# 1996 Toyota Avalon - Which fluids to change

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-toyota-avalon-which-fluids-to-change/138073>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** toyota\
**Created:** [April 7, 2019, 11:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-toyota-avalon-which-fluids-to-change/138073 "2019-04-07T11:48:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EdRobinson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b77776/32.png) [@EdRobinson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EdRobinson)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 11:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-toyota-avalon-which-fluids-to-change/138073/1 "2019-04-07T11:48:51Z")

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Hi. I just took over my Mom’s 1996 Toyota Avalon that she had bought new a few years ago with 43,000 miles on it, now 60,000 miles. She had only put 2000 miles a year on it. Although I do regular oil changes and air filter and keep it maintained, it still has the original coolant, transmission, brake and power steering fluid, so some 23 years old now. I know these should be replaced as I am probably going to use it 3000-4000 miles a year as a second car now but could you please comment on which fluids or all that should be regularly changed as to do all the fluids would be a small fortune at this time. Thank you, Ed

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-toyota-avalon-which-fluids-to-change/138073/2 "2019-04-07T13:36:30Z")

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Do them all. First on the list is brake fluid. Coolant next, transmission and then power steering.

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-toyota-avalon-which-fluids-to-change/138073/3 "2019-04-07T14:00:40Z")

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There is also a chance that the tires on this low mileage vehicle are old enough that they need to be replaced even with adequate tread.

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-toyota-avalon-which-fluids-to-change/138073/4 "2019-04-07T16:20:00Z")

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> [@EdRobinson](#):
>
> or all that should be regularly changed

The timing belt . . . !

Unless you have an invoice that it was replaced recently, assume it’s 23 years old

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-toyota-avalon-which-fluids-to-change/138073/5 "2019-04-07T19:06:41Z")

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> [@db4690](#):
>
> assume it’s 23 years old

THAT right there is terrifying!