After buying my new 2004 Sienna, I realized it has an aluminum block engine.
How long has this been going on? Is this a proven engine or are they trying
what Vega did many years ago. From what I can tell, I don't think it has
cast iron sleeves. I bought a Toyota because of its history of reliability.
Has anyone had any problems with aluminum block Toyota engines? Charles
Ranheim

Little late to be asking questions about a vehicle you already
purchased, don't you think? Any engine in any car built today
will easily last over 200K, if properly serviced and maintained,
not to worry ;)


mike hunt



cranheim wrote:

Mike, I hope you are right. I have owned GM cars before that had cast iron
engines. I hope Mobil 1 is compatible with aluminum cylinder walls. I was
planning to use it after break-in. Perhaps someone can shed more light on
how long Toyota has used aluminum engines. I just hope this isn't the first
year to try it. Charles Ranheim

"cranheim" <cranheim@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:Zvu2c.21658$Hi6.19822@newssvr31.news.prodigy. com...
have some type of coolling system failure, and yes it is iron sleeved.Get
used to aluminum that and soon we'll also be seeing ceramic's as the sleeve
material of choice.

In news:Njv2c.32486$YH2.7236@newssvr16.news.prodigy.c om,
cranheim <cranheim@prodigy.net> being of bellicose mind posted:
And aluminum block means very little where the cylinder walls are
concerned. The actual cylinder surface can be a pressed in steel
sleeve, Nikasil sprayed metal, Toyota's Composite Metal Matrix (as
found in the Celica 2ZZGE engine) or a and etched surface with the
removed metal replaced with various composites. Your V6 should be a
pressed or cast-in steel sleeve. I know Corollas have used an
aluminum block starting in '98. Since there is no such thing a
purely aluminum cylinder walls, you have ill-founded concerns.
--

- Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM

In news:c2e0jt$ctl9$1@news3.infoave.net,
Jay Terry <SCMOPAR@shtc.net> being of bellicose mind posted:
Soon? Take a look at Toyota's Composite Metal Matrix cylinder walls
on the Celica / Corolla-Matrix XRS 2ZZGE engine. For that matter,
you'll notice valve seats are no longer the traditional pressed-in
items into the aluminum head on the Corolla 1ZZFE engine. This engine
uses a laser-clad process directly on the aluminum.
--

- Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM

On Sat, 06 Mar 2004 20:17:04 -0500, MelvinGibson@mailcity.com wrote:

....or it will sludge up at about 40K if you don't change your oil...


Scott in Florida

Toyota and many other manufactures, domestic and imported, have
been using aluminium engines trouble free for many years, not to
worry.


mike hunt



cranheim wrote:

I assumed it would be a sleeved engine, which I have no problem with.
However, I just received the shop manual for the 2004 Sienna and looked at
the engine service section. If the cylinder bore is out of spec from wear,
the block has to be replaced. If the top surface is not true within specs,
the block must be replaced. There is no possibility of machining or reboring
to fix problems. Basically, it is a throw-away engine if something goes
wrong in the most common wear point. Hopefully, Toyota has perfected their
design to the point it will not fail in the normal life of the vehicle. One
of my reasons for selecting the Toyota was it's past history of reliability,
including the engine. A comment was made I should have checked on this
before I bought the van. Where would I have found this information? I
remember the days of the Vega. Even the dealers swore the later aluminum
engines were sleeved to prevent failure. I had one of the last engines made
and the service manual that clearly said it was not sleeved. Hopefully,
Toyota's good name and reputation will prevail, and I will have a solid
reliable engine. Thanks for your thoughts. Charlie Ranheim

In news:%LG2c.56236$lY4.21589@newssvr33.news.prodigy. com,
cranheim <cranheim@prodigy.net> being of bellicose mind posted:
Charlie: The Vega had no steel sleeves. It's gone. Been gone for a
generation. Let it go.
--

- Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM

Philip, I am not "holding on" to the Vega engine. I was only indicating my
concern about an aluminum cylinder bore holding up. The fix for the Vega was
an after market cast iron sleeve job. Do you know how long Toyota has been
using this technology engine? Who else is using this technology? I worked
for IBM for 40 years on large systems. Specifications were always important
to our customers, and to me as well. Between the specs and the MTBF (mean
time between failure), you could make good judgments about reliability. I am
a technical person as I think you are. I'm just more picky on getting facts.
Understanding the engine and driveline design will help me make the best
decisions on operation and maintenance. As I said before, I really like the
Sienna, and I want to give it the best of care. Take care, Charlie Ranheim.