Best Oil 1.8TR Valvematic 2010

[MrAurisT]

Morning all. Apologies in advance, as this will likely have been discussed before, but looking for some up to date recommendations. I tend to do my own home servicing (basic stuff). The car is fully dealer serviced up to this point with 48k miles, but makes little economic sense (to me) for that to continue as I am (reasonably) competent, having always serviced my own cars. My research tells me that the petrol valvematic engine requires fully synthetic 5/20w oil for good health. Is that correct and if so, what oil is 'best'. Thanks.

[Konrad C]

I have the same engine in my 2009 ('58 plate) TR Tourer and since I owned the car, changed the oil myself. I have only used 0w/20 grade of oil, currently using Petronas Syntium 7000 fully synthetic 0W/20 with the last few changes. Other brands of the same grade are available, including Toyota.

0W/20 is the preferred grade as stated in the owners manual.

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

1 hour ago, NeilAvensisT said:

My research tells me that the petrol valvematic engine requires fully synthetic 5/20w oil for good health.

0W-20

[MrAurisT]

On 11/29/2021 at 9:58 AM, Konrad C said:

I have the same engine in my 2009 ('58 plate) TR Tourer and since I owned the car, changed the Oil myself. I have only used 0w/20 grade of Oil, currently using Petronas Syntium 7000 fully synthetic 0W/20 with the last few changes. Other brands of the same grade are available, including Toyota.

0W/20 is the preferred grade as stated in the owners manual.

 

Thanks both. I guess you have invested in the special tool to remove the filter housing? If so, where did you get that from please? Thanks.

[Konrad C]

5 hours ago, NeilAvensisT said:

Thanks both. I guess you have invested in the special tool to remove the filter housing? If so, where did you get that from please? Thanks.

I got my oil filter tool on eBay back in 2015/2016. It is described as 14 flutes, 64mm, 3/8" drive. A 27mm socket can also be used. The spark plug tool is available everywhere these days since 14mm is the norm. 

[MrAurisT]

8 hours ago, Konrad C said:

I got my oil filter tool on Ebay back in 2015/2016. It is described as 14 flutes, 64mm, 3/8" drive. A 27mm socket can also be used. The spark plug tool is available everywhere these days since 14mm is the norm. 

Thank you; I will get one in readiness. The previous (and only) owner had it serviced every January in the local Toyota dealer, so I will carry this on.

[Konrad C]

Another check you need to do is the brake pads, especially the rear pads. I use an inspection mirror to view the inner pads, because they can wear quickly if the replacement was not done correctly! Basically the cut outs in the caliper piston used by the used by the wind back tool, need to be horizontal. This aids ease of fitment, as the nipple on the back of the inner pad fits within the cut out. If the cut outs are not horizontal, the pad would need to be forced in, causing problems. These problems will be uneven inner pad wear, parking brake not operating properly, piston skewed to one side, jamming against the caliper bore. Hopefully you have no problems, but one to keep an eye on. 
Cabin filter is an easy but important job. Everything is straight forward and easy to access on the petrol variant. 
Check the door check strap area on the door. This is known for cracking due to thin metal! 

[MrAurisT]

7 hours ago, Konrad C said:

Another check you need to do is the brake pads, especially the rear pads. I use an inspection mirror to view the inner pads, because they can wear quickly if the replacement was not done correctly! Basically the cut outs in the caliper piston used by the used by the wind back tool, need to be horizontal. This aids ease of fitment, as the nipple on the back of the inner pad fits within the cut out. If the cut outs are not horizontal, the pad would need to be forced in, causing problems. These problems will be uneven inner pad wear, parking brake not operating properly, piston skewed to one side, jamming against the caliper bore. Hopefully you have no problems, but one to keep an eye on. 
Cabin filter is an easy but important job. Everything is straight forward and easy to access on the petrol variant. 
Check the door check strap area on the door. This is known for cracking due to thin metal! 

Good advice and things to check, thanks. The pads I had a look at on the weekend by taking the wheels off as really difficult to see otherwise. I will get a small mirror! All good, new pads with 'Toyota' on them, so, again, the previous owner has had them done at the dealer. One question, when you press the boot open with the fob, the lights flash, but my question is, does/should the boot 'pop' open (my old car did), or does that button on the fob merely unlock the boot?

[Konrad C]

15 hours ago, NeilAvensisT said:

Good advice and things to check, thanks. The pads I had a look at on the weekend by taking the wheels off as really difficult to see otherwise. I will get a small mirror! All good, new pads with 'Toyota' on them, so, again, the previous owner has had them done at the dealer. One question, when you press the boot open with the fob, the lights flash, but my question is, does/should the boot 'pop' open (my old car did), or does that button on the fob merely unlock the boot?

When you press the boot/tailgate button, the only the boot/tailgate unlocks, but does not pop open. You have to release the latch manually.
I thing this is good, as the amount of times I had to alert my neighbour. He had accidently hit the remote boot release of his BMW and the boot popped fully open! I have a Dashcam footage of a BMW driving with the boot wide open. You would think there would be a warning like the Avensis has. 

[TonyHSD]

53 minutes ago, Konrad C said:

When you press the boot/tailgate button, the only the boot/tailgate unlocks, but does not pop open. You have to release the latch manually.
I thing this is good, as the amount of times I had to alert my neighbour. He had accidently hit the remote boot release of his BMW and the boot popped fully open! I have a dashcam footage of a BMW driving with the boot wide open. You would think there would be a warning like the Avensis has. 

 

You got it wrong., it’s the Air brake not the boot open , those are fast cars in it 🤣✅👌

[Cyker]

Christ I nearly spat out my tea twice because of you two!  

[Bernard Foy]

10 minutes ago, Cyker said:

***** I nearly spat out my tea twice because of you two!  

And the moral of the story is, never be drinking your tea whilst reading the TOC🤣😂

[MrAurisT]

I would very much appreciate if anyone has got any links to the 'best' filters they use for servicing, oil, air, fuel etc. Also, what are the 'best' plugs to use and what gap?  Many, many thanks.

[TonyHSD]

4 hours ago, NeilAvensisT said:

I would very much appreciate if anyone has got any links to the 'best' filters they use for servicing, oil, air, fuel etc. Also, what are the 'best' plugs to use and what gap?  Many, many thanks.

Hi, best oil and service parts are those recommended and supplied by the manufacturer, often you can find as good ones from other aftermarket names but make sure they are of exact same specifications. For oil I use Petronas 0w20 for few years now and it seems like a good one, oil filter I use genuine Toyota , air and cabin filter blueprint , spark plugs again best to be original. Other good names for the filters are : Bosch, Hengst, Mahle, mann, for the oem Toyota parts especially filters, oil and spark plugs if bought through eBay make sure they comes from main dealers as these parts have many fake ones that are popular and been sold there. Spark plugs gaps are not adjustable, don’t try to do it, just replace them every 60k miles. 
 

[MrAurisT]

On 1/7/2022 at 1:07 PM, TonyHSD said:

Hi, best oil and service parts are those recommended and supplied by the manufacturer, often you can find as good ones from other aftermarket names but make sure they are of exact same specifications. For oil I use Petronas 0w20 for few years now and it seems like a good one, oil filter I use genuine Toyota , air and cabin filter blueprint , spark plugs again best to be original. Other good names for the filters are : Bosch, Hengst, Mahle, Mann, for the oem Toyota parts especially filters, oil and spark plugs if bought through eBay make sure they comes from main dealers as these parts have many fake ones that are popular and been sold there. Spark plugs gaps are not adjustable, don’t try to do it, just replace them every 60k miles. 
 

Much appreciate your response, thank you. Interestingly, I have managed to obtain, from my very helpful local Toyota Main Dealer, the complete service schedule for the car (only ever had 1 previous owner, FMDSH). The oil they used for services was 5/30W PFE5. The handbook does state the preferred oil is 0/20W, but interesting all the same. Bit of a bonus for me however is that the last service done in 2021 was the big 10 year/100k one, so it had a brake fluid and coolant change plus all the filters and oil. Whilst its only on 49k miles, the car has been very well looked after to date. Great car so far.