[Woofpack]

Thank you AlexRAV4xse and Spiff. I think both methods should force the ICE to run while in park. I did try pressing on the accelerator pedal while in park in my office parking space yesterday after seeing AlexRAV4xse's post.... it did fire up the ICE, but curiously my RAV4 momentarily and mildly lurched forward even with the gear selector in Park. I wasn't expecting it and didn't have my foot on the brakes. Obviously, this could potentially present a hazard if the car is 1/2 on jacks in my post-oil-change scenario. I'm going to experiment with this pressing-on-accelerator-while-in-park method with all wheels safely on grnd, and report back if I encounter any more unexpected movement. BTW my RAV4 is AWD.
Thanks all!
-Woof

 

[Woofpack]

How much did it lurch forward? Any automatic gearbox/CVT vehicle I've ever driven had a significant amount of "play" in the vehicle motion while in park. It would easily roll 2-3 inches either way after going into park, which is why I always also use the parking brake.

With the car in Park, the engine suddenly spinning up is going to transfer some of its torque to the ring gear of the power split device (the planetary gear set). The parking pawl will ultimately stop it from driving, but there will still be rotational forces that find their way to the wheels. That's what I think happened, at least.

Parking brake + wheel chocks will serve you well.

The E parking brake was engaged and should have kept the vehicle from moving. I did try it again the following day with the same scenario, but only felt the engine start up but no vehicle movement. Maybe the safest bet is gear selector in Park, parking brake engaged + wheel chocks + foot on brake pedal before pressing on gas pedal.