ToyotaTercel DLX1990Overview/toyota/tercel-dlx/1990/base/

1990 Toyota Tercel DLX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Tercel DLX.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1990 Toyota Tercel DLX arrives equipped with a three-speed automatic transmission and a powertrain specifying 2.7 quarts of 15W-40, 20W-40, or 20W-50 API oil, achieving EPA ratings of 25 mpg city, 29 highway, and 27 combined. This configuration reflects the era’s lubrication standards alongside its automatic gearing, positioning the DLX as a maintenance-specific variant within the range. In the broader reliability history of the model, this model year registers as a comparatively stable entry, drawing only 22 owner complaints—primarily concentrated in Engine & Engine Cooling systems—alongside a single recall, indicating isolated mechanical concerns rather than systemic failure patterns.

Model year19941993199219911990

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity2.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy25/29/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 90915YZZN1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1
Engine air filter1780163010 alt 178011003083
Fuel filter2330019235 alt 2330025020
Spark plug9091901091
Front wiper blades85220YZZ20 alt 85220YZZ17
Serpentine belt909160233283 alt 993655091083
Thermostat9091603046 alt 1632563011

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length157.5 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase93.7 in
Curb weight1969 lb
Track (front / rear)54.7 / 54.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined25 / 29 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 2.7 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity2.7 qt
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity2.7 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1990 Toyota Tercel DLX dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 7 of 22 reports (32%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the engine & engine cooling, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 4 of the reports describe a crash and 4 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
25
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
22
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 4 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling7
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Electrical System2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Seats2
Unknown Or Other1
Exterior Lighting1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

92V111000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 13/07/1992

THERE CAN BE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING IF HEADLAMP BULBS ARE REPLACED WITH ANY BRAND OTHER THAN KOITO BRAND BULBS. Remedy: TOYOTA DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW KOITO BRAND BULB WITH NO CHARGE IF A NON-KOITO BRAND BULB IS NOW INSTALLED, OR SHOULD A HEADLAMP BULB BURN OUT IN THE FUTURE. "CAUTION LABELS"…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tercel DLX. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1990 Tercel DLX take?

2.7 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40 API, 20W-40 API, 20W-50 API ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30 API, 10W-40 API, 10W-50 API, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Tercel DLX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tercel DLX get?

EPA figures are 25 city / 29 highway / 27 combined mpg.