Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems

Your experience is in line with what we've been assured would happen when switching to E10.

I would guess the reason the oil consumption is news to you is that you never check the oil and simply rely on the dealer to pick up a problem. He might not because it's most likely he simply drops the old oil and puts the new oil in, and he's not to know what had happened since he last saw the car. Now, you need to pursue the consumption tests to determine if it is too high, and if it proves to be so then pull the engine down and find the cause. If it proves to be a problem of manufacture then you've got a clear claim against Toyota, but if no such issue is found you could be left with the bill. In that case it would seem premature wear and I would recommend you pursue Toyota for at least part payment of the repair costs.

Toyota says it will investigate the issues reported by Colin Smith if our reader gives his consent, and we are keen to hear the outcome of any investigation that takes place. Your mechanic could well be on the money when he suggest it could be a computer problem.

Toyota’s advice is that models fitted with carburetors shouldn’t use E10, but all others can. That includes your RAV4.

Both have timing chains so there's no requirement to service them.

Yes, the deal you have been offered is typical of what the industry offers when a part fails early, as yours has done. The reasoning behind it is that the part that is being fitted is a new one, not one that has done 36,000 km, and therefore you should part pay for the four years you had use of the old part. We haven't had reports of water pump problems on the RAV4 V6, but perhaps other readers can tell us about any problems they might have had.

It is heavy oil usage, and in our experience unusual for a Toyota. Perhaps other owners can tell us if they have had a similar experience.

You are correct, it's not necessary, and that's why Toyota doesn't have it listed in its service schedule. The dealer is simply trying to sell you something you don't need.

Toyota recalled the RAV4 twice in the US for "unintended acceleration" problems, which sounds uncannily like your problem. The first recall was, the company claimed, because the carpet could move forward and over the accelerator, the second was because the accelerator pedal could "stick". There was also some suspicion that there was also a problem with the 'fly-by-wire' throttle, but nothing has been found on that front. I would urge you to report the problem to Toyota directly and ask that they inspect your car.

This does seem to be one of those issues that plague today's cars, one that can't easily be solved, and doesn't necessarily show up at the dealership. The only way it will be solved is to press your father's case with the dealer and Toyota directly. It would seem that your father's concerns are justified and the problem needs to be fixed. It could be a faulty electronic sensor or connection that's sending the wrong signal to the car's computer, but the dealer is the one responsible for sorting it out, so head back there.