What the Sludge?

by **CASTRO** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:55 am

http://www.yotarepair.com/Sludge_Zone.html

read up all about the dreaded sludge problem here and see why oil changing should be done ASAP and never overlooked.

This is from a V-6 Camry. The oil pump pick-up screen is totally plugged with sludge. If let alone the engine would have starved for oil and self destructed.

I have a theory that siec the problem seems to be built up heat in the engine and the PCV not releasing all the pressure, I might just mod and drill into it in order to make the valve free flowing. In that way, fresh air can travel in/out of the engine.

by **SPF 0** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:01 pm

This is good information. The link didn't say one way or another but do you have any word on if full synthetics are more resistant to this than blends?

Granted, using a different type of oil won't address the underlying issue but I just want to prevent a symptom.

by **SleeperSolara** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:07 pm

That nasty stuff.

by **PhreakdOut** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:25 pm

It looks like my wife's coffee. Yeeww!

Nice warning though. We should all carry this picture in our glove boxes to remind us.

by **DatSRBoi** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:44 pm

OMG I NEED TO KNOW MORE.... Someone talk..

by **StockSolara** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:46 pm

ugh. . .

by **vairdasol** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:13 pm

PhreakdOut wrote:It looks like my wife's coffee. Yeeww!

Nice warning though. We should all carry this picture in our glove boxes to remind us.

All I have to say is lmao :lol:

by **CASTRO** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:22 am

i've read on other another forum that synthetic is a bit more resistant to sludging as it is refined for less particles and unwanted "weak" links which is common in normal dino oil. I myself have switched to synthetic since my motor is hitting 146000miles soon and I bearly got it s/c'd. Knowing synthetic is in there just gives me that added comfort factor that otherwise would make me have nightmares of a cholocate-covered-looking engine.

by **Hefty** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:48 pm

Yea consumer reports keeps pretty good tabs on vehicle maintenance history for specific types of vehicles. They were one of the first to find an alarming trend on the Toyota V6 engines failing due to engine sludge problems. It is recommended to use a synthetic oil on our engines to prevent this from happening. I have heard that you can get most all the benefits even if using a blend or even using 4 quarts regular oil to 1 quart synthetic if you really wanted to penny pinch. Above all regular oil changes are the best way to prevent sludge from occuring. Synthetics just tend to be more forgiving if you go over by a couple thousand miles on your oil change maintenance schedule. I've heard a lot people, even before they came out with the extended 5000 mile synthetic oils that they had no problems changing standard synthetics every 4-5000 miles. I'd stick with the recommended maintenance schedule in the owners manual which I believe is every 3000 miles.

If you do have a engine failure due to engine sludge then it is covered under Toyota's powertrain warranty. However, you must provide proof in the form of a receipt that you had your oil changed at least once a year. So, even if your a shade tree mechanic it probably wouldn't hurt to take your car to a Jiffy lube or some such every once and a while and pay to have it changed and then hang onto that receipt.

by **Jai_Jai_Binks** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:18 pm

^^ as long as you can evidence receipts of oil+filters, thats good enough as well. You don't need to get it servied from a repairbay shop to maintain that powertrain warranty!

by **2kSoulara** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:23 am

Serious talk i had to take mine to the dealer and they basically rebuilt/cleaned the engine! Luckily they payed for it. It was 3K worth of work!! Car runs great. I just read on consumer reports about using synthetic oil. My car has about 140K on it so i'm gonna switch to synthetic.
All i need now is a S/C and Jim's fuel upgrade to blow it up.. :-)

Please keep up with your oil changes guys!!!

by **SC V6** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:31 am

so what really causes this.. not changing the oil when it need to be done? I only drive my car like 1500 miles a year... so I hardly get to change it.. should I change my oil before I put my car away for the winter?

by **2kSoulara** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:06 am

I did not keep up with my oil changes so the sludge built up in mine. As long as you keep up with the required maintenence/oil changes you should be fine. I didnt know about this problem till i saw white smoke coming from my exhaust.

by **DatSRBoi** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:14 am

SC V6 wrote:so what really causes this.. not changing the oil when it need to be done? I only drive my car like 1500 miles a year... so I hardly get to change it.. should I change my oil before I put my car away for the winter?

I say change it.. For 1500 miles is enough to create some small particals that would settle down .. Specially in the winter those thing will slowly stick to the bottom or some where.. Chnage the oil, store it but sitll start it for 3 minutes a week at least was what I was told..

by **SC V6** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:42 am

Anyone else have input on this? SHould I just change it before IS tore it?

What the Sludge?

What the Sludge?

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