Toyota Camry 2012

Toyota Camry 2012 Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Toyota Camry 2012 here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

• Toyota Camry 2012: Can I mix fully synthetic and semi synthetic oils?

  Let me guess, you did an oil change 12 months ago using semi-synthetic oil and then another one six months ago using fully-synthetic. And now, there’s just enough oil left in either container that, if you combined them, you could do the next oil change without buying more oil. Am I close?
  
  Anyway, the short answer is no, you shouldn’t mix two different types or grades of oil. Remember the old Castrol TV ads; Oils aint oils? Well, it should have been: Oils aint just oils. Oil isn’t just refined crude; a modern automotive engine oil is made up of lots of components, collectively referred to as additives. These additives make oil more effective at both high and low temperatures as well as providing extra protection and sometimes even a cleaning function.
  
  Which is great, but the different additives in different oils sometimes don’t get along too well when they’re mixed. Sometimes they can cancel each other out, at which point you’re suddenly using oil that doesn’t protect as well as it should.
  
  Keep the spare oil from each oil change as a top-up (something you probably won’t need in a relatively new Toyota Camry). And if it’s not needed for that, give the poor old lawn-mower an oil change with the left-overs. How long since the mower or brush-cutter got some love?

   

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• What's a good mid-size station wagon to buy?

  Ford was having heaps of trouble with its dual-clutch automatic transmission back then, so it would be wise not to take the risk of buying one. Holden was in just as much trouble with the torque-converted auto in the Cruze, and I would urge you not to go down that route either. Instead of those, consider a Toyota Camry.

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• Toyota Camry 2012: What is causing the ABS light to come on?

  In defence of the dealers it’s hard to diagnose a problem that isn’t there when they do their checks. Without anything to guide them they are taking a stab in the dark by changing parts they “think” might be causing the problem. If it is happening every time you drive the car I would suggest you have one of the dealership mechanics go on a drive with you so you can demonstrate what it is you’re concerned about. That way they might get an insight into what the problem is. Other than that, try an independent brake mechanic, and see if they can fix it for you.

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• What is a good second hand family car?

  I would rule out the Cruze straight away, they have too many issues with reliability with them to be considered. The Elantra and the Camry are both good cars. Your budget should allow you to buy a 2014 Elantra, but probably won’t stretch to a Camry. You might have to go for a 2012-2013 Camry.

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