Avensis Vvti Oil Problem

[thiambal]

HI, I have just traded in my beautiful Celica for a 2000/X 1.8 vvti Avensis. Bought from a non-franchised Dealer.

Alas, I did not read these pages before my purchase - else I would have perhaps thought again.

My new vehicle has done 46,000 miles and up until now has a full Toyota Main Dealer service history. My questions are these:

1. Can I assume that after 46,000 and 5 services at a main dealer, any oil consumption problem would have shown itself and been remedied?

2. I have a service booked at my local garage this week - I generally don't keep up main dealer servicing once the warrenty period has passed. Do I need to think again in case an oil problem shows itself?

3. With the car being more than 5 years old and bought from a non-toyota dealer - would Toyota be even slightly interested if an oil problem now shows itself?

Any advice gratefully received - I have a terrible feeling I have bought myself a shed

[thiambal]

.......OK - just spoken to Toyota - they say catagorically that as it is over 5 years old it would not be covered by extended warranty for the oil problem. IS THIS TRUE?

Toyota want £260 for the service as opposed to £140 with my friendly local garage - if Toyota would not cover it in the event of a problem I suppose there is no point in paying their servicing prices.

I guess I just have to keep my fingers crossed and then sell the beast if an oil problem starts to rear its head.

...He also said of all the Avensis they have sold across two dealerships they have only ever done warranty work on 2-3 vehicles for this problem - but then he would say they wouldn't he.

[silverarrow]

give toyota your engine block number they will be able to tell you if the block has the faulty parts ie toyota know which engines are a problem also ask for a bore wear measurment

also speak to the last owner and check the oil every day if high miles and weekly if low miles

so many in the trade are aware of duff engines and the bad reputation toyota are giving themselves made in japan ie your celica are a better bet do not accept 1 litre per 600 miles as normal worn engine if you get this or more good luck

how long was the warranty on the new car and yous hould have at least 3 months i would pay the extra for toyota service just in case ie ask them when doing the service to check the block number with mr t

[thiambal]

give toyota your engine block number they will be able to tell you if the block has the faulty parts ie toyota know which engines are a problem also ask for a bore wear measurment

also speak to the last owner and check the oil every day if high miles and weekly if low miles

so many in the trade are aware of duff engines and the bad reputation toyota are giving themselves made in japan ie your celica are a better bet do not accept 1 litre per 600 miles as normal worn engine if you get this or more good luck

how long was the warranty on the new car and yous hould have at least 3 months i would pay the extra for toyota service just in case ie ask them when doing the service to check the block number with mr t

Cheers Silver Arrow

Just contacted Toyota UK who were not at all forthcoming. They said they would check but did not think they could give me information about specific engine blocks or batches with faulty parts.

Local dealer were not particularly keen on getting involved.

Any Ideas?

[thiambal]

Has anyone got any idea what sort of percentge of Vvti engines suffer from the oil consumption problem?

I would assume if it was huge numbers they would have to have done a product recall on them?

What is the long term impact of this sort of oil consumption? Does it get steadily worse?

I am trying to decide whether it is worth getting rid of the Avensis I bought 4 days ago before any problem strikes.

[IKR]

I was wondering that as well. Would it be possible to set up an on-line poll in this discussion board? That way, at least we could estimate a proportion of the engines from this time which are either OK (at present), sipping oil, drinking oil, or replaced.

My car is currently using about 0.5L oil per 1000 miles, and has been for the last 6000 miles. I'd also like to know if it gets worse. Anyone with a new block care to comment?

Ian

[silverarrow]

demand to know if your engine if faulty ask for it in writing

mr t will not want to report wrong information this is a very serious situation in japan

write to toyota japan

honesty is respected in japan try mr t again and quote this site

post back if still no joy

pay for the bore measurments i bet the block is faulty

[Steve84]

Has anyone got any idea what sort of percentge of Vvti engines suffer from the oil consumption problem?

I would assume if it was huge numbers they would have to have done a product recall on them?

What is the long term impact of this sort of oil consumption? Does it get steadily worse?

I am trying to decide whether it is worth getting rid of the Avensis I bought 4 days ago before any problem strikes.

There is not a recall on the engines cos toyota want to keep the problem hush hush. There was an extended warrenty upto 5 years on zz vvt-i units (1.4 1.6 1.8) made from 2000 until 2002. Long term problems vary main problem is at some point the cat will become coverd in oil. If the level is left un checked big end bearings could fail due to lack of oil, engine would lock solid if oil runs out. The problem does get worse over time my corolla started at 25k with around a litre or so per 1000 miles by 50k it was using around 5 litres of oil per 1000-1500 miles. If your unsure weather you block has been changed or is effected toyota can tell you by giving them details such has reg, engine number etc. Has for percentage effected i could not say my dealer was doing 2 a week on average.

[silverarrow]

i support the above ie dealers doing 2 or 3 a week and i am in manchester

[thiambal]

Cheers for the heads up guys.

I have just had mine serviced, so I will now check for oil usage.

Fingers Crossed!!!

[noddydog]

Has anyone ever considered approaching Toyota over this with the Sale of Goods Act (1979). I have read that this act is widely undervalued with few realising the full extent of their consumer protection.

Just as an example most people think that if the manufacturer of a product gives you a one year warranty and your product fails 18 months after purchase you have no come back. Apparently this is wrong and in most cases we (the consumer) have a legal right to repair/replacement/compensation up to 'at least' 6 years and sometimes longer 'if' the product is reasonably expected to last that length of time.

I used to subscribe to 'Which' magazine and they maintain that we have some of the best consumer protection in the world, but most people just don't realise it. In fact in 2002 another consumer milestone was passed with 'The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations'. This new regulations places the onus on the retailer to prove that a fault was 'not' present at the time of purchase. In most cases this is impossible and so they really have to set things right or risk ending up in court.

It may well be worth you doing some research around the Net re this legislation, since I suspect that Toyota will be legally required to comply once a consumer starts to exercise their rights.

[riz__4631]

i feel your pain, my oil level went low, on a car i just had for three months, its rounded of the shells on the big ends, (the lower part of the engine) when speaking to toyota tech, they said common engine problem with theses engines, funnyly enough, after getting my car back three celica's came back with the same problems, but is it only on the 140bhp engines or are the 190bhp the same?????

[anthonio]

i feel your pain, my oil level went low, on a car i just had for three months, its rounded of the shells on the big ends, (the lower part of the engine) when speaking to toyota tech, they said common engine problem with theses engines, funnyly enough, after getting my car back three celica's came back with the same problems, but is it only on the 140bhp engines or are the 190bhp the same?????

Hi ,

Thought I would add my experience to the mix .

I bought a 1.8 avensis from Brooklyn Toyota H

HEREFORD about 18 months with 46k on clock and a 1 year Toyota warranty .

It has now done 74k and been regularly serviced ,It is also using oil and has a nice black exhaust ! I have not been taking precise readings but it guzzles over one litre per 1000 miles easily.

Now the gearbox has developed a fault with first gear becoming very difficult to engage and more difficult to disengage .

Why dont we club together and hire a legal rep to take up pur case of smoky Avensis engines with Toyota H Q ?

[igormus]

give toyota your engine block number they will be able to tell you if the block has the faulty parts ie toyota know which engines are a problem also ask for a bore wear measurment

also speak to the last owner and check the oil every day if high miles and weekly if low miles

so many in the trade are aware of duff engines and the bad reputation toyota are giving themselves made in japan ie your celica are a better bet do not accept 1 litre per 600 miles as normal worn engine if you get this or more good luck

how long was the warranty on the new car and yous hould have at least 3 months i would pay the extra for toyota service just in case ie ask them when doing the service to check the block number with mr t

Cheers Silver Arrow

Just contacted Toyota UK who were not at all forthcoming. They said they would check but did not think they could give me information about specific engine blocks or batches with faulty parts.

Local dealer were not particularly keen on getting involved.

Any Ideas?

hi - it is so difficult to convince them - i know it personally.

i feel your oil consumption pain

[Steve84]

My corolla had a nice black exhaust see previous post for detail. My exhaust was a grey colour until it started to burn oil the colour soon changed. My Dads previous avensis was a nice grey colour until 40k there abouts then with in 3k was black. Both mine and my dads car where full service history both cars serviced on time. I was doing 30k a year there abouts at the time has a area security guard so my corolla was getting 3 services a year. But it still started using oil at 25k. My dad on the other hand did about 4-6k a year and his avensis showed up its oil useage at 40k ish. Well it wont him who noticed it was the dealer whilst carrying out the MOT. They serviced it 3 months before the MOT, and carried out a visual saftey report at the MOT and noticed the oil level below the min. I Would of thought that toyota would of cured this problem by now. My 54 plate avensis is on 24k at them moment and no problem. Since i changed jobs i'm doing less miles, but i've just brought myself a holiday home in wales and am going down there every weekend end so am now doing 1000-1500 miles per month. Worrying thing is my dad has a 06 plate 1.8 vvt-i avensis so are we going to have the same trouble has we had with are previous toyotas. Can two people in the same family have 4 toyotas and all 4 suffer the same fate.

[igormus]

HI, I have just traded in my beautiful Celica for a 2000/X 1.8 vvti Avensis. Bought from a non-franchised Dealer.

Alas, I did not read these pages before my purchase - else I would have perhaps thought again.

My new vehicle has done 46,000 miles and up until now has a full Toyota Main Dealer service history. My questions are these:

1. Can I assume that after 46,000 and 5 services at a main dealer, any oil consumption problem would have shown itself and been remedied?

2. I have a service booked at my local garage this week - I generally don't keep up main dealer servicing once the warrenty period has passed. Do I need to think again in case an oil problem shows itself?

3. With the car being more than 5 years old and bought from a non-toyota dealer - would Toyota be even slightly interested if an oil problem now shows itself?

Any advice gratefully received - I have a terrible feeling I have bought myself a shed

hi there

i am still in two ways deciding, as follows:

1) valve stem sealing caps (16 pcs !!!!!) wearing down;

2) piston rings/liner

mine avensis 2003 (1.8 vvt-i) also drinks 5w30 recomended. after last oil changing i have added oil additive that rebuild friction surfaces and reduces friction itself. after 6700 km milage, i have disclosed that the oil consumption has become less (!!!!). i plan to add again to see developoments. besides nobody consides that oil loss can also be due to valves stems sealing cups worn down. i still conside it as seconf reason, beause i can not believe that even the best rubber can serve 91k (!!!!!) -- does anybody is in doubts? As to liner -- even and in case all liners are worn down then you will face to power output lack as well as knocks (!) inside the engine + gases pushing from crankcase. i have checked with this crankase ventilation (wheb engine running) and disclosed that no gases coming (!!!) -- it means that both liner and rings are in limits. So please comment the above.

thanks