Wrapper

I have a low mileage 2001. My dipstick is always looking like relatively
clean oil and it makes me feel that there is something in the design of the
engine that prevents the oil from doing its job and suspending oil
impurities. Just my opinion. Oil is SUPPOSED to get dirty.


"Steve Henderson" <shenderson_2@charter.net> wrote in message
news:ehcef.24314$7s1.6528@fe04.lga...[color=blue]
>I know everyone is probably sick and tired of the infamous toyota sludge
>discussion, but hey, I just looked under the oil filler cap on my avalon
>(02), and it's crusty black (not gel-like at all). I get the oil changed
>between 3,000 and 4,000 miles with Durablend (the middle grade) down at the
>local Valvoline oilchange place. Since I don't change it, I'd never looked
>under the oil change cap. Can't really see much - it seems to be a
>deflector shield right under the cap so you can't see any workings - except
>that crusty black coating right where you would pour the oil. This is the
>3.0 V6, 2002 Avalon XLS. It sure doesn't seem like this would be described
>as "sludge", but one never knows. I have about 50,000 miles on it. The oil
>on the dip-stick is (as always) a nice honey-colored amber, and ther's no
>smoke, and it's never used a drop of oil (I know I said I don't change it,
>but I DO check it).
>
> So,
> 1) I'd like to see a site of photos of what I would be looking at if it IS
> sludge, and
> 2) does anyone have the range of VIN numbers that Toyota covers for this
> car?
>
> (I still love the car, even if it IS sludge <grin>)
>
> Steve Henderson[/color]