'08 RAV4 advice

[RF Overlord]

My sister just bought her first new car in many years, a Toyota RAV4 with the 2.4L I4. She wants it to last a long time and it used to be a rule of thumb to do the first oil change early, then follow the regular schedule after that, but recently I've heard that some Japanese motors use special high-moly break-in oils and should not be changed early. Does anyone know about Toyota? This is the 2AZ-FE motor. TIA

P.S. Where's the transmission dipstick? (I think I already know the answer to this one...

)

 

[ThirdeYe]

I would do the first oil change at 3,000 miles then 5,000 from then on...

 

[The Critic]

Honda is the one that has the warning about changing the factory fill too soon.

Toyota doesn't have any official statement about that. Just change it at 5000 miles.

All of the 2AZ-FE equipped Camrys (even the new ones) have a dipstick. I'm pretty sure the RAV4 has one too, unless they changed it for 08.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
but recently I've heard that some Japanese motors use special high-moly break-in oils and should not be changed early.


That's only with Honda's. Any other vehicle it's a "ditch that junk as fast as you can!" type thing. You see, it's a process that's been handed down from pre-feudal Japan...held secret by monks. One such holder of this sacred secret happened to be a modern day Honda engine designer who was the (would be) overlord of the assembly process.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

Have her follow the maintenace schedule and she will enjoy a long lasting vehicle.

 

[RF Overlord]

Yeah, I thought it was Honda, but this is the first "non-domestic" car in my family, so I didn't pay a lot of attention. Thanks for confirming that.

I think I'll do the first change for her at 1000-1500 miles and then tell her to take it to the dealer at the 5,000 mark for warranty validation and to give it a look-over. Yes, I know she doesn't HAVE to take it there for oil changes, but I think it would look better to have a dealer-performed change at the proper interval in case of any issue later on. I dunno...maybe I'm just wack...

BTW, the oil cap lists 5W-20 and 0W-20...I didn't know Toyota was spec'ing that on vehicles other than hybrids...

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
BTW, the oil cap lists 5W-20 and 0W-20...I didn't know Toyota was spec'ing that on vehicles other than hybrids...

I need some type of theme music to play when this comes up from time to time

Now you did it

We'll now have 4 postings of the TSB and 282 arguments on interpreting it.

Will this work?

For those needing audio

 

[simple_gifts]

So i was browsing this TSB

http://www.chrysanindustries.com/pdf/products/toyota_tsb071002.pdf

I have an '03 echo, my motor is listed; can I use 20 weight oil?

(did i do it right GA?)

 

[Bryanccfshr]

By your sig you already are

 

[RF Overlord]

Sorry, I should have been more clear...what I meant was that I didn't know Toyota was spec'ing 0W-20 in vehicles other than the Prius.

I also thought it unusual that both 5W- and 0W- were listed on the oil cap (in that order BTW), but as I said, this is the first Japanese car in my family. Another set of on-line forums to join! WOO-HOO!

Now I'm gonna have to learn to read Kanji...

 

[Pesca]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
That's only with Honda's. Any other vehicle it's a "ditch that junk as fast as you can!" type thing. You see, it's a process that's been handed down from pre-feudal Japan...held secret by monks. One such holder of this sacred secret happened to be a modern day Honda engine designer who was the (would be) overlord of the assembly process.

That what I thought also... until recently when I learned Nissan used also a special break in oil for my Rogue.
Originally Posted By: From a Rogue dedicated website
Yes the Rogue hits the streets with a initial belly full of synthetic break in oil.

MFG is Silkolene(not common in the US) weight is 0w-20 it is formulated with very high detergents and is very thin which allows fast drainback and the ability to flush those initial contaminants into the oil pan where the filter can take them out.

When I looked back at my FF UOA, it seems to corroborate this information (UOA posted here).

Funny things to notice: They use 0W20 oil but required xW30 oil after. I hear a lot of stuff here saying that Nissan doesn't recommend use of synthetic oil but they use it as Factoty Fill.

I asked the poster where he got this information and he wrote back:
Quote:
My Lab(Blackstone) first specifically identified the oil type and grade.
I first called and was told the oils carry a identifier.
I then called the magic number to Nissan Consumer Affairs and got straight dope there after a couple of transfers. All Nissans hit the streets new with synthetic. One other cool note they gave me was a "breakin" period really is based on engine run time and not on mileage yet they tell us 3750 miles so as not to confuse the average owner.

It may be good to check about Toyota.

Anyway, I am glad I kept the FF for 3400 miles.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Sorry, I should have been more clear...what I meant was that I didn't know Toyota was spec'ing 0W-20 in vehicles other than the Prius.

I also thought it unusual that both 5W- and 0W- were listed on the oil cap (in that order BTW), but as I said, this is the first Japanese car in my family. Another set of on-line forums to join! WOO-HOO!

Now I'm gonna have to learn to read Kanji...


I didn't see any problem with your

..just anticipating the after effects. I'll put the 5w/0w-20 Toyota TSB debate up there with "Is 5w-20 too thin for protection" for recurring threads.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Gary - Your Honda "Monk" man type - he must have relations (or had relationships) at Mercedes Benz and Porsche too. Perhaps he also spent some time at others like MAN too - perhaps he's related to pscholte's Elves as well!

 

[demarpaint]

So far so good with my 08 Jeep, the factory fill came out at about 500 miles IIRC, it hasn't self destructed yet. I then ran yellow bottle to 2000 miles, and now PP for 6 months or 6000 miles.

Frank D

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Doug Hillary
Hi,
Gary - Your Honda "Monk" man type - he must have relations (or had relationships) at Mercedes Benz and Porsche too. Perhaps he also spent some time at others like MAN too - perhaps he's related to pscholte's Elves as well!

Hi Doug!

Please don't interpret my characterization of the practice as a criticism of it. It was only the stark contrast in BITOG'rs advice when it came to Honda's. It was sacrilege to change it out early ..yet no one had faith in the domestics when it came to their recommendations.

It's very funny from an observer of human behavior type like myself.

Perhaps I can expand it to some Alpine Brewmeister too.