Noisy 2007, piston slap?

[stevegittings]

Hello,
New here. I've got a 2007 Avalon with about 36k miles on it and I've run into a couple issues, both serious in my mind. Toyota seems to think differently.

One, it is using oil, a quart to a quart and a half inbetween oil changes at about 3000 miles. Second issue is that recently the engine for the first 30-40 miles on a drive rattles like heck and calms down after that.

Well since it is under "warranty" (and I use the term loosely) I took it to my dealership. The diagnosis was:

"The noise is piston slap and this is normal. The oil usage is normal as well as Toyota considers 1qt per 1k miles as normal oil usage."

I've had early chevy 350's that blew clouds of blue smoke, used less oil and didn't rattle.

Anyone else have a similar experience with a late model Avalon and subsequent dealer attitude or lack of resolution?

Thanks,
Steve G.

[USMCKANG]

Take it to a different dealership.

As far as the rattling goes.. make sure your wheel locks are properly in there. I had the same issue with my tC and I solved it by just tightening the lugs.

[stevegittings]

Originally Posted by USMCKANG

Take it to a different dealership.

As far as the rattling goes.. make sure your wheel locks are properly in there. I had the same issue with my tC and I solved it by just tightening the lugs.

Yeah, another dealer is the next step, I have to take it to a total of four dealers to satisfy state lemon laws if it comes to that.

Lug nuts are good, I rotate the tires every 2-3 oil changes depending on my mood that day and torque them down myself.

[Amaury]

stevegittings,

If I understood you correctly, somehow about 1.5 quart of oil “mysteriously” disappears from your engine. The lubrication in your car is nearly a close-loop cycle. Heck, loosing that much oil within a 3k interval ought to dictate something is wide open in that cycle.

This is no normal my friend; you have a leak somewhere. Common sense tells me that your slap piston could be providing the exit door for your oil to disintegrate before its due time (during the combustion cycle). A leak could be somewhere else too.

You gotta hit these people (Toyota and its accomplices) with hard facts in order to make them bow to you.

Just another note: could you ask Toyota where in the Owner or Repair Manual says that your situation is normal? Also, how much of a disalignment (from the vertical) your slap piston has? You should take care of that issue as well.

Amaury
’08 Limited

[stevegittings]

Originally Posted by Amaury

stevegittings,

If I understood you correctly, somehow about 1.5 quart of oil “mysteriously” disappears from your engine. The lubrication in your car is nearly a close-loop cycle. Heck, loosing that much oil within a 3k interval ought to dictate something is wide open in that cycle.

This is no normal my friend; you have a leak somewhere. Common sense tells me that your slap piston could be providing the exit door for your oil to disintegrate before its due time (during the combustion cycle). A leak could be somewhere else too.

You gotta hit these people (Toyota and its accomplices) with hard facts in order to make them bow to you.

Just another note: could you ask Toyota where in the Owner or Repair Manual says that your situation is normal?

Amaury
’08 Limited

This is exactly the problem as I see it. I'd bet if I pulled the CAT off, I'd see blue smoke pour out the pipe. I had a '77 suburban that used less oil and smoked like the devil (bad valve stem seals).

Good tip on the asking where it is written that this situation is normal.