I recently inherited the 6cyl Solara my mom bought new in 99. She only drove it about 10 miles a day back and forth to work and kept the oil changed. She later gave it to my sister, who drove it a little more than that a day, but didn't exactly keep up on her oil changes. When it quit on her about four months ago, she bought a new car, and I got this one because I needed a commuter, I am pretty handy, and the car is pretty nice still so I wanted to see what could be done.
I hauled it to a pretty well known Toyota mechanic who confirmed what I thought, engine sludge. He cleaned the oil pan and said he saw "small sparkles" of metal in the sludge, but nothing big or major but it now starts and runs and drives very nicely. Quiet at idle. What he basically said was, its not if it quits again, its when. I drive 66 miles a day round trip. I've driven it that twice now, but I have to admit I am nervous to drive it. So last night I googled and read threads and posts, here and elsewhere about battling back from a sludged engine. What I determined is that it has to be done slowly, not just dump some SeaFoam or something in and hope for the best, and that perhaps all is not yet lost if the car is still running which mine is. IT does however bellow smoke if you drive it a ways, park and restart.
I want to save this car if I can. I am fairly mechanically inclined so I figured what the heck and that I would give it a shot. So what is the best bet in starting to knock the sludge back? More frequent oil changes, like every 1000 miles? Open it and clean under the valve covers? (Is there a picture heavy thread on how to access that rear one?) Continue dropping the pan every now and then and cleaning it?
What has everyone else done?
Thanks in advance for any tips, or leads or ideas. I really do like this car. Ive liked it since mom bought it 17 years ago and I like driving it now. I just need to at least be working towards having it reliable to drive.
I hauled it to a pretty well known Toyota mechanic who confirmed what I thought, engine sludge. He cleaned the oil pan and said he saw "small sparkles" of metal in the sludge, but nothing big or major but it now starts and runs and drives very nicely. Quiet at idle. What he basically said was, its not if it quits again, its when. I drive 66 miles a day round trip. I've driven it that twice now, but I have to admit I am nervous to drive it. So last night I googled and read threads and posts, here and elsewhere about battling back from a sludged engine. What I determined is that it has to be done slowly, not just dump some SeaFoam or something in and hope for the best, and that perhaps all is not yet lost if the car is still running which mine is. IT does however bellow smoke if you drive it a ways, park and restart.
I want to save this car if I can. I am fairly mechanically inclined so I figured what the heck and that I would give it a shot. So what is the best bet in starting to knock the sludge back? More frequent oil changes, like every 1000 miles? Open it and clean under the valve covers? (Is there a picture heavy thread on how to access that rear one?) Continue dropping the pan every now and then and cleaning it?
What has everyone else done?
Thanks in advance for any tips, or leads or ideas. I really do like this car. Ive liked it since mom bought it 17 years ago and I like driving it now. I just need to at least be working towards having it reliable to drive.