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http://cgi.latimes.com/class/highway1/yourwheels/20020313/t000018575.html
Very interesting quote in it from Norm Hudecki, a "retired Valvoline oil researcher and among the best-known lubrication experts in the nation":
"Most oil will last probably between 12,000 and 15,000 miles, even if it is in a vehicle driven [in the city] by somebody like a cab driver or police. If you are out on the highway, most oils will last 15,000 miles with no problem," Hudecki said.
Sort of sounds like what Honda has been saying, oil changes more frequent than what is recommended in the manual is not necessary.
I DID change my oil religiously every 3K miles at the local Jiffy-Lube. I have kept all my receipts, which has amounted to quite a wad of paper at 76K miles now! So, everyone can make their own conclusion on whether changing oil more often will resolve the valve seal issue I have.
All I know is, WITH THE TOYOTA EXTRA CARE warranty I purchased up front, this whole deal is covered at zero deductible! Without it, they would not have paid for it at 76K...at this point.
Only up to 60K would it normally be covered.
That's my experience. PS: Looks like I won't get car back until NEXT Monday now.
Thanks in advance
Greg
Regards
My wife's car is a Civic...great car.
I would buy the Accord except that I don't fit comfortably in it...I do fit into the Civic...all 6'3" of me.
The Corolla is likely too small for a family of 4.
I am leaning towards the Alima S...more options & stronger engine for a lower price.
The knocks on the Altima appear to be road noise & a cheap looking interior.....that beats engine gunk
If the book says 7500 mile changes, then the vehicle should perform wel within those recommendations, if not, then change the book.
Why should you have to increase your maintenance costs by 2 1/2 times? Especially when other cars aren't having the problem with the recommended oil changes.
My car is also Lunar Mist and the mask looks good on the car. I'd be happy to email pics of it on the car if you'd like. I do the Orlando to Miami Beach trip quite often, 450 miles round trip, and Florida Love Bugs that come out twice a year are known to devour paint. I paid $125.00 for the mask from the dealer where I bought my car. Yesterday was my first test to Miami.
Definitely a big help and well worth it!
I plan to use the mask only on the long trips and not around town. I have concerns about uneven paint fading especially in the brutal Florida sun.
Hope this helps.
~alpha
Where can I find the information about modification on 2002 V6 engine?
Does 3000 miles oil change schedule apply for new engines ?
~alpha
The leather package by Toyota is more then just leather on the seats as it also on the door panels as well giving the car the luxury interior look and feel and I think you will find that if you price that as an after market instalation from a reputable company that you will pay between $1000-$1400 for a quality job and when you add the alloy wheels you will only be saving approx. $500.00-$900.00 dollars for deleting the power moonroof and the deluxe upgraded sound system.(TMV for option #8 approx. $2450.00)
even more important then the cost savings is the fact that anytime you add after market equiptment or accessories and a problem occurs under warranty they may very well blame the problem on aftermarket item and refuse to cover the cost of the repair.....example...side door panels need to be removed to install leather and a month later you develope a rubbing sound as you put your window up or down the dealer may very well refuse the repair under your warranty saying the panel was put on improperly....(I found that out the hard way).
Well thats just my opionion but whichever way you end up going I wish you the best of luck with your new Camry purchase.
1. What changes have been made to the 2002 cylinder heads from the 2000 model?
2. If I change my oil and filter at the owners manual recommended intervals (at a Toyota dealer, for proof of compliance) and develop a sludge problem during the 6-year/ 60,000 mile power train warranty, will my repairs be covered under the warranty?
3. Who makes the oil filters for the Camry, and what are the efficiencies at the various micron sizes?
Here were their answers:
“Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We appreciate you contacting us with your inquiry.
Engine oil gel is typically an indication of infrequent or improper maintenance and because of this is not a warrantable condition. Engine oil gel is not specific to Toyota vehicles. The Scheduled Maintenance Guide recommends changing your engine oil and filter based on mileage and /or time intervals, whichever comes first. For normal driving conditions, your engine oil and filter will need to be replaced at least twice a year.”
“We have not made any changes to the cylinder heads of the V6 Camry between the 2000 and 2002 models. The reason engine oil gel forms is due to lack of maintenance or improper maintenance and not due to the design of the cylinder heads.”
“We apologize if our previous response did not answer your questions.
If you maintain your vehicle according to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide you should not experience engine oil gelling (sludge). We have not come across one case of a customer maintaining their vehicle according to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide and experiencing engine oil gel.
If you do experience a concern in the future, please contact our Customer Assistance Center at 800-331-4331 so we may review your concern.”
“We appreciate you taking the time to contact us with your inquiry. We don't release vendor information, nor are the efficiencies of the filters at the different micron sizes available.”
I also talked to several Toyota dealers about the sludge problem, and one told me that the oil change interval that they recommend is 5000 miles for normal service and 3500 miles for severe service. Another dealer told me that as far as he knows the only thing that is happening is that Toyota is correcting an error in the service manual!! Apparently it was an error in the oil change frequency that went unnoticed for three years!!! I think that the only reason that the 2002 model Camrys haven’t sludged up yet is because they don’t have enough miles on their engines yet. With a decreased oil change interval of 5000 miles max., using petroleum motor oil, or the use of synthetic oil, they probably won’t have a problem. I think that Toyota needs to realize that sludge formation is not the same as sludge accumulation. By increasing the frequency of the oil changes, the sludge is removed before it is allowed to accumulate to dangerous levels. This doesn’t solve the problem of why the excessive amount of sludge is forming in the first place. If there is a design problem with, say the PCV system, or the compression rings, or the higher cylinder head temperatures, or head gaskets leaking coolant into the oil, or whatever, sludge will form. For the most part this formation is beyond the control of the average car owner. --- On a brand new car that I haven’t even taken delivery of yet, why won’t they commit to honor their power train warranty, if I follow their own maintenance schedule? I expected an answer something like “if you maintain it properly, we’ll stand behind it.” Why won’t they give me information on their oil filter? I have half a mind to cancel my order for the Camry, and buy a Passat instead. That’s my $.02 worth.
I swear that I will get an extended warranty on my next Toy vehicle too since I keep my cars 9 yrs. or so and at least it gets me past the 6yr/100K mark. Toyota quality is slipping a little from what it use to be...but they are still a notch or two about the American makes yet.
Jweaver: I know if it was me, I would be mighty hesitant to go through with the purchase if this issue still unresolved. Having a problem is one thing, but Toyota's refusal to acknowledge it as a problem should send alarm bells going off everywhere.
Anyways, I'm not sold on the engine cleaning for high milage cars. (I believe it is recommended that a flush is first performed at 60K or so, but I'm not positive.)
My $.02
alpha
And then again, "When traveling at highway speed, I lifted my foot off the accelerator and there was a pronounced jolt in the drivetrain....I've since heard from another party who experienced the same in another Camry." (Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com Road Test.)
What is going on here? Is this a cause for concern? (Two early 2002 Camry reviews - L.A. Times and one other - described a "drive-by-wire" acceleration system, which "uses electronic signals to replace the mechanical linkage between the accelerator pedal and the throttle body.") Is this being used on the 2002 Camry and if so can this be at fault? CAN ANYBODY GIVE ME A HAND WITH THIS ONE?
Toyota's response to the sludge problems has apparently been that there is only cause of sludge and that is improper maintenance.
However, there are actually other causes of sludge. For example, an engine that runs too hot, or a bad emissions control system can lead to early sludge build up. See the link below:
"If the crankcase is not adequately ventilated, the motor oil will quickly become contaminated and heavy sludge accumulations will begin to form"
http://www.hastingsfilter.com/engineering/tsb_94-2r.html
People in edmunds are willing to spend $10 on a Mobil 1 filter, and will recommend it.
I personally used Fram Toughgard filters (not to be confused with the crappy Extra Guard), on my old Camry V6.
I personally change my own oil regardless of the warranty.
I can't speak for Toyota's policy, but the owner's manual for my "01 Mazda Millenia specifically says you can do all your own maintenance and keep your warranty in effect.
Of course you would have to keep all receipts, and it would be a good idea to keep a log. Mazda nicely provides an online maintenance log for Mazda owners. Can't even lose that if your computer crashes.
Oil Filter: I read a report several months ago by a man who tested oil filters. Two filters that he stated were very good were: Purolator Premium Plus and AC Delco Duraguard. I am sure these are not the only 2 but it is what I buy from now on. They can be bought at very reasonable prices.
Briefly I will say, I am extremely pleased with my '01 Millenia that I bought new in Sept "01 for $21680. It now has almost 5000 very pleasant and troublefree miles on it, and is a great bargain for a fine car.
The only repeated complaints I have seen over there are that some people find the 2.5 V-6 with 170 HP is not powerful enough for them. I find it more than enough power for my use, and great for highway driving at about 2750 RPM at 65 MPH. The other thing is that Mazda automatic transmissions shift somewhat differently under some conditions than say a GM or Toyota. It is however a bulletproof engine transmission combination. Come on over there, and you will find plenty of willing answers to your questions.
By the way, I drove Maxima, Avalon, Camry and others before buying. I find the Millenia at least as pleasant, if not more so than any of those.
In the past I have always taken out the best 100,000 mile warranty the dealer offers and other then oil changes,hoses,belts,and tire rotations I have said no to all the costly dealer recommended maintenance services that were not required for the extended warranty and by doing so it pretty much more then paid for the cost of my warranty which in turn covered me for 100,000 miles.
If you fit this description and care to share your input on the subject, please contact Kristen Gerencher at kgerencher@marketwatch.com or Jeannine Fallon at jfallon@edmunds.com by noon EST Tuesday, March 19.
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What is worth $800-$900 Maybe a dozen oil changes (dealer cost $120) do it yourself about the same dealer normally $24.95 X 12 or $300. Inspect, inspect, inspect when the inspections can be done by yourself and are rarely done by the tech anyway this is a huge ripoff but please excuse the word ripoff that is my opinion only.