5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
The manual for the 2007 I4 camry says 4.3 quarts without filter change and 4.5 quarts with filter change. I just changed my oil and filter for the first time (2100 miles) I put in 4 quarts of mobil 1 and started her up and drove around a bit and then checked the oil level. I was about 1/8 of an inch below the full mark on the dip stick. Adding another 1/2 quart would seem to be overfilling. Could the manual be wrong? Has anyone else noticed this? I know the first time I checked the oil after I got the car it showed about 1/2 inch above the full mark.
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GEN 6 XLE, 4 cyl, Blue Ribbon Metalic, RS3200 PLUS Alarm, VSC W/ traction Control, Rear Lip Spoiler
Didn't the dealership suggest waiting until 5000 miles for the first oil change? There's conditioners added to the oil at the factory that are intended to stay in the engine until you reach the 5K mark. Saleaman told me and that's why I've been holding off on an oil change, bought it back in August and only have 2500 miles approx.
im just wondering is there any negative effect if you have it a bit over the Low line or just a bit before the full line? normally i try to just get in between. its recommended to be between those 2 lines but is there any difference from near the low line or almost at hte full line ?
im just wondering is there any negative effect if you have it a bit over the Low line or just a bit before the full line? normally i try to just get in between. its recommended to be between those 2 lines but is there any difference from near the low line or almost at hte full line ?
The low line is one quart low and the full line is full. Half way between the bottom line and the full line is 1/2 quart low.
Also, someone above stated there is special break in oil added. That IS NOT true.
Changing the oil before 5,000 miles will NOT hurt anything. Make sure you use oil that meets the standards for oil listed in the manual. It's usually at least semi synthetic oil.
I use Mobil 1 with a Toyota filter every 5,000 miles.
Changing the oil before 5,000 miles will NOT hurt anything. Make sure you use oil that meets the standards for oil listed in the manual. It's usually at least semi synthetic oil.
I use Mobil 1 with a Toyota filter every 5,000 miles.
A rumor it is that there are special additives for engine break-in... There's nothing special about the factory filled oil other than the factory filled it.
As for being low on the dipstick... In normal driving conditions this will not present a problem, however put your car on the edge so to speak and you might find that too little oil causes the sump to dry out. this would be more related to a high-speed sweeping turn like an on-off-ramp where g-force flings all the oil to one side of the oil pan, but could also occur under heavy braking or acceleration.
As for being too high on the dipstick... This is an engine type dependent situation, some engines can handle it, others cannot. A diesel engine in particular can "run away" if too much oil is encountered. Basically you run the risk of the extra oil sloshing around and getting flung by the crank/connecting rods etc into places where it shouldn't be or it is whipped into a foam... It can also be sucked into the blowby for the crank case and get drawn into the intake, this could stop your engine rather abruptly or even hydrolock pistons... The effect on a diesel engine is that it will actually burn the intaked oil and continue to run even though the fuel rail is shut-down.
My basic advice to you, get used to buying an odd number of quarts of oil, buy 9 quarts at a time for two oil changes and save the half quart for the next oil change... When changing the oil and filter it's doubtful unless you let it drip for a long time that all the old oil will come out... As a result you will slightly overfill on each oil change, but that is OK because in a short period of time the engine will 'use' some oil... I'd rather go into an oil change and draw out 4.3 quarts of oil instead of 3.9 quarts which means the engine was low and probably not as well lubricated at all times... Further think of the oil as having a life that is "extended" by having a larger volume, more oil means less of the same oil is being reused.
My sister has a 2003 Camry with the I4 2AZ-FE engine and her manual says 4 quarts with filter change and 3.8 with out filter change. I assume the 2007 engine is the same as 2003, and Toyota has made an error in the manual. If everyone is getting an extra 1/2 quart of oil with every change, what a waste of thousands of a gallons of oil. I bet the dealers don't know this either. Anyone know how to contact someone who would know at Toyota headquarters so they could mail all owners a correction to the manual?
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GEN 6 XLE, 4 cyl, Blue Ribbon Metalic, RS3200 PLUS Alarm, VSC W/ traction Control, Rear Lip Spoiler
My sister has a 2003 Camry with the I4 2AZ-FE engine and her manual says 4 quarts with filter change and 3.8 with out filter change. I assume the 2007 engine is the same as 2003, and Toyota has made an error in the manual. If everyone is getting an extra 1/2 quart of oil with every change, what a waste of thousands of a gallons of oil. I bet the dealers don't know this either. Anyone know how to contact someone who would know at Toyota headquarters so they could mail all owners a correction to the manual?
I doubt it's a typo... I'm not intimate with the I4 but a larger pan doesn't seem out of the question considering the new body style and transmission.
BTW - the difference you're reading on the dipstick doesn't always compare apples to apples... If the pan is wider it will take more oil to move up the stick than a pan that holds the same amount but is narrower.
From a totally different perspective, it really doesn't matter much if the oil is a pint or quart low if you live in the northeast. During the summer, the ambient temperature just isn't high enough for the low oil level to become an issue. In the Southwest on the other hand, being a quart low is catastrophic. Remember that the oil is being circulated constantly and less oil to circulate, the more often that molecule must do its job, and the hotter it gets. Along with considering improving oil viscosity in areas of the northern Sonoran Desert and West Texas, it is extremely important to have the oil level at full at all times.
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2007 V6 Camry LE, Built TMMK 27 September 06
"People who think they know it all are particularly irritating to those of us who do."
my 2001 camry takes only about 3.8 quarts. i used 4.5 quarts like it says on the manual but the engine started to struggle a bit so i took out some. so my last oil change i used 3.8 qts and it is a little below the full line. i am comfortable with that.
I think the older 2AZ used 4qt and some newer ones use 4.5qt. I say just follow the manual or the dipstick.
Toyota does not offcially confirm or deny anything about special break in oil nor comment about changing oil prior to the first oil change at 5000 miles or 7500 miles depending on what schedule you follow. I suppose you could do an oil analysis on the oil if you wanted, but I'm not sure what you'd find. Some Honda factory oil fill has high levels of moly, but that was the only thing I saw. But you could achieve the same level of moly by using Chevron Supreme oil.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cam01speak
my 2001 camry takes only about 3.8 quarts. i used 4.5 quarts like it says on the manual but the engine started to struggle a bit so i took out some. so my last oil change i used 3.8 qts and it is a little below the full line. i am comfortable with that.
The 2001 Camry I4 has a completely different I4 engine than the 02-07 Camry.
On my 00 Camry I4, I just put 4.0 qts and left it at that. My car lasted 82000 miles with me doing that I was lazy to measure out 0.8 qts and I'm sure it would have kept going if not for my accident.
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