Sludge

[Sentinel]

Final addition: I got my car back, and after having them put my tires on the right way (It is NOT hard to see unidirectional treads... <sigh>) ...

New crank, connecting rod and piston bearings (piston pins I'm guessing). new oil pump and a screen or 2. New valve covers (they said it was easier to replace 'em then clean 'em) valve stem seals, and MOST sweetly: new timing belt AND piston rings!

Something to watch out for: I always had to wait a while after the engine stopped to check my oil as it took a while to drain into the pan. Now with the block cleaned out I can check my oil almost immediately after I stop the car. Also: in the last week before I took it to the dealer when I added oil it seemed like it was not draining out of the head as fast as it used to. Both of these issues (in retrospect) were obviously caused by the sludge blocking everything.

So: if your head dosn;t drain well when you add oil OR you have to wait a long time to be able to check your oil: Be aware of the sludge problem the 1mz-fe has.

Warranty is unlimited mileage, 8 years from original sale, and you don;t have to be the original owner. Just be able to prove you made "reasonable" measures to have good oil. Tey asked for 1 year of O/C receipts. If you change your own opil: better keep the receipts for the oil and the filter, 'cause they'll want to see 'em.

[Midias]

Glad to hear they fixed it for you

[2kSoulara]

Yeah mine sludged up too but they fixed it. I got 148K on mine and wondering if i should change the plugs, timing belt etc. The service is gonna cost an arm and a leg though.

[pervo]

148,000 and my 1mz-fe succumbed to the sticky black death of sludge.

I put 4 quarts in the motor in 1500 miles (on a road trip: couldn't stop) and when I took it to the dealer they told me it was gunked up. The repair will be free, I'll get a few engine parts for it (a new set of bearings and rings would make me happy) but the big problem? : Gasket sets for 1mzs are backordered throughout the entire multiverse. They've had my ride for a week, and are going to have it for ANOTHER week waiting on the kit.

WTF?!?! next day air one of those mofos from Japan and get me riding again!!!

im probaly going to be waiting for a shortblock for another month
it took me 4 months to get them to do anything

[Solorange]

I thought it said in the letter they will cover the car up to 10 more years from now. When you say it is covered 8 years from the original sale does that mean when the car was bought brand new or 8 years per say after I bought it which im the second owner.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

I thought it said in the letter they will cover the car up to 10 more years from now. When you say it is covered 8 years from the original sale does that mean when the car was bought brand new or 8 years per say after I bought it which im the second owner.

Toyota has a tab on every vehicle when it was sold to the first owner (as in a date). the warranty applies to anyone within 8 years from the first sale.

[Solorange]

Ah ok

[ozone]

Is there any way to prevent this? I knew that there was a sludge problem with these engines, but I didn't know the damage and subsequent repairs were so extreme.

Does synthetic help?

My wife's 1999 Solara has just shy of 180,000 miles on it and I've been fixing it up in a quest to get the mileage back up to where it once was. We used to get 30 mpg on the interstate now it's like 24 to 26 depending on conditions. The car still feels pretty good, but it is definitely a little low on power. I do not suspect a sludge problem and originally thought if it made it this far, no problemo. But now I'm wondering.

[pervo]

it is a design flaw
so in theory all have it

initialy toyota blaimed lack of oil changes, then retracted
the dealership perpetuates that false claim

a periodic engine flush is realy all you can do as far as prevention goes

if you want to see if you have sludge its as easy as removing the valve cover
i suggest anyone with the effective engines do that imediately

now what happens when it happens to the new engine since no modifications have been done to fix the cause?