloride. You have to make things rust where I live. For example I have an 81 Subaru brat that has been sitting for a year while I try to find some parts, the front disk brake rotors don't even have rust on them yet. The metal is still nice and shiny, I've been elsewhere and they rust like overnight almost. But as far as buying new or in good shape goes, I agree 100%. Honestly I love the engineering and mechanics of cars, I'm even good at fixing them but I hate every second of doing it. haha It's rare that I can do any kind of car work at all without working myself into knot. Some work is fine but dicking around with every part breaking, everything needing to be replaced just sucks. Unless you really do find it enjoyable to work on cars, just buy something that doesn't need work. Not saying beat it to death or don't fix things yourself when needed but it's not worth the hassle and headache for me. I bought this rav4 used but it needed very very minimal work and has every since I bought it. I take care of it well but don't baby it either.