2010 Traverse purchase???

[Huie83]

Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
thanks Ranger, she also liked the new (2014) Flex that we drove and tomorrow she is going to drive an 09 Venza with the 2.7 4cylinder. Comments on those cars are appreciated as well.


If she is really set on a Flex with the 3.5 V6 make sure that you really floor it a few times and heat up the engine during test drives, get the engine in the 4-6K rpm range multiple times like you are accelerating on a freeway on ramp. The Flex, Explorer and Edge with the V6 all suffer from a exhaust smell filling the cabin when under heavy load. Ford can't figure a fix out, it's been happening since 2011...

Main reason my 2013 Explorer is getting traded in when the lease expires, just can't stand it! Also look close at the paint quality/fit and finish on delivery. My new Ford had all sorts of junk in the paint and a few of the interior panels were out of alignment.

I'm not sure if you have owned Ford vehicles before but the 2013 Explorer is my first Ford. It has been okay, but because of all the little quality issues I will more than likely look at other makes for my next vehicle.

 

[Huie83]

http://www.fordflex.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3883

link on the Flex forums about the smell. If you hit the Explorer/Edge forms you will see the same thing. Explorers are definitely worse but the Flex still has it.

 

[dishdude]

I had a 2012 Flex as a rental a year or two ago, I drove it 4 hours each way on a trip and it was one comfortable vehicle! I was very impressed with it.

I didn't notice any exhaust smells inside or any quality issues.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
I've never even sat in a Venza to be honest. I can remember seeing maybe one or two ever, but I've never had my hands on one. It's likely to use Toyota's newer canister oil filters, which are kind of a pain because you need a special socket to not tear them up, but if it's basically like a Camry wagon (I think it's on the Camry platform), then it's probably better than the Traverse. I think the only reason there aren't more Venzas is probably the Highlander being similar in size/function but with a more well known name and more SUV appearance.



The Venza shares the platform with the Lexus RX350 not the Camry. The canister is real easy to work with and you can get the wrench on amazon for $20. You can get the 4cyl or 3.5L V6 2wd or awd flavors.


The canister isn't the worst one I have encountered (that would probably be Volvo), but it's a pretty bad design as far as ease of service.

I have used Snap-on and Matco sockets on them. Broke the Matco. You generally have to tap the socket on with a rubber mallet, and tap it off too. IMO that just isn't right. You shouldn't have to fight with the specialty socket to get it on and off the housing. Also, the sockets break like crazy...all of the ones I have seen are aluminum...with a severely overtightened housing (very common) they will just crack right down the middle.

I have also seen the little tabs on the housing broken off from people trying to use claw wrenches on them.

Not sure why they couldn't come up with a design similar to GM's Ecotec filters and Chrysler's Pentastar filters. That's how canister filters should be. The sockets don't break because they are pretty simple. The Ecotec just uses a shallow 32mm 6 point socket...sort of a specialty item, but not really. IIRC, Eljefino or someone found a Harbor Freight socket that works on them. On the Pentastars it's a 24 or 26 mm I think, and you can use any old socket on it...deep, shallow, whatever. These filters actually make me like canister filters. Not sure why every canister design doesn't have a basic hex head on the housing.

Unfortunately though, GM did not use this wonderful design on the Traverse. I'd rather fight with a chewed and mauled Venza canister than get burned on a Traverse exhaust manifold.

 

[crazyoildude]

Old school American cars? Do you mean really really long lasting and all steel frames?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl


Not sure why they couldn't come up with a design similar to GM's Ecotec filters and Chrysler's Pentastar filters. That's how canister filters should be. The sockets don't break because they are pretty simple. The Ecotec just uses a shallow 32mm 6 point socket...sort of a specialty item, but not really. IIRC, Eljefino or someone found a Harbor Freight socket that works on them. On the Pentastars it's a 24 or 26 mm I think, and you can use any old socket on it...deep, shallow, whatever. These filters actually make me like canister filters. Not sure why every canister design doesn't have a basic hex head on the housing.

Unfortunately though, GM did not use this wonderful design on the Traverse. I'd rather fight with a chewed and mauled Venza canister than get burned on a Traverse exhaust manifold.


You mean they use a design similar to those employed by the German marques then

That's the way BMW filter housings are, big 'ol 6-point on the top of the housing, I had a socket in my set that fit it (it isn't the right socket) I believe it is a 1 1/16" socket, the right one is obviously metric.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
.....
Unfortunately though, GM did not use this wonderful design on the Traverse. I'd rather fight with a chewed and mauled Venza canister than get burned on a Traverse exhaust manifold. ...


The HF 3.6 in my G8 has the canister/cartridge system right under the decorative engine cover, but the HF 3.6 in my wife's Torrent has a spin on in a tight place, as you've observed.

The way the RWD engine is configured it looks like the canister would be on the back bank in a FWD/AWD installation so I guess that is why they went with a spin on for those engines.

FWIW, I've managed to get the spin on off the last few times without any burns, so it can be done.

edit: seems like I use a 15/16" or 1 inch on the HF 3.6 canister, even though it's a metric fitting. I have a special socket for the 2.4 EcoTec in the Solstice.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl


Not sure why they couldn't come up with a design similar to GM's Ecotec filters and Chrysler's Pentastar filters. That's how canister filters should be. The sockets don't break because they are pretty simple. The Ecotec just uses a shallow 32mm 6 point socket...sort of a specialty item, but not really. IIRC, Eljefino or someone found a Harbor Freight socket that works on them. On the Pentastars it's a 24 or 26 mm I think, and you can use any old socket on it...deep, shallow, whatever. These filters actually make me like canister filters. Not sure why every canister design doesn't have a basic hex head on the housing.

Unfortunately though, GM did not use this wonderful design on the Traverse. I'd rather fight with a chewed and mauled Venza canister than get burned on a Traverse exhaust manifold.


You mean they use a design similar to those employed by the German marques then

That's the way BMW filter housings are, big 'ol 6-point on the top of the housing, I had a socket in my set that fit it (it isn't the right socket) I believe it is a 1 1/16" socket, the right one is obviously metric.


True, it was probably BMW that pioneered this and made it work well. Those were the first cars I remember using a canister filter, always right up top with a 6-point. Not all German marques do canister filters well though, at least not on all models. Many MBs do not have a 6-point. IIRC, some Audis don't have it either, but some do. Even on the Audis that do have it though, you have to unscrew the coolant reservoir and push it up out of the way to access the filter (at least on A4s from the mid 2000s).

IMO, an oil filter is one of those things that should be accessible and serviceable with minimal fuss. If it's hard to access or remove, or there are design issues that could compromise its integrity, it makes me wonder what else was not fully thought out.

FWIW, the Traverse is not at the top of my [censored] list. That would be the Suzuki SX4. They use a tiny little spin on, the same part # as many 4 banger Toyotas, but getting that little can in and out is a problem.

Actually, even worse than that is the location on those old Mitsubishi Expo/Colt Vista microvan things. Horrible location. Thankfully most of those are gone, not that there were many in the US to begin with.

 

[Thermo1223]

If the durability of the 2.7l I4 in the Venza is anything like it's older siblings in the Tacoma's then the engine should be the last thing I'd worry about.

That 4 cylinder would just work & work, then ask for some more. If only the frame didn't rust through in the truck.