You are here: Forums Sedans Toyota Avalon Toyota Avalon Basic Maintenance Questions

Toyota Avalon Basic Maintenance Questions

290 messages,  Last post on Jun 16, 2009 at 8:51 AM

You are in the Toyota Avalon Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Toyota Avalon, Oil, Sedan

Messages Page 26 of 29 1 ... 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#250 of 290 1995 spark plug issue by markjs May 05, 2008 (12:08 pm)
I have a 1995 Avalon, and would like to change the spark plugs. The front three are cake but the rear three are under the intake manifold. I have two questions: -- Must I take off the intake manifold in order to be able to change the rear plugs, or can it somehow be done with the manifold in place? -- If I only manage to replace some of the rear three, will it cause any problems? (My gut is that it will cause some kind of imbalance if some plugs are old and some are new.)   Any help would be greatly appreciated. Replies to this message: markjs (May 30, 2008 12:58 pm)
#251 of 290 Spark Plugs by popsavalon May 05, 2008 (5:24 pm)
I had a 1997 Camry that described the rear (3) spark plug change as "may be necessary to remove the intake manifold". However, I found that with various combinations of long and short extensions and a universal connector, it was actually pretty easy to get at all the plugs and change them. I came up with a workable combination for all rear plugs before I actually removed any of them.   You are correct about the need to change all plugs at the same time.   I seriously doubt that dealers remove the intake to change plugs on these engines.
#252 of 290 Then again... by wwest May 05, 2008 (9:17 pm)
the dealers may be well aware that these days changing spark plugs is mostly a waste of time, money, and knuckle skin.
#253 of 290 Re: Oil change 2006 XLS Avalon [zizzer] by marstil May 17, 2008 (4:51 am)
Replying to: zizzer (Mar 02, 2008 6:35 pm) Check out the site below. I has a good description and good pictures of the procedure.   http://members.cox.net/n0v8or/avalon_oil_change.pdf
#254 of 290 Re: 1995 spark plug issue [markjs] by markjs May 30, 2008 (12:58 pm)
Replying to: markjs (May 05, 2008 12:08 pm) Well, since posting this issue I jumped in and attempted to change the plugs without knowing whether I'd be able to do it or not; I was able to do it! And, I didn't have to remove the intake manifold!!   It wasn't easy -- what should have taken a half hour took three hours! -- but I got it done. It's unbelievable that you can actually maneuver everything around so that you can replace the rear three plugs, but those clever people at Toyota have made it so that it's just barely possible. The trick is to have enough tools so that you can situate your wrench at just the right distance from the plugs (there is only one spot where it will work). So, you have to have at least a short and long extension for your socket wrench. Also, it's important that they all fit together tightly so that you can extract them if necessary (and, when you put a plug back in, it's necessary).
#255 of 290 Valve Clearance Check & engine flush by chicz Jul 07, 2008 (8:26 am)
I have a 2000 Avalon w/70k miles. The Toyota dealer recommends an engine flush and a Valve Clearance Check be performed. They want almost $500 for the Valve Clearance Check and I am concerned about the engine flush. Does anyone have any suggestion about whether or not these would be required or have any experience with either?   I also thought that the 2000 Avalon had VVtiming w/hydraulic lifters; if so, shouldn't they be self-adjusting?   Chic Replies to this message: amauhry (Jul 18, 2008 8:50 am) chicz (Jul 22, 2008 8:25 am)
#256 of 290 Re: AVALON 02 dash board light [arif_cse] by hawiianavowner Jul 07, 2008 (10:43 am)
Replying to: arif_cse (Apr 29, 2008 10:29 am) I just had the same error light...it means one or all of your 3 brake lights are bad. In my case it was the center one. I had to slide the rear center speaker (sub woofer) housing forward to get at the brake light. Since I've already changed the gasket on my sub woofer, it took like only a few minutes.
#257 of 290 Should I go by the dipstick or the owner's manual by dpm4 Jul 18, 2008 (7:57 am)
I have a 2008 Avalon. Specifications in the manual call for 6.4 qts of oil with a filter change. Problem is that after after draining the oil and installing a new filter cartridge, when I have added back only 6 qts, the dipstick shows full or a little over. Should I go with the manual requirements and put back 6.4 regardless of what the dipstick indicates or should I believe the dipstick that the engine has a full load of oil. Thanks, dpm4 Replies to this message: fin (Jul 18, 2008 7:14 pm) smudgy2 (Jul 21, 2008 12:11 pm)
#258 of 290 Re: Valve Clearance Check & engine flush [chicz] by amauhry Jul 18, 2008 (8:50 am)
Replying to: chicz (Jul 07, 2008 8:26 am) You could say they’re self-adjusting but this is related to timing. They, however, can’t self-adjust their physical position with respect to the camshaft thus affecting, say, their seating position when closed, etc.   But first, why do you need these services? Perhaps loss in horsepower? Sound stemming from the valve area, suggesting unwanted friction?   Why the need of flushing the engine? Engine flush (oil) suggests that at one point in time during or after the flush (depending how the flush is done) your engine is going to start somewhat dry. This is not the same as when first starting your car in the morning. Engine flush ain’t a good thing unless that engine block is sitting at the manufacturer’s plant.   Amaury ’08 Limited Replies to this message: chicz (Jul 22, 2008 8:25 am)
#259 of 290 Re: Should I go by the dipstick or the owner's manual [dpm4] by fin Jul 18, 2008 (7:14 pm)
Replying to: dpm4 (Jul 18, 2008 7:57 am) After you change the oil and add the 6 quarts back... start and run the engine for a few minutes. Then turn it off and let it sit for a while. Then carefully check the level on the dipstick again. Is it still full? Or is it a little low? If low, add the 0.4 quarts. Let the forum know what happens as many here (but not me) do their own oil changes.

Messages Page 26 of 29 1 ... 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Sedans Toyota Avalon Toyota Avalon Basic Maintenance Questions