Hi ,
I have 2011 Toyota Rav4 2.4L auto with 238000km. I am planning to change the engine oil & filter. The auto parts shop says both 10W-30 & 10W-40 would be suitable but with this mileage 10W-40 would be much better. What is your idea?
Also what do you think of keep driving a car when the engine oil level is below the lower level in dipstick? will it ruin the engine if driven for few days or weeks with this condition?
Stick to what your owner's manual says. Do not change the oil viscosity regardless of any issues you got.
It burns oil. Doesn't it?
If so, keep eyes on the oil level and always keep oil in the trunk.
Also what do you think of keep driving a car when the engine oil level is below the lower level in dipstick? will it ruin the engine if driven for few days or weeks with this condition?
You will destroy it faster.
Toyota recommends either 0W-20 or 5W-20 (in very warm climates) full synthetic motor oil for the 2011 Rav4 2.5L 4 cylinder 2AR-FE engine. 5W-30 viscosity is recommended for the 3.5L V6 motor.
So the guys at the auto parts store were mistaken.
Check your owners manual or look at the oil fill cap for recommended oil viscosity and use that oil type only.
Yes, running an engine with low oil levels can damage it. You always should keep the oil level between the minimum fill line (lower mark) and the maximum fill line (upper mark). The minimum fill line typically indicates that the engine is already one quart low and that you should add oil immediately, preferably to the maximum fill line, but not over as that too can damage the engine.
If your car is low on oil either it was not filled properly at the last oil change, it is leaking oil or consuming it in some manner. You should monitor it closely and have a qualified mechanic check for any problems.
Additionally, I recommend using a Toyota OEM oil filter.
If your car is burning oil, then replacing the pcv valve with oem part may help.
Thanks for the comment-manual says 10W-30 and I ordered oil & filter from Toyota dealer for $61. Also this morning I add around 1L of 10W-30 (bought from supermarket) to the engine. The last service done in September 2021 by a qualified workshop and it says need to do next service in 10,000kms or around May 2022. I actually did not check oil level for the last 9 months. Noticed this oil level issue 3 days ago. Kept driving it for the till this morning without topping up oil-hope I did not ruin the engine.
Glad you checked the service manual and are using the recommended oil.
Just curious what is written on the oil fill cap?
Nothing on the oil cap
All right- My engine number is 2AZH7xxxx.I think that means my engine type is 2AZ-FE: so manual says 5W-30 preferred. I wonder why Toyota dealer still said 10W-30..Any ideas??
I am confused as to what engine type you have. The information that I have found online says from several sources that the 2006-2008 4 cylinder Rav4 has a 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine and the 2009 and newer Rav4 has a 2.5L 2AR-FE engine.
But you say that you have 2011 Rav4 with a 2.4L engine.?
When you open the front hood of your car, underneath the hood should be a placard that indicates the type of engine you have. If you don't find it there perhaps you should take it to an auto parts store such as Auto Zone, or to an auto repair shop or even to to the dealership and ask a service manager or the guy/gal at the parts department to take a look.
But if your service manual(assuming it is the correct manual for your car) says to use 5W30 then use that. I do not know why the dealership would tell you to use 10W30.
The service manual was written by the manufacturer(Toyota) upon the recommendation of the engineers who designed the motor. And they would certainly know far more about the engine and how to maintain it than anyone at the dealership.
source: wikipedia
source: RAV4 (Australia) owner's manual
Thanks @MountainManJoe
Thanks @avalon04 for looking that up. (And as long as nobody changed the filler cap, that’s a convenient place to double check the recommended oil.)
I’d second the suggestion from @jdavidm to use a “high mileage” oil, rather than higher viscosity in an old engine. High mileage oils have additives that cause rubber seals to swell slightly, reducing leaks. Allegedly; whether they actually work is a WHOLE other debate. But they have the same viscosity. Using higher viscosity oil can slow flow on cold starts, leading to increased wear (though I wouldn’t worry about using 1L on one occasion.)
I can not see any marking of the oil cap-I can see 15W oil is recommended for high mileage oils in auto shop. BTW I would stick with owners manual
In my 2007 Lexus ES350, a Toyota product, I use the high mileage version of Mobil 1 5W-30 full synthetic because it has passed 180K miles.
Is 15W-30 the recommended oil in the owners manual?
I think he means Mobil 1 oil, 5W-30 viscosity.
My mistake, I should have separated the statement with a comma: Mobil 1, 5W-30.
Hi all,
I replaced the oil filter, air filter and the oil on the weekend and also noticed that some oil leaking around the valve cover. Specially back of the engine I noticed this bit more. Does this mean "need replacing valve cover gasket" or is this a sign of a bigger problem?
Pics of the engine are shown below...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mMS00T2zykpv1uVWhZKryQF7mPN8fpFi/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mQYWWWobAzE9m_DH42k3Xiah_SJvCmci/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mV4HpnJl4_c9jOS1i4pG40hz-OmSP1Ps/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mWtBRzYnxfaSU9UNdQjyfOT1MDogMRMI/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mc82VohXgWNJUomgJY-B5KQPc2I-AMS1/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mjHq-HDOXhhXzM0bce30htQom92uuKCX/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ml7Vy31bIV2xkFpfDw6XE2u6-W49xC34/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mvaVvyQ_lHbpGrawcbUn8gQjIjosJd1i/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mz3tH2fK7OV9DPwl4l7sXjwwvjbL9z7i/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n1zQQnEXlNzu2TmLGhgUXUzMIy06SOEV/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n2e_8DfHdl7oc53fHF68uhjStK_Yrijr/view?usp=sharing,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n3Uq91qyaIfAAdB-M8G3jrqRhSMwSAVh/view?usp=sharing
@bediwatta You may get more responses and advice if you post this as a separate question.