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Another YouTube video by Auto Expert, John Cadogan. This time he is giving "Stumpo" a bit of a roasting with facts about RON vs dubious advice/opinion/thoughts. Sulphur content is well explained.

Thank you for the laugh. Exactly why I do not let anyone drive my Aurion, especially the girlfriend. Reckon she would have the engine redlining if she drive it like her Yaris. Plenty of experiences and learnings in your post. Certainly agree with your comment that extended service schedules set the car up for failure. Admittedly biased but I keep finding more evidence/support for the old school approach of an oil/filter change every 5000 kms if you want to have engine reliability and longevity.

This YouTube video is doing a tear down of a common Hyundai/Kia engine. Early commentary is enlightening about the expected longevity. Will have to watch the rest of this video later.

Just came across this YouTube video. I did like how he explained the oil analysis and the significance of each item. After looking at the colour of the used oil, it looks too used for my liking from a DIY perspective.

I find this latest YouTube video interesting and somewhat unexpected. I was thinking that the US Govt would be trying to shut out Chinese EVs from the American market for a number of political and economic reasons. What is surprising is this relatively unknown Chinese brand being the supplier for this US EV import company. It will be interesting to see how well this vehicle does in the demanding US market, in particular the overall build quality. This is because I am thinking of a recent review in Australia of a Haval SUV and overall rating of 5/10 because of build quality and driveability.

As we all know, the Australian built Aurion has been replaced by the Camry V6 made in Japan from 2018 on. Unfortunately, the Camry V6 has recently been discontinued for Australia. The 2GR-FE engine in the Aurions was replaced in the Camry V6 by the 2GR-FKS engine which has both port and direct injection. Following video by The Car Nut outlines the differences between the 2 engines. Certainly have to agree with his concerns about using plastic components in the cooling system on the 2GR-FKS engine. At some stage these plastic components are going to have to be replaced, presumably after the warranty has expired.

Good to know that you were on the right track. I had the exact opposite issue with the IAC valve on my 1998 Camry. It would not idle without accelerator and this was after running very nicely for that Sunday drive. In 10+ years of ownership and about 150,000 kms, I had never known to clean the throttle body and IAC valve. A few Google searches got me on the right track and now I clean the throttle body and IAC valve regularly on my current vehicles.

Totally agree. Similar results when I changed the 3rd catalytic convertor. Definitely no droning noise etc. which is exactly what I want.

I cannot recall having this experience. Immediate thoughts are to check the engine and transmission mounts and to change the transmission fluid if this has not yet been done. I have just viewed this YouTube video by The Car Nut where he is recommending a drain pan change of the ATF every 60,000 miles or 6 years for Toyota Trucks; presumably larger SUVs etc.

I recall another post from a Hilux owner where he cleaned the earth connection which may have been a grounding point for the wiring harness inside the cabin.

That is 2 experienced guys with teamwork moving along to try and get close to the 15 minute mark. They must have done lots of dashboard replacements to know exactly what needed to be done without any reference to instructions. I am guessing that the fellow sitting down is the dealership's master technician. All is well until something goes wrong.

What I particularly noted from the pictures of the sump was the position of the drain plug. Just thinking that there would still be a fair bit of oil left in the pan after draining. Possibly less residual oil if you were using ramps so away from the horizontal angle. Have a read of this thread. It should give you a few thoughts for when doing your next oil change. https://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/topic/57994-oil-change-overkill/page/4/#comments

Welcome to the Forum. As you have done your research then you already know that Toyota is the acknowledged leader in hybrid technology. Liked the cosmetic changes with the extra chrome and the blacked out badges which will contrast nicely against the white paintwork. Excellent choice in my opinion as a transitional vehicle until full electric vehicles have further developed and prices are more finely tuned to take over the mass market from ICE vehicles. Hope you got some money left over to spoil yourself with a nice pair of shiny new black leather boots. Can't let the new car get all of the attention. 😁 Please keep us updated with your experiences of owning your 1st Toyota.

Have a look at this YouTube video. It will give you an idea of what the headlight adjustment screw loks like.

Similar to yourself I have previously reviewed a number of threads on this Forum about this Y pipe modification. I understand that the torque curve mores more towards the top end. This does not suit my driving style and conditions where I prefer more torque in the lower rev band. I made particular note of 1 post where the member did this modification then changed it back to factory standard. End result is that I upgraded the rear catalytic convertor to a high flow one. Not going to give it a personal recommendation but something to consider as an alternative. As a welder, you should be able to easily change this rear catalytic convertor and change back, if required.

I agree with Metal_Head about using widest possible oval tips. I think that it will better suit the Aurion from an aesthetics perspective. Also consider a slanted cut for better ground clearance when vehicle is going up or down a sloping driveway.

Toyota reliability is a known factor for the Aurion. What you are really going to be testing is how well the vehicle has been serviced and maintained. Remember your vehicle is 12 yrs old and some parts may unexpectedly require replacement. This happened to me recently when the water pump started making noises one Saturday morning just before I was going to book accommodation for the following week. Hopefully, all goes well for you and there are no mishaps on your trip.

Welcome to the Forum. As a P plater, suggest that you keep a low profile to avoid unwanted Police attention. The Sportivo already has an upgraded rear anti-sway bar so maybe a bit of research to confirm whether it will be worthwhile. Best value upgrade is a set of quality known brand tyres. With 18" wheels, there is a good choice of sports performance tyres with excellent grip. Have a search on this Forum about what disc brake pads, members are using and recommending. I have a set of braided performance brake hoses on my eBay watchlist but unlikely to buy because I mainly drive sedately and avoid hard braking situations.

Good step by step diagnosis to find the culprit. As you have discovered, the underlying cause is accumulated oil sludge. I have not removed the sump on my Aurion but I understand that a sealant is used instead of a gasket. The 2GR-FE engine has a reputation for being prone to oil sludge. If you search through this Forum, there is general agreement to be using a full synthetic oil and doing more regular oil changes. Certainly interested to see your next few posts of the oil pick up for the V6 Camry and the Aurion.

Looks like there is going to be enough planned battery production to meet future production requirements for EVs. Further writing on the wall for EV adoption to meet mass market demand particularly in Europe by 2025. It will be interesting to see what future battery techology advancements make the transition into production. As a late adopter of new technology, I am planning upon waiting until 2030/31 before seriously considering the viability of transitioning to a EV that will support a fully autonomous driving option.

It has been a while since I have driven a manual. I used to skip gears some of the time depending upon circumstances. Main aim is to have enough engine revs after changing gears up or not over-revving the engine when changing down.

Looking forward to seeing the full details of the tyres that you purchased i.e. Brand, Model, Size. Also a follow up recommendation after the initial joy of new tyres has passed.

Good comments as per usual. You have just got me thinking a little bit further down the track. The massive energy shift to Solar, Wind and Battery [SWB] should potentially result in a bountiful supply of electricity. It is going to take massive ongoing investment based upon expected returns. More likely to be greater energy savings for big users of electricity. This could make hydrogen generation a more viable proposition. Maybe then, hydrogen fuel cells in cars will become a real alternative to hybrid and full electric vehicles.

I viewed this YouTube video earlier and got a bit annoyed at the presenter's call to boycott Toyota. Personally, I do not reward those who lie and deceive. However, I am aware to look for vested interests so no surprise that Big Business is going to attempt to tilt the playing field in their favour. Toyota is the recognised leader in hybrid technology. It makes sense to me for people to continue to buy hybrid or plug in hybrid vehicles until EVs have been adopted by the mass market. BYD with their Blade battery technology is going to hasten the adoption rate with affordable EVs in 2022. Toyota will also be using the BYD platform in their EV.

Best to do a Google search and get more details of the specific Aristo your mate is wanting to buy. I am guessing that the appeal is that it is a vehicle manufactured by Lexus and may possibly have the same engine as the Toyota Supra.