Originally Posted By: M1Accord
All cars use some oil, from 1/4 of an ounce to a 2 quarts per interval. Why do you use such heavy oil in that car? I would switch to 5W20 or 5W30. Also, I wouldn't use it for towing since the transmission may not like that. Actually, the entire body structure will be weaker and you'll end up with a loosen car instead of a tight machine. You should use a truck or SUV for towing and leave the car to driving. Under normal driving, a Camry should yield 400k miles.
Is it a V6 or I4? How often you change the transmission fluid? I heard that Camry cost very little to change timing belt on.
What I meant was that I cannot detect the change in the oil level, from the beginning to the end of the OCI. I am sure it consumes some.
As for the choice of 10W30, I did it because I was towing a 2000lb van trailer from Texas to Georgia. The temperature was in the low 100s, the terrain gets kind of hilly in Alabama. I went with the 10W30, as oppose to the 5W30 it had used all its life, for the lower Noack Volatility, (9.7 v. 12.5). I will have the oil analyzed to see how well it held up. A previous 100 mi pull of a similar trailer with 5W30 and 94*F temp returned a decent UOA.
As for using a Camry to tow, my objective is to reduce my fleet. I had given my truck to my sister. I do not want to incur the cost of keeping a daily driver and an utility vehicle. The 2000lb van trailer is probably a once in a blue moon thing. For the most part, I am towing a 400lb flat bed utility trailer, for the occasional trips to the Home Depot for 2 by 4s, plywood, plants, dirt, salt, fertilizer, etc. Things that you need an open bed of a pickup for. I am at the point of trying to consolidate and simplify my life.
I can see towing will wear out the structs and ball joints quicker. But I figure it will be negligible for the frequency I tow. Knowing good and well an unibody sedan is not the ideal tow machine, I however fail to see how it would loosen up the chassis, especially I am doing this well within Toyota's recommendations for this vehicle.
The 2AZFE is a four banger. Being manual there is no fluid to burn out - I am using RedLine MT90 in the gear box. The valve train is chain driven, no belt to mess with.
I do plan on taking this thing to 200K before considering another vehicle. Maybe GM will cook up something efficient and desirable by then (I like the current Malibu). Maybe something with an electric or hybrid drive train.