Might buy 2002 Avalon

[04SE]

My cousin needs to unload her 2002 Avalon. The car has been family owned since new and has 90k. The timing belt was changed at 85k along with new brakes. I think my Uncle had the plugs changed as well. He just had all the major service work done. The car is spotless and has had 5k OCI's with various synthetics. I haven't given it a thorough inspection yet but I will soon. Aside from the obvious sludge and valve cover gasket leaks what else should I look for? Apparently they have a faulty steering column lock mechanism but Toyota has a TSB out for it.

I am planning on opening with $5,800 and a max of $6,500.

 

[gregk24]

Go for it! If you could get it for that price it would be a steal.

 

[daves87rs]

Do it....

 

[synthetic_crazy]

We have an '02 Avalon and love it--that 3.0 V-6 is such a smooth engine. It is a pleasure to drive on the interstate.
Since yours has been family owned and synthetic oil used at a reasonable interval, I don't think sludge would be a concern. These cars are very reliable.

 

[hypervish]

Go for it! It's a good deal.

 

[ChiTDI]

Go for it for sure. PCV valve and hose might need replacement. Old fashioned plastic elbow kind. OEM are the best, and under $5.
I put 175k on an '02 and sold it to family. Still going strong.

 

[JethroBodine]

Originally Posted By: 04SE
My cousin needs to unload her 2002 Avalon. The car has been family owned since new and has 90k. The timing belt was changed at 85k along with new brakes. I think my Uncle had the plugs changed as well. He just had all the major service work done. The car is spotless and has had 5k OCI's with various synthetics. I haven't given it a thorough inspection yet but I will soon. Aside from the obvious sludge and valve cover gasket leaks what else should I look for? Apparently they have a faulty steering column lock mechanism but Toyota has a TSB out for it.

I am planning on opening with $5,800 and a max of $6,500.


Go for it. You should be able to drive it to 200k+ but do get the trans oil changed out.

 

[ChiTDI]

+1 on the transmission fluid change.
10mm Allen head and a ratchet and you are in business. Expect a little over two quarts from the drain plug on the bottom of the trans pan. You need to drain the differential case plug for the other quart. Same size bolt but it faces forward toward the grill not down toward the ground.
The fill is ATF into the dipstick and the fluid separates into the two cavities. Sounds confusing, but it is an easy job.
You could check with a Toyota dealer using the VIN to make sure.
They make "improvements" as the models change through the years.

 

[04SE]

I should find out what she is going to do in a week or two, hopefully. I really want the car.

 

[04SE]

I got the car for $6,000. Will have pictures up this week.

 

[jess01999]

When my 97' Avalon dies I intend on upgrading to the same Generation as yours. You can't go wrong buying the Avalons.......I have over 305K on mine with no major repair work of any kind......still has the original starter and alternator. Great purchase!

 

[badtlc]

if it is a V6, it is a sludger. We had a 1999 Avalon. Very smooth driving car and comfortable. Every electronic worked on the car at 150k miles, but it died a sludger's death. It had conventional oil changes done every 3k miles with almost exclusively Pennzoil. Just not a well designed motor.

 

[kschachn]

IMHO the affected years of 1MZ-FE engines should never be run on conventional oil, no matter what the OCI is. Some of the engines are easier on the oil than are others, but by the time you figure that out you are either toast or golden.

People can disagree with this advice but if you have one of the engines (as I do), then there's no way I would use anything but a top quality synthetic changed out at 7500 miles or less. It's a great engine in terms of power, quietness and smooth operation, but it can eat the oil for breakfast.

Originally Posted By: badtlc
if it is a V6, it is a sludger. We had a 1999 Avalon. Very smooth driving car and comfortable. Every electronic worked on the car at 150k miles, but it died a sludger's death. It had conventional oil changes done every 3k miles with almost exclusively Pennzoil. Just not a well designed motor.

 

[hypervish]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
if it is a V6, it is a sludger. We had a 1999 Avalon. Very smooth driving car and comfortable. Every electronic worked on the car at 150k miles, but it died a sludger's death. It had conventional oil changes done every 3k miles with almost exclusively Pennzoil. Just not a well designed motor.


I'm sorry but it isn't going to get sludged up in 3k miles. I call bull...

Unless it was driven a mile a day and never warmed up to full operating temperature there is no way it would be sludged up in 3k miles.

 

[hypervish]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
IMHO the affected years of 1MZ-FE engines should never be run on conventional oil, no matter what the OCI is. Some of the engines are easier on the oil than are others, but by the time you figure that out you are either toast or golden.

People can disagree with this advice but if you have one of the engines (as I do), then there's no way I would use anything but a top quality synthetic changed out at 7500 miles or less. It's a great engine in terms of power, quietness and smooth operation, but it can eat the oil for breakfast.

Originally Posted By: badtlc
if it is a V6, it is a sludger. We had a 1999 Avalon. Very smooth driving car and comfortable. Every electronic worked on the car at 150k miles, but it died a sludger's death. It had conventional oil changes done every 3k miles with almost exclusively Pennzoil. Just not a well designed motor.


I completely agree, the 1MZ-FE is a fantastic engine, it's very refined and smooth. It's [censored] near silent in my RX and ES. Not a peep, unless under full throttle in which case it sounds pretty good. lol

 

[jess01999]

I concur that the 1MZ-FE is very well built and reliable. I have 2 vehicles that have almost a combined HALF MILLION miles with no engine repairs whatsoever and I mean never. If you decide to go with an 04' model Sienna or newer the 3MZ is just as good or better....as for the 1MZ engine just try to buy from someone that has the history of the vehicle.

 

[cptbarkey]

yes it is a known sludge engine, but there are still hundreds of thousands of examples STILL RUNNING today.

 

[artificialist]

My dad got a great deal on a 1997 Lexus ES300 a few years ago, and it was an excellent car. His always had the conventional oil changed at 3,000 miles, and he never had any sludge.

He had a friend with a similar Avalon. His friend changed the oil when the manual told him to (I think 7,500 miles) and his engine was destroyed by engine sludge. Toyota did replace it, and the service writer said "Don't believe what you read in the manual, 3000 miles is the furthest you can go on conventional. If you want to go 7,500 miles. You need synthetic oil."

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
.......and the service writer said "Don't believe what you read in the manual, 3000 miles is the furthest you can go on conventional. If you want to go 7,500 miles. You need synthetic oil."

The all knowing service writer should have started with, if you own a Toyota/Lexus with a sludger engine......Otherwise he's talking through his hind end. If I owned Toyota sludger, I'd probably keep it around 5k mi. oci's with synthetic.

The 02 Avalon is on the sludger engine list.