Erv On The Sr180

[Zygzag]

You have read all the posts about the RAV 4 SR180 poor fuel consumption and in my case the poor performance from idle to 1500 rpm, all attributable to the exhaust recirculation valve (ERV).

The tale begins with the purchase of the gorgeous Toyota from a dealer, who shall remain nameless. With 22000 miles on the clock and the car in sparklingly good condition I embarked on my love and hate relationship with the SR 180. Very quickly I began to notice a lack of power between idle and 1500 rpm but as soon as 1500 rpm mark was passed the vehicle accelerated like a rocket. Was this quirk of the engine reputedly used in the Lexus 220? Were they right, the contributors who exclaimed that this engine needed to be driven with high revolutions? My research kept pointing to the ghastly ERV, and being a driver of a wide range of diesel engines from 3 cylinder 1 litre tinies to V8 cylinder 14 litre monsters, I know that the diesel should give a relative smooth power delivery from idle up to the revolutions for maximum torque and beyond.

So here I am with my new RAV 4 with what I believe a slightly iffy engine and lo and behold within a couple of weeks of driving the car the engine management system put the engine into safe mode. Limped back home depressed that I had bought a donkey instead of a thorough bred, the car was duly collected by the AA to be transported back to the Toyota dealership that sold me the car so that they may diagnose the problem between their sucking of air between teeth! Unfortunately the AA mechanic decided to have a go himself to get the car out of limp mood, which he did by disconnecting the Battery, thus loosing the diagnostic fault code. This was slowly turning into a farce which I firmly planted at Toyota's doorstep. The dealership said that they would have a go at diagnosing the problem and sorting it.

My researching in TOC Rav 4 SR 180 owners' post was pointing at the ERV and I mentioned the issue to the dealership service manager who carried out the Toyota upgrad of a pipe to the ERV and a remapping of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). A very slight improvement was felt when driving the vehicle but that improvent started to vanish as I addes another 4000 miles. The lack of power got so bad that I could not cruise at 50 mph in 6th which span the engine just under 1500 rpm. Drastic action had to be taken!

Reading the reviews of dealerships in TOC, I was dreading taking it to my local Mr Toyota in Oxford (a one star review with stories of rudeness and arrogance). I was dreading this encounter but decided to take courage thinking that the last review was in 2008 and we are now in 2011, so I must give them a chance.

Booked car in and arrived with it at the appointed time and was introduced to the mechanic/technician who would be looking at the problem for me. Wow this looks promising I thought and immediately invited him to drive the vehicle so that I could demonstrate the issues with the vehicle. He absolutely agreed with me that the engine should smoothly climb up the power range and not need to be driven in revs. He thought that the problem was probably was the ERV.

Left the beloved RAV 4 with the mechanic/technician, and in the late morning I got a telephone call saying that they were going to replace the ERV as it was so coked up, de-coke the manifold and remap the ECU with the latest mapping for the engine from Toyata. And all under warranty.

The car is now a joy to drive. The fuel consumption is a joy to behold. From at best, 34 miles per gallon (down hill with the wind behind it), now achieving 38 mpg with mixed driving. No doubt I will be able to achieve 40 mpg, as advertised, with judicious driving.

Only hope that the ERV stays 'clean' with the remapping of the ECU.

Oxford Mr T well done and I will be posting a review for you.

Hope this missive brings hope to you RAV 4 SR 180 owners out there who have suffered the same.

[local hero]

Well done to you + pleased to hear that your now happy, You may like to read a topic currently on this page entitled, Fuel additive works on my T180..By Wardude this may be the way to keep your engine in its current condition assuming the additive reccomended will help to keep your EGR clean as well Stew

[Mistermena]

You are correct in saying that its the same engine as in the Lexus 220d. They have just the same problems as us with the EGR and cylinderhead gaskets going on them ect.

I have the T-180 Avensis estate and found that using an engine oil such as Mobil 1 ESP (5w-30 C2 spec) helps alot over the semi-syn oil that some dealers use. Try using BG244 in the fuel and be amazed at the results on how it cleans the engine and helps maintain the EGR valve and how much smoother the engine purrrrsssss....

You'll get about another 2 mpg by using a K&N air filter and about 7-10mpg if you fit a TUNIT box plus you'll get more horses under the bonnet working for you.

Well done the dealer for sorting things out. Its nice to hear that as most of the time the main dealers get rubbished. I'm so far very happy with my local dealer.

[Zygzag]

Opps!

ERV = EGR Valve

Thanks for your positive responses. I already have a 2 cans of BG244 ready to go. Used a K & N filter and chip on my Nissan Almera 130 bhp (with chip it increased the bhp to 170 or there about) gave it a far better mpg than standard. I was commuting 400 miles a week in the Almera so fuel saving was imperative!

Moved closer to work so I am now a 2 mile bike ride away. The RAV was purchased to enable me to access the Cotswolds form Oxford, to visit my elderly mum once a week and proved its worth even with the Bridgestone Dueler tyres this winter, with out ever getting stuck anywhere nor using the 4 x 4 button.

I guess what I am trying to say is that fuel consumption is not so much an issue but it is irksome when a vehicle is not running as efficiently as the manufacturer claim it should.

Love the RAV and I will persevere with its foibles, so I am not thinking of getting rid of it any time soon.

Go TOC go :)