Toyota AZ engine

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Burning oil 2AZ-FE

What to check: Check the dipstick, look for blue or white smoke, and ask whether the pistons were replaced under Toyota's warranty program.

Wikipedia says complaints began with 2006 models, mostly after 60,000 to 75,000 miles, and points to the piston rings. 80/20 Automotive says 2006 to 2009 RAV4s were hit hardest and some burn a quart every 600 miles. Toyota's extended warranty for it has ended.

Sources ^1,2
Stripped head bolt threads in the block 2AZ-FE One source so far

What to check: Look for coolant at the back of the engine and signs of overheating, and run the VIN through a parts site to see which block it has.

80/20 Automotive says the head bolts in 2002 to 2006 engines can pull their threads out of the aluminium block, with coolant leaks at the back of the engine, low compression and overheating, and that Toyota later revised the block.

Sources ²
Early water pump failure 2AZ-FE One source so far

What to check: Look for coolant at the pump and watch the temperature gauge.

80/20 Automotive says some water pumps fail as early as 24,000 miles, and that most last to about 100,000, when they should be replaced anyway.

Sources ²