1996 Toyota Avalon Owners Manual - Page 64

Engine coolant temperature gauge NOTICE zDo not remove the thermostat in the engine cooling system as this may cause the engine to overheat. The thermostat is designed to control the flow of coolant to keep the temperature of the engine within the specified operating range. zDo not continue driving with an overheated engine. See "If your vehicle overheats" in Part 4. The gauge indicates the engine coolant temperature when the ignition switch is on. The engine operating temperature will vary with changes in weather and engine load. If the needle moves into the red zone, your engine is too hot. If your vehicle overheats, stop your vehicle and allow the engine to cool. Your vehicle may overheat during severe operating conditions, such as: S Driving up a long hill on a hot day. S Reducing speed or stopping after high speed driving. S Idling for a long period with the air conditioning on in stop-and-go traffic. S Towing a trailer. Tachometer The tachometer indicates engine speed in thousands of rpm (revolutions per minute). Use it while driving to select correct shift points and to prevent engine lugging and overrevving. Driving with the engine running too fast causes excessive engine wear and poor fuel economy. Remember, in most cases the slower the engine speed, the greater the fuel economy. NOTICE Do not let the indicator needle get into the red zone. This may cause severe engine damage. 58