'07 Rav-4 V-6 lost all oil - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

Motorep · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 09:50 AM

Wife called me yesterday saying that her Rav-4 sounded like a wood chipper. I drove down and checked it out to find the whole underside of the car covered in oil. No oil reading on the dipstick. The drain plug and oil pan looked fine. Any ideas where the oil could have leaked from? I'm guessing rear main seal failure or possibly the oil filter cover came loose. We had it towed to the local Toyota service center for repairs. It's under warranty thank God since it'll probably need a new motor.

INDYMAC · #2 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the post. Please update us when you have the diagnosis.

mustang67408 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 05:45 PM

Sounds like the VVT-I line RUBBER HOSE split, LIKE THEY ALL DO.
I know this TSB does NOT apply to the RAV, but it is the same engine and same VVT-I line.
There is a NEW METAL PIPE to replace the rubber, but it is on BACKORDER (over 2500 units).

INDYMAC · #4 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 06:44 AM

Thanks for the TSB Mustang. Has this problem already been addressed for the newer (2009)
2GR-FE V-6 engines?

mustang67408 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 10:57 AM

Starting in 4/08 "ALL" 2GR's SHOULD have the new metal line from the Factory when built.

INDYMAC · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 04:45 PM

"should"? I guess I better check, huh?

mustang67408 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 05:41 PM

Can't hurt

Motorep · #8 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 12:34 AM

Update: Yes, it was that oil line that ruptured on her car. Toyota is aware of the issue but is not doing a recall. Would we have been on the hook if the car was out of warranty? According to that TSB it sure seems like it!

I can't imagine what would have happened if I was out of town on business. She would have driven it until it locked up just trying to get home. We just took it on a road trip a few weeks ago too. I would have strangled someone if that happened while we were out of town!

The plan is for them to tear down the engine for the regional Toyota service adviser to inspect. No short block just a re-build. I'm not happy with that at all. Unless they're stripping the motor down to parade rest I don't trust a re-build. Too many bearing and journals that could be over looked during the inspection. Not what I want in a vehicle we bought for road trips.

This one's gone as soon as it's out of the shop. This will be the last Toyota we purchase. I can totally understand a freak part failure. However, to knowingly turn a blind eye to a known issue is reprehensible. Especially when the potential for extreme engine damage is there.

There's no doubt Toyota makes great cars and trucks. The problem is they don't stand behind them when they know there's a problem. I just can't trust a company like that.

INDYMAC · #9 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 05:25 AM

Thanks for the update Motorep. I agree with your concerns about Toyota's handling of this known problem too. But where do you turn? Good luck!

miamisammy · #10 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 03:47 PM

Mustang, you said...
"There is a NEW METAL PIPE to replace the rubber, but it is on BACKORDER (over 2500 units). "

I came over from the Mechanical forum at www.rav4world.com. We have a topic I started there yesterday because my wife saw this failure recently. Topic = "Quality Problem with V6 engine in Rav4, Camry, Lexus...[oil hose failing]".
I would love to see you post your opinions insights there as well. In any case, could you comment more on what you said above about the new part. Have you actually seen the new part and is it certain that it is ALL metal and removes ALL rubber between the endpoints? Over on the rav4world thread there are knowlegable posters (e.g. mechanics) who have said that there is NO all metal solution and at best the rubber portion may just have been made shorter over the last couple of years.

miamisammy · #11 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 04:10 PM

The following post was made on the rav4world Mechanical thread I mentioned above. This photo is of a 2008 and is supposed to show that there is still a rubber piece down behind the sponge, out of view (see red markings). This is why I asked about your reference to a metal part...

miamisammy · #12 (**permalink**) 03-02-2009, 12:18 AM

Motorep, consider lodging a complaint with the NHTSA.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

I just did for my Rav4 oil hose failure.
Maybe Toyota will get the message.

Motorep · #13 (**permalink**) 03-02-2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamisammy

Motorep, consider lodging a complaint with the NHTSA.

IVOQ - File a Complaint

I just did for my Rav4 oil hose failure.
Maybe Toyota will get the message.

Done. Thanks for the link. I'll keep everyone up to speed as things progress.

Motorep · #14 (**permalink**) 03-29-2009, 01:00 AM

Got the car back last week and took it to Sedona for the weekend. Everything worked great with no hassles. No new noises or oil leaks to report. Car actually got better mileage and sounded quieter as well. Weird...

Total bill to Toyota was almost $5K and they replaced all the vv-ti gears as well as the valves and cams. Bottom end was fine. Great help and feedback from Bret at the Toyota Service Center in Santee. They're affiliated with El Cajon Toyota but I like using them since they're off-site and quicker when it comes to getting my Toyota's serviced. They've always done a very professional job.

I'm still p.o.'ed that Toyota hasn't issued a recall on this problem yet. Seems much cheaper than spending $5K on rebuilds. Wife still likes the car so we'll keep it as a trip runner/dog transportation vehicle and get her another daily driver. She really wants a Mini...

I'll probably keep my '08 Tundra as well. No qualms with that thing at all. Hopefully no issues spring up in the future though. However, it's headed to the body shop after getting side swiped by an uninsured driver in a rental van. The fact she was wearing an Obama t-shirt when she got out of the van only added insult to injury...

cookiedough1 · #15 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009, 10:13 PM

Got rid of my 07' RAV4 V6 due also to too many problems in 2 years of driving and only 27K. Water pump and several oil gasket seal failures leaking oil all at once around 25K. It also had a faulty brake booster whistling at me since day one of buying new, but dealer said it was normal for the brake booster to whistle at you when applying brakes and stepping on gas so I drove 2 other V6 RAV's on the lot, both whisper quiet and dealer said some make noise, some don't. I wanted the one brake booster taken off the lot RAV4 and said cannot do that. Both oil leaks and water pump repaired under warranty, but car is gone now - so much for the RAV4 being the most reliable small SUV in the world and rated #1 in consumer reports. Peppy V6, but very unreliable. The next thing if I kept it probably would have been the oil hoses failing and left me stranded somewhere pissed off to no end. Tires were also shot at 27K - poor Yokohama Geolander tires. Not my problems anymore.