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Toyota Avalon Timing Belt Questions

42 messages,  Last post on Nov 22, 2008 at 12:52 PM

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#13 of 42 re: first 5,000 miles by wmmunn Mar 22, 2003 (12:36 am)
In answer to your questions, 87 octane gas would be just fine, however you can tell a slight difference with the higher octane gasolines. The engine will react accordingly to whatever you put in it. There are knock sensors in the engine which will tune it appropriately for whichever fuel you use in it. This engine also has a timing belt. In regards to the oil change question, 5,000 miles is fine according to the owners manual, however there have been dramatically different opinions on just how far to go on a change of oil. Just know that if you are changing the oil at 5,000 miles you are performing adequate maintenance as far as toyota is concerned. Be aware however there is a time factor that is just as important as the amount of miles. especially if you drive short distances over a long period of time. A good example of that would be two different situations depending on the amount of miles you drive in a given period of time. While 5,000 mile oil changes would be fine for a person who drove 20,000 miles a year, most of which was highway driving. this would lead to changing the oil every 3 months. File that number away for a second, you will need it later   Now obviously that amount of driving per change worked out perfectly for the 20,000 miles per year drive. so following that theory, the person who only drives 5,000 miles a year should only change it once right? wrong!. The person who only drives 5,000 miles per year still needs to change the oil every 3 months or so. So just remember that there are guidlines for miles, dont forget about the time guidelines too needless to say, oil changes are a critical component of proper maintenance. Its only right to take care of your car. If you do, it will take care of you in return!
#14 of 42 Oil Changes by dylan383 Mar 22, 2003 (6:30 am)
My 1993 4Runner had 216,000 mostly trouble free miles and I mostly dedicate it to 3,000 mile oil changes and driving a lot of highway miles. Thanks for your thoughts. Are you sure the 2003 avalon has a timing belt? I just didn't see any mention of it in the book?
#15 of 42 03 Avalon Timing Belt Reference by matthew525 Mar 24, 2003 (5:25 pm)
dylan383 - - checkout your 2003 Scheduled Maintenance Guide, page 37. There you will find "Replace timing belt (Avalon,...) under the 90K dark blue banner. Don't all cars have a timing belt or chain. Wouldn't change at 60K (which I've found that most dealership would like for you to do); give it till at least 80K.
#16 of 42 yes by nippononly Mar 24, 2003 (6:12 pm)
but you don't routinely change it if it is a chain.
#17 of 42 timing belt by dylan383 Mar 24, 2003 (8:48 pm)
We don't change the timing belt in our 98 corolla because it's a chain and that's what I'm wondering with the avalon.
#18 of 42 Belt vs Chain Some Pros & Cons by matthew525 Mar 25, 2003 (4:59 pm)
Fairly sure the Avalon is a belt - - little engine noise. Owned a 92 Saturn SL2 which had a chain - noisy. Chains normally last 200K +; belts around 90K; chain makes a lot more noise, belt is noticabley quieter. Belt breaks causing little damage (if any); if a chain breaks it could cause lots of damage. If either breaks, your car is DASR (dead along side the road).
#19 of 42 I believe that depends on the design of the motor by gsleve Mar 29, 2003 (8:40 am)
A belt letting go could cause as much severe damage as a chain letting go however the likelihood of a chain letting go is nill, usually the chain stretches becomes elongated so as not to maintain proper timing and it slaps all over the place along with the tensioners as well, this would be a tell tale sign dictating some attn to the timing chain.   A timing belt is not so forgiving if the motor is an interference one and I do believe that the avalon qualifies as such, when the belt let's go due to extended service way beyond the manufacturers recommendation, such an occurence is immediate with hardly any inclination that the belt reached it's zenith and the damage is quite significant and costly. If it's a non interference motor the damage is minimal if any just requiring a belt replacement.
#20 of 42 by alcan Mar 30, 2003 (6:18 am)
Many engines with timing chains also have nylon chain guides which disintegrate and cause excessive slack in the chain. The chain jumps on one of the sprockets, valves get introduced to piston crowns, and severe internal damage occurs.
#21 of 42 Here's what my service dept said by travelerjb Apr 04, 2003 (1:59 pm)
I spoke to Toyota service about the Avalon and on the model year 2003 (or my xls for example) I was told Toyota employs a timing CHAIN system which uses a delrin impregnated pretensioning system which compensates for any small amount of stretch the chain will incur. He also mentioned that they fully expect the chains on the new models to go at least 80-100,000 miles without any concern of failure. They love to see (and get the money for) anyone servicing or replacing the chain at a 80-100,000 mile interval, but he was rather flippant about it being quite unecessary at that interval as a requirement. He also said NO engine damage would result if it did break, but you would not be able to drive the car without it correctly in place either.....
#22 of 42 chains by dylan383 Apr 06, 2003 (8:14 pm)
Thanks for the info. I guess toyota is going with the chains with most of their vehicles vs. a timing belt.

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