Coolant reservoir location to see if your coolant level is low
Hans Angermeier is an ASE certified Maintenance and Light Repair Technician and has produced over 100,000 videos showing drivers how to fix things on their cars. He has broad expertise on basic repair procedures covering the majority of cars on the road. Over the past 10 years, Hans has been focused on building CarCareKiosk, which is visited by millions of drivers each month.
Checking the engine coolant (also known as antifreeze) level in your 1997 Toyota 4Runner is pretty easy. In order to get an accurate reading, your 3.4 liter engine should be cool to the touch when you check it. Engine coolant / antifreeze circulates through your engine to keep it cool in the summer but won't freeze in the winter. The video above shows you where the coolant reservoir in your 4Runner is located and how to check the coolant / antifreeze level. If you need to add anti-freeze, be sure to check your owners manual to determine the correct type of coolant to add - in Toyotas, it usually located in a section titled Fluid Capacities towards the end of your manual. See our video on how to add engine coolant for tips on adding coolant to your 4Runner.
Always wear safety goggles when working on your 4Runner. Taking off the coolant reservoir cap on a warm engine could cause the cap to up explosively and fluid to spray out of the reservoir. If you notice an oily surface in your coolant, immediately have your mechanic inspect your 4Runner for head gasket leakage.