2000 Sienna -Need some suggestions to get started

[hocky88]

Hello to everyone - Wow, I have been reading here for several days and what a great place! I just purchased a 2000 Sienna with 66,000 miles, ($5200-yeah!), one owner who seemed to do a decent job with the maintenance. After buying, I started reading and looking for help, maintenance ideas etc. and came across all of the sludge stuff related to this motor. I read extensively in the other forum and read many explanations and viewpoints - much of them a little heated! So now I am confident that I got a great motor bu that it needs to be closely maintained. So, I figured I would ask for some advice on ways to get started with the oil.
So far, I have learned that I should strongly consider switching to a synthetic and then maintain regular oil changes at no more than 5000 miles. I have found the analysis section intriguing. I work in research and chemical analysis steers every project that I participate. I am not a chemist, so I can’t help in that regard, but certainly understand the importance of the analysis.
So, would testing the existing oil be a good start? Prior to beginning my research, I had the oil changed using a non synthetic oil. I knew that it was due as the last change was at about 60,000 miles.
Additives to breakdown any existing sludge or can the analysis help to quantify the sludge or the care that the motor has received?
Would you pull a valve cover and look? I am mechanical but by no means a car mechanic. I have tuned up, did intake gasket changes, brakes and oil so I have some skills but always need direction!
Thanks for taking the time to point me in the right direction! I will keep reading!

 

[hocky88]

2000 Windstar 3.8L 96,000 miles
2000 Sienna 3.0L 67,000 miles
2005 Outlander 94,000 miles

 

[addyguy]

Pennzoil Platinum is a good, stout, inexpensive full-synthetic oil that will work well in your vehicles.

It is a favorite on here, for sure, but ANY syn oil you can get on sale (Syntec, Synpower, M1...) will work just as well!

 

[Johnny]

Not sure an analysis will help pick up sludge but will give you a good starting point. Not sure how hard it is to pull the valve cover on your vehicle, but it would not hurt to look at it. Also, don't forget about doing a transmission fluid change and check the coolant. If it has not been done recently, flush the brake fluid.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
Not sure an analysis will help pick up sludge but will give you a good starting point. Not sure how hard it is to pull the valve cover on your vehicle, but it would not hurt to look at it. Also, don't forget about doing a transmission fluid change and check the coolant. If it has not been done recently, flush the brake fluid.

+1

 

[kevinf]

Same thing I did, learned about the sludge issue after I bought my used Sienna in 2007. Click on my name and read my historical posts. Also, ericthepig has one of these and has good advice.

Some quick tips:

Get an analysis done at your next change, and make it a short one like under 2,000 miles. Put a conventional oil without sodium in it, like Pennzoil or Mobil. That way if you have a coolant problem, you won't be guessing.

Change the pcv valve - best to use a genuine valve from the dealer.

Clean the throttle body and plate(s) as gunk builds up from the pcv return and screws up the idle air control valve. Then it starts, but doesn't stay running.

Do a few short conventional oil changes then move on to synthetic every 4,000 miles max.

My van has been great, just can't neglect these vehicles.

 

[gfh77665]

Here is some great technical info on your Sienna:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4

 

[blue94]

You should stay of top of these engines but you don't have to stay up at night worrying either. If it's in good working order (PCV etc) and you have reasonable oil change intervals, you should be fine. My folks had two 1MZ-FEs and they did not take nearly as good care of them as people on BITOG do and yet they did well. To be sure, they got the oil changed but until I got involved and switched them to synthetic (Amsoil), they were using dino and lord only knows what the change intervals were - knowing them, it wasn't every 5k miles. On Amsoil, it was changed whenever I was home which was about once a year or maybe a little more often. While this was not at all ideal and I'm not saying that you should do this, my point is that don't need to worry too much so long as you are using a good quality oil (preferably synthetic) and are in fact changing it. With a synthetic at every 5k and/or twice a year, that engine will go forever.

Oh, and don't forget to change the transmission fluid too.

 

[hocky88]

thats so funny! you got me for sure I was all pumped up for some techie advice...

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: hocky88
thats so funny! you got me for sure I was all pumped up for some techie advice...

 

[mva]

I have a 2000 Sienna with 170,000 miles on it. Still runs great and I don't have to add oil between changes. I have had very few problems with it.

Current oil Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 changed every 6000 miles. I used name brand 5w30 conventional up until 2008 and then I switched to Pennzoil Platinum 5w30. If your van doesn't use oil I would not recommend pulling the valve cover or fretting about sludge. Use a good 5W30 synthetic and keep the pcv valve clean and just drive it.

Transmission fluid is easy to drain and fill. I do this once a year - it takes 3 litres. Last 2 changes were maxlife ATF. This year I will use Castrol import Dex III.

Coolant drain and fill takes 6 litres. Toyota has their own pink coolant.

I have changed the PCV valve several times. It is hard to get at to change - you may want to have the dealer do it.

Spark plugs have been changed once so far. Same goes for spark plugs - take it to a dealer - access to the rear plugs is very difficult.

Power steering fluid changed once.

Timing belt changed once at 100,000 miles.

Front brakes and brake fluid changed twice. Rear brakes are original.

I have had a few problems with the heater/air con and power window switches. Other than that I have had no issues.

 

[CaspianM]

Sludge issue was corrected in version 2 Sienna and Camry.
I had a Camry 97 V6 that never had any issues and was sold with 110k miles. Currently still have the 03 Sienna and no issues. Change oil once a year using Mobil 1 5w30 with about 3 to 5k yearly. Last fill I switched to PP but I will go back to Mobil 1 or Edge.