01-10-2010, 08:49 AM
If you have a Toyota with a V-6 engine (type 2GR-FE) there's an oil line which feeds the variable valve timing assembly. Evidently there is a rubber connector which fails causing rapid, massive oil loss.
It happened to the WFD(wife's daily cruiser) yesterday. Smelled "motor" smell coming from air vents. Thought it might be exhaust from car in front of us. 10 minutes later Wife noticed Air Conditioning light flashing, I told her she was crazy. As soon as I heard that ticking noise it all came together in my little brain and I pulled over immediately, opened the hood and yes, there was oil all over one side of engine compartment including the serpentine belt. Dipstick totally dry.
There were no warning lights activated during the entire time. Engine temp gage normal.
We took this car religiously to the Toyota dealership so that it would be maintained properly. I didn't mind paying higher costs because I knew that every "T" was crossed and every "i" dotted. Well, I guess I better dust off the old coveralls and get a bag of kitty litter for the garage, because looks like I'm back to changing my own oil again. I kinda feel sorry for the service manager at my local Toyota dealership, because his/her week is going to get off to a very poor start when I tow the car in tomorrow morning.
Toyota evidently has know about this for a while. They even have upgraded the rubber to metal on some of their '09 models. If you have a Toyota with this engine I would strongly suggest getting this checked and fixed. Especially if you are outside of the 60,000 mile warranty. I think the part costs $45.00 and someone with moderate engine skills can do it.
I tried to cheer up my wife by telling her how lucky it was that I had just bought the 968 however she seemed to take little comfort in that knowledge.
It happened to the WFD(wife's daily cruiser) yesterday. Smelled "motor" smell coming from air vents. Thought it might be exhaust from car in front of us. 10 minutes later Wife noticed Air Conditioning light flashing, I told her she was crazy. As soon as I heard that ticking noise it all came together in my little brain and I pulled over immediately, opened the hood and yes, there was oil all over one side of engine compartment including the serpentine belt. Dipstick totally dry.
There were no warning lights activated during the entire time. Engine temp gage normal.
We took this car religiously to the Toyota dealership so that it would be maintained properly. I didn't mind paying higher costs because I knew that every "T" was crossed and every "i" dotted. Well, I guess I better dust off the old coveralls and get a bag of kitty litter for the garage, because looks like I'm back to changing my own oil again. I kinda feel sorry for the service manager at my local Toyota dealership, because his/her week is going to get off to a very poor start when I tow the car in tomorrow morning.
Toyota evidently has know about this for a while. They even have upgraded the rubber to metal on some of their '09 models. If you have a Toyota with this engine I would strongly suggest getting this checked and fixed. Especially if you are outside of the 60,000 mile warranty. I think the part costs $45.00 and someone with moderate engine skills can do it.
I tried to cheer up my wife by telling her how lucky it was that I had just bought the 968 however she seemed to take little comfort in that knowledge.