Toyota RAV4 I4 (inline four-cylinder non-Hybrid, 2019+, 5th Gen) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and service intervals for the Toyota RAV4 Gas (inline four-cylinder, non-Hybrid), first announced in 2019 for the same model year.
It’s known just as the the Toyota RAV4, but we call it the RAV4 Gas to disambiguate against other models, like the Hybrid and the Prime. It’s sometimes also known as the Toyota RAV4 I4, (for “inline four”), but the others also have an inline four cylinder engine, just mated with motors.
Note: “Gas” is used to refer to “Gasoline”, i.e. what is called “Petrol” in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Toyota RAV4 is Toyota’s best-selling vehicle in many markets around the world. In the US, it’s the best-selling non-pickup truck among all brands. The compact SUV has always struck a chord with many people looking for a balance of size and practicality.
The 2019+ model of the Toyota RAV4 is the latest generation (the so-called 5th gen), with a redesigned exterior, more legroom, increased ride height, a revised chassis, improved motor, upgraded interior, and many more improvements.
The latest RAV4 comes in three main models
- Toyota RAV4 Gas, powered by a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, with the 4-cylinder engine detuned slightly and mated with an electric motor
- Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV (2021+), a higher-power plug-in hybrid (select markets)
The core of the 2019+ Toyota RAV4 Gas is a 2.5 liter inline 4-cylinder engine with dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and variable valve timing — VVT-iE on the intake camshaft, and VVT-i on the exhaust. It makes peak power of 203 hp (149 kW) at 6600 rpm, or 184 ft-lb (249 Nm) at 5000 rpm.
The drivetrain of the 2019+ 5th gen RAV4 Gas is either front wheel drive or optional AWD. Transmission is a direct shift electronically controlled 8-speed automatic.
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What You Need to Service Your Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (Inline 2.5L)
If you want to do a service on your Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (2019+), then you need the following fluids and consumable items.
These came from the Toyota RAV4 manual as well as other online parts repositories.
| Item | Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (2019+) spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Toyota recommends Toyota Genuine Motor Oil 0W-16, or another multigrade engine oil of ILSAC GF-6B rating. |
| Oil filter | The standard part number for the oil filter is 90915-YZZN1 for the Toyota RAV4 I4 (different to earlier year models). |
| Spark plugs | Toyota recommends DENSO FC16HR-Q8 spark plugs. |
| Coolant (including Inverter Coolant) | Toyota recommends Toyota Super Long Life Coolant, an OAT coolant based on ethylene glycol. |
| Engine air filter | The K&N air filter 33-3080 fits the Toyota RAV4 I4 from 2019 onward (different from earlier years). |
| Cabin air filter | Try a K&N washable air filter, type VF2054. Or Toyota standard part 87139-04030. |
| Rear differential | Use Toyota Genuine ATF WS fluid for the rear differential too. |
| Brake / clutch fluid | Use Toyota DOT 3 brake fluid or another FMVSS No. 116 or SAE J1703 fluid DOT 3 fluid e.g. Valvoline DOT 3 and 4. |
| Grease | Use lithium soap-based grease for the chassis. |
Overall Service Intervals for the Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (2019+)
These are the major service intervals for the Toyota RAV4 Gas.
Bear in mind that the table of service below is for regular use — a mixture of commuting and highway work. The Toyota RAV4 (in any spec) is mostly a general urban vehicle, but it can be taken on some light off-road excursions (maybe down some dirt roads), especially if you have an AWD variant.
Because of its economy, The Toyota RAV4 I4 can also serve as a good taxi or rideshare vehicle. These kinds of conditions are “special conditions” that may put the RAV4 under more stress. See the full schedule below for more details.
| Service | Details | Every |
|---|---|---|
| Minor service | – Check fluid levels – Rotate tires – Inspect brake linings/drums – Inspect wipers | 5000 miles / 6 months |
| Oil change service | Above plus – Change oil & filter (unless otherwise done) | 10000 miles / 12 months |
| Medium inspection | 5000 mile service plus – Inspect undercarriage (suspension, ball joints, steering) – Inspect cabin air filter, brake system, exhaust, cooling system – Inspect coolant | 15000 miles / 18 months |
| Major inspection | 15000 mile service plus – Inspecting the transmission – Inspect the fuel system – Replace engine air filter and cabin air filter | 30000 miles / 3 years |
| Other items | Other major items at 60000 and 120000 mile mark — see below | 60000 miles / 100000 / 120000 miles etc. |
The service schedule in Europe / APAC for the RAV4 Gas inline four-cylinder is a bit different and doesn’t quite match up with the rows for that table — see the maintenance schedule below.
Maintenance Schedule for the Toyota RAV4 Gas (2.5L inline four-cylinder)
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (2019+), adapted and simplified from the format in the Warranty and Maintenance booklet.
The below maintenance schedule is derived from the US booklet for the Toyota RAV4 Gas with the I4 2.5L inline four-cylinder engine.
Notes on the maintenance schedule:
- Most items have both time-based or distance-based maintenance intervals. Follow the earlier of the two.
- The below schedule is cropped at 30000 miles to avoid repetitiveness (only a few other items, below, are longer-term). At the end of the schedule below, follow it in the same pattern (every 1, 2, 3, 4 services etc.)
- Some items are less frequent, e.g. replacing spark plugs or the coolant. They’re in a separate table below for “long-term” maintenance items.
Legend
The items below may have a letter marked against them meaning you only need to perform the service if you use the vehicle in a certain way. Here’s what they mean.
- ✓ = Perform the service
- D: Perform the service if driving a lot on dirt roads or dusty roads.
- T: Perform the service when doing a lot of towing, using a car-top carrier, or loading the vehicle heavily.
- F: Perform the service if regularly driving below freezing temperatures (32 degrees F / 0 degrees Celsius)
- L: Perform the service if doing lots of low-speed driving or idling, e.g. heavy traffic time, or driving as a police, taxi, or delivery vehicle.
Note that unlike the Hybrid model, the AWD Gas RAV4 has a transfer case and rear diff to manage.
| mi x 1000 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| months | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 |
| Replace engine oil (Toyota Genuine SLLC) Reset oil replacement reminder light / message | D,T,F,L | ✓ | D,T,F,L | ✓ | D,T,F,L | ✓ |
| Replace oil filter | D,T,F,L | ✓ | D,T,F,L | ✓ | D,T,F,L | ✓ |
| Check brake pads / discs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inspect fluids for leakage & condition in – Transmission – Differentials – Power steering – Brake system (brake fluid) – Engine coolant | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rotate tires | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check wiper blades | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check installation of driver’s floor mat | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inspect ball joints / dust covers for looseness or damage. Replace if necessary. | D | D | ✓ | D | D | ✓ |
| Inspect drive shaft boots | D | D | ✓ | D | D | ✓ |
| Inspect engine air filter | D | D | D | D | D | – |
| Replace engine air filter | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect cabin air filter | – | – | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Replace cabin air filter | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect steering linkage and boots | D | D | ✓ | D | D | ✓ |
| Inspect steering gear | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Re-torque propeller shaft bolt (4WD) | D,T | D,T | ✓ | D,T | D,T | ✓ |
| Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and body | D,T | D,T | D,T | D,T | D,T | D,T |
| Inspect engine coolant | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect exhaust pipes and mountings | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect radiator and condenser | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect brake lines and hoses for chafing, cracks, or damage. Replace if necessary | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect rear differential oil | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Replace rear differential oil | – | – | T | – | – | T |
| Inspect transfer case oil | – | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Replace transfer case oil | – | – | T | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect fuel lines and connections, tank band, and vapor vent hoses | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect fuel tank cap gasket | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect automatic transmission fluid cooler hoses and connections | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Inspect automatic transmission for leakage | – | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
Other long-term maintenance for the Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (miles)
These items below need be done less frequently. In order to not have a very repetitive and hard-to-read maintenance schedule above, these are separated out below.
| Toyota RAV4 Gas long-term maintenance items | Every |
|---|---|
| Replace auto transmission fluid if towing a lot, or driving a lot at low speeds (e.g. as courier or taxi) | 60000 miles / 6 years |
| Inspect drive belts | Inspect at 60000 miles / 6 years, then every 15000 miles / 1.5 years |
| Replace engine coolant | First at 100000 miles / 10 years, then every 50000 miles / 5 years |
| Replace spark plugs | 120000 miles / 12 years |
Unlike the Hybrid model, the RAV4 Gas model has drive belts that require maintenance per the schedule.
Europe/APAC Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 Maintenance Schedule
The below maintenance schedule is from the Europe/APAC Toyota RAV4 Gas Warranty and Maintenance Guide. It’s specific to the RAV4 Gas, with some subtle differences between it and the other maintenance schedules, including for other RAV4s and other I4 models, like the Camry Gas I4 non-hybrid.
Compared to the US manual, the service intervals are a bit different for many minor items.
The below schedule is cropped at 6 years / 90000 km. See the table below for some longer-term maintenance items.
Legend
- I: Inspect
- R: Replace
- T: Tighten
- C: Clean
| Years | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 15 | 30 | 45 | 60 | 75 | 90 |
| Engine | ||||||
| Drive belts | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Engine oil | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Engine oil filter | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Cooling and heater system, hoses and connections Inspect radiator and condenser to ensure they’re not blocked | I | I | I | I | ||
| Engine coolant (Toyota Genuine SLLC) Replace first at 10 years / 1500000 km Then every 5 years or 75000 km | I | I | I | |||
| Exhaust pipes and mountings | I | I | I | |||
| Electrical and Fuel System | ||||||
| Battery | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Engine air cleaner filter | I | I | R | I | I | R |
| Fuel tank cap, fuel lines, connections and fuel vapour control valve | I | I | I | |||
| Charcoal canister | I | I | I | |||
| Chassis and Body | ||||||
| Brake pedal | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Brake pads and discs | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Brake fluid | I | R | I | R | I | R |
| Brake pipes and hoses | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Vacuum pump for brake booster | ||||||
| Steering wheel, linkage and steering gear | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Propeller shaft boots (AWD model) | ||||||
| Drive shaft boots | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Suspension ball joints and dust covers | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Automatic transmission fluid | I | I | ||||
| Automatic transmission fluid cooler hoses and connections | I | I | ||||
| Transfer case oil (AWD) | I | I | R | I | I | R |
| Rear differential oil (AWD) | I | I | R | I | I | R |
| Front and rear suspensions | I | I | I | |||
| Bolts and nuts on chassis and body | T | |||||
| Accessory items | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Tyres and inflation pressures | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Rotate wheels | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Driver’s floor mat – fitment and retention | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Lights, horns, wipers and washers | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Seatbelt, webbing condition, buckle and retractor mechanism operation | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| Air conditioner filter | R | R | R |
Other long-term maintenance for the Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (metric)
Below are items that are only done infrequently. They’re separated out as it’d be cumbersome to include them in the above table.
But if you’re buying a used Toyota RAV4 I4, check to make sure these have been done.
| Infrequent service items | Every |
|---|---|
| Tighten bolts and nuts on chassis and body | 6 years / 90000 km |
| Replace spark plugs (FC16HR-Q8) | 6 years / 90000 km |
| Replace fuel filter, including the in-tank filter | 8 years / 120000 km |
| Replace engine coolant (Toyota Genuine SLLC) | First at 10 years / 150000 km, then every 5 years / 75000 km |
About the Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (2.5L inline-four)
The Toyota RAV4 2019+ model is the latest in the line of Toyota RAV4s, the compact SUVs that have been incredibly popular for striking an excellent balance between safety, budget, and all-round practicality.
The Toyota RAV4 is available in a number of different drivetrain and engine configurations. There’s the Hybrid, the regular gas version, and the Prime — a plug-in hybrid that produces more even power, thanks to an extra motor. The maintenance requirements for each vehicle are a little different as they’re built differently. For example, the AWD system in the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid uses an electric motor for the rear wheels, whereas in the RAV4 Gas there’s a transfer case and rear differential, just like on bigger 4WD vehicles like the Toyota Tacoma.
Therein lies the secret of the RAV4. It has a lot of what makes the bigger SUVs special, including some off-road ability (limited — maybe some bumpy roads and fire trails, but you won’t be going rock-hopping), design cues, and a lot of interior tech, but it also has fuel efficiency and a relatively compact size that means it’s not a chore to navigate around town.
The latest gen RAV4 comes with a lot of ride safety technology. The RAV4 doesn’t just know what the speed limit is; it reads road signs. The driver assist functionality follows curves on the highway and catches you when it thinks you’re drifting. It even turns on high beams when there’s no incoming traffic. There’s a lot that makes driving the RAV4 Gas model (they all come with the same tech) a pleasure.
The RAV4 Hybrid gets all the attention for its 40 mpg combined fuel rating, but the RAV4 Gas isn’t bad, delivering 28-30 mpg consistently (and some users say they get even more). This is in the same territory as compact cars, so it’s nothing to sneeze at.
One aspect of the RAV4 gas that’s built to help with fuel efficiency is the engine start-stop system. Unfortunately it can be a bit problematic, causing a bit of lag in acceleration from a standstill.
The RAV4 gas model has a different transmission to that of the Hybrid. Whereas the Hybrid has a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the gas model has an electronically controlled 8-speed automatic. This is another area where some drivers report issues — a jerky, bumpy transmission that can deliver an unsatisfying ride.
Maintaining your Toyota RAV4 is much like maintaining other petrol-powered 4×4 vehicles from Toyota — with subtle differences.
Generally oil service intervals are every 10000 miles or 15000 km (Europe / APACK) — unless you tow, drive a lot of off-road, or use your RAV4 a lot at low-speeds.
Service intervals for major items like recommended spark plug service and major fluid changes (e.g. in drivetrain components) are a little different when compared to Toyota’s other SUVs, so check out the maintenance schedule above.
References — Manual Screenshots for the Toyota RAV4 Gas I4 (2.5L inline-four 2019+)
The above maintenance guidelines came from the 2022 Warranty and Maintenance booklet for the Toyota RAV4 Gas, referencing the manual and online parts lists. We checked these against years going back to 2019 for changes and there were none.
Like for many Toyota vehicles, Toyota provides this maintenance schedule for the petrol-powered Toyota RAV4 as a list of individual checklists at different mileages. We compiled these individual pages into a single schedule for convenience.
A few screenshots are below for reference and comparison.
The Europe/APAC maintenance schedule for the RAV4 I4 is shown below, in kilometers and with different service intervals.
You can download Toyota manuals for US vehicles from Toyota’s website here.
