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Toyota Avalon Engine Questions

364 messages,  Last post on Apr 29, 2013 at 2:31 PM

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

    
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Messages Page 3 of 37

#17 of 364 Oil sludge,flushing and Premium fuel by carjunky1

Sep 08, 2002 (5:00 pm)

Although not guaranteed, fuel and sludge are related. Aside from octane, premium fuel is more "refined". It carries less impurities that end up being carried in the oil. If you don't need the octane (which slows the "flame front" of the igniting fuel in the cylinder thus eliminating "knock")just change your oil more frequently and use a better filter. It's either/or. Those EGR valves are collecting the same impurities from the exhaust. They combine with the moisture, that is a natural byproduct of combustion to corrode internal parts. Yes, premium is more expensive but if you use it consistently you will see a difference in reliability and oil cleanliness. I have 140000 on my '96 Avalon. At 5000 miles my oil is still transparent on the dipstick. I have always used premium. It is expensive, but I hope to get a lot of miles from my car. Shifting back in forth between premium and regular is a total waste of money. Flushing an engine is pouring kerosine into the engine after the oil is removed. You run the engine for about 5 minutes or until it reaches operating temperature. The kerosine thins out any sludge and carries it away. No guarantee that it got it all, in fact, you should change your oil again (100 miles) to get the flush out. This was popular when engines had no filters (pre fifties). You needed to do this to keep the valve stems lubricated. (that is where most of the sludge is). It was necessary because of paraffin based oils. Actually Toyota's are known for their clean engines on tear down. If a mechanic told me to flush a Toyota, I would probably never go back to him. If a service ticket writer told me to flush my Toyota I would suspect they are running a special!

#18 of 364 Concern About SLUDGE, Should I use Mobil 1 ? by highlander7

Oct 06, 2002 (4:34 pm)

Before my wife purchased her 03 Avalon in June, we were not aware of the Oil SLUDGE problem. I understand that the Avalon/Camry/RX300 3.0L engine will receive modifications to prevent this problem. Has this been corrected?
 
If not, When will this modification be done?
 
To prevent possible sludging, should I use a synthetic oil like Mobil 1? I am scheduling oil changes every 2000 miles because of the fear of sludge. With Mobil 1 maybe I could go to 5000 miles.
 
Appreciate comments and suggestions.

#19 of 364 Beginning in June by nippononly

Oct 06, 2002 (10:18 pm)

all the 3.0 engines with the previous sludge problem were modified in their PCV systems to fix this "problem". If you are not sure if your Avalon received this fix before you bought it, your dealer where you bought it will certainly know, and if it was not, they will do it now.
 
While all those things said about the coolant system were technically true, usually the level in the overflow tank should stay roughly the same - if the siphon hose to the radiator is leaking, it can be replaced. Evaporation out the top usually does not occur because the cap of the expansion tank has a rubber gasket. However, if you get the car really hot sometime, and the system was already very full, it could expand enough to actually discharge a little out of the expansion tank on to the ground.
 
Bottom line: 2 inches a year is not a sign of a major problem, although it is a little puzzling once the level has been adjusted appropriately. Just keep topping it off. if it were a major problem, you would be losing a lot more than that.
 
randykidd: at idle when the car is in gear, you may feel a little jerking as the A/C compressor cycles on and off - the idle raises a little when it kicks in, in order to provide more cooling. So if the A/C is on, or the defrost, that is normal.

#20 of 364 Engine Whine by kenneths1

Nov 04, 2002 (3:39 pm)

2003 Avalon with a engine whine, the dealer said it is a charastic of he car, the 2000 did no do this. Any suggestions.

#21 of 364 Engine Whine - give the dealer a polygraph test by footie

Nov 04, 2002 (7:34 pm)

Go start any others on another lot. If they don't sound like your car, take yours in and ask for the service manager.
 
It's the same engine as the Camry V6, the Sienna, The Solara V6 and the Lexus ES300.
 
Do they any of them whine? I don't think so.

#22 of 364 Oil Changes for lazy home mechanic by rattlecage

Nov 07, 2002 (3:51 pm)

I've always done 7500 mile oil changes, and have had some 150k+ mileage cars, and have never had a serious engine problem. Most mechanics I've talked to say that modern oil can handle 7500miles no problem.
 
Ok so now I own a 2000 Avalon and am reading all these "sludge" posts about 2000 mile oil changes, etc.
 
So are there a bunch of extremely careful people on this website, or are Avalons really THAT hard on oil that it turn it to "Gel" ? Even modern oils? What about the "Synthetic Blend" oils or the "pure Synthetic" oils. Can I get 7500 miles out of them??
 
Or can I just use regular good oil like Castrol or Valvoline and dilligently change it between 4k and 5k?
 
Thanks for any responses

#23 of 364 The Toyota by nippononly

Nov 07, 2002 (7:26 pm)

extreme maintenance schedule for your car lists oil changes at 5K miles, and if I were you, I would not bother to change it more frequently than that. Just use regular "dino" oil - no need for synthetic unless you prefer to use it.
 
Toyota has warranted your engine against sludging out to eight years from the date it first went into service, regardless of mileage, so you do not need to worry much until 2008 anyway.
 
The sludge problem was overblown. They still have less than 400 engines out of more than 1 million that needed replacement.
 
By contrast Honda has already had several thousand fail out of the 1.2 million automatic transmissions they recalled this year.

#24 of 364 Thanks Nippononly by rattlecage

Nov 13, 2002 (6:18 pm)

Thanks for the response, I'm glad that problem is overblown, i will just use good regular oil and change it every 5k. Its a great car, the bench seat setup is refreshing and nostalgic (for me).
 
I have the stock stereo, and have since replaced the back and front speakers with Infinity 6.5 inch coaxials in the back, and these amazing Alpine 6.5 inch seperates (SPR-176A) in the front. The total cost of the upgrade was less than 300 dollars, and the sound improvement is incredible.
 
I will add an amp and some kind of woofer/subwoofer system next, any ideas anyone?

#25 of 364 2001 Toyota Avalon XLS wind noise by randykidd

Sep 27, 2002 (1:59 pm)

I drive a 2001 Avalon XLS and notice a good bit of wind noise. Anyone have trouble with this in their Avalon? Otherwise I love the car! It drives so smoothly and is easy on the gas. I notice something recently that is a little annoying: when idling I notice the engine seems to run a little roughly--can feel it jerking. What would case this? I use regular gas always. That is the type gas that the dealer told me to use? Would a tank or two of Premium take care of this rough running engine? I have the oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles either at the dealer or a Pennzoil Center. Help me out folks. Thanks.

Messages Page 3 of 37

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