2018 RAV4 XLE

[Pat in Speedway]

Yesterday we picked up a 2018 RAV4 XLE AWD with 68k miles to replace our aging ‘05 Town & Country. Spent most of the night just learning the info center in this thing. Anyone with a similar model year have any advice or heads-up? It’ll get Amsoil SS in it, but do any of you stray off the 0w20 ranch and put 5w30 in the 2.5L?

 

[millerbl00]

Replace the Trans and Transfer fluids

 

[Urshurak776]

Nice ride! No issue going to 5W-30 in my opinion. But as @millerbl00 pointed out, change out the trans/diff fluids for sure.

If it was mine:

Oil / Filter change (you covered that)
Trans/Diff fluid change
New Plugs
New Air/cabin filters
New PCV
Maybe a drain/fill of coolant. Test it.

Enjoy!

 

[The Critic]

Very nice! Might want to consider our board sponsor's 10W20 product. It should be more stable than any xw-20 or 5w-30. Imagine long-drain capabilities of Amsoil with the cleaning power of Redline. Pricing should be the same as Amsoil SS if you order a 4-gal case.

More info about it here:

Use 10W-20 as a replacement for XW-20 and XW-30 applications?

What about DI deposits? Can you elaborate? No, not really: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/high-performance-lubricants-premium-plus-pcmo-0w-20-gear-oil-and-atf-im-excited-ups-just-dropped-off-the-packages.355350/ You may be using it in an in-warranty application, but that doesn't...

bobistheoilguy.com

 

[JTK]

Is this the year range RAV4 where the a/c condenser rubs a hole in itself against the top/driver's side mount?

I'd check for oilyness in that area.

 

[TmanP]

I've got the same 2AR-FE in my Camry. It's mostly gotten ~10k runs of M1 EP 0w20 (with a Toyota filter) from 30k (when I got it) to now. It just hit 100k, and hasn't used a drop of make-up oil even on those long runs. I've been really pleased with the engine and its power and efficiency - they seem to be a well-designed engine. I'd say you can't go wrong with that oil choice, or almost any other to be honest.

 

[supton]

When I wrecked my Camry the 2AR-FE had no real issues, outside of motor mounts going. No oil burning. Early in life I did 10k OCI's on 0W20, then ST 5W30 later in life at 5k intervals. I don't think the engine cared one way or the other. OEM oil filters. I didn't bother with pre-drain feature on the housing, just drop the hole thing, empty, remove o-ring and replace, insert new cartridge, done.

Not sure what the transmission oil replacement procedure is, on other models Toyota had a dipstick-less setup that infuriates many (aka sealed). You may want to read up on that and decide how you want to tackle that (or not as the case may be).