2001 V6 SLUDGE MONSTER! It was Hideous, I Tell You

[AlmightyCamry777]

Have i got a story for you, ...SLUDGE!!!

My friend has a 2001 Toyota Sienna (i know this is Camry forum but i have a Camry and it is the same engine, close enough - ?)with the 1FMZE with 150,000 miles, and she has not maintained it at all. I changed the oil for her and while she drove it home, the engine started smoking like crazy! She freaked, had the car towed, and she had the mechanic talk to me.

He told me the engine oil pressure fluctuated from 60 lb at start up to zero at 3,000 rpm! (He knew about the sludge issue and i think he could tell i knew what he was talking about.)

He said they had to pull the oil pan, clean the sludge, clean the oil pump strainer, and get out all the sludge they could and hopefully the engine would come back to life for a while. He then handed her the phone and i told her she should have them do it because it made sense - the engine was so sludged i could actually see it through the oil filler hole when i changed her oil! the mechanic didnt say but i think the oil change i did knocked the crud loose (i used no additives or engine cleaners, just oil!)

So they took a day to fix it and cost her like $400, which she was very unhappy about, but it was fair. and even though the mechanic told her my changing the oil just brought on the inevitable, she still naturally blames me since it worked "fine" before so i am giving her half of what she spent. she didn't dump me which a lot of women would do, but now she won't let me work on her car anymore (boo hoo ).

I have a 2002 1FMZE V6 - and i change that oil every 2500.

[TCam01]

yea if it was me i wouldn't have paid a dime if she breaks up with you over that she can go fuck herself you didn't break the car lol but damn i have never heard a sludge story like that lmao like this is the only story ive heard where changing the oil did that much harm lol

[JohnGD]

That's a problem working on a neglected car. The owner may blame you for the best of your intentions. So I guess learn about the common problems before deciding to "help".

I don't think she should associate your oil change with the well known Toyota Sludge problem that takes a longer time to build up. However, I can see why oil change followed by a $400 bill can make her upset for a problem most owners don't understand.

Similarly if someone changed the coolant on the newer 2.4L I4 and then the coolant started seeping out of the head gasket in the rear of the engine because of a cylinder block defect (head bolt thread disintegration). That's like a $5000 bill from the dealer.

2500 miles OCI is good. You can use a larger oil filter if you like. Get the oversized one from Toyota (IIRC, YZZD3 ??) or use one equivalent to Purolator PureOne PL20195, Motorcraft FL400S.

However, some don't seem to like certain OEM filters:
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...zzd3-vs-yzzb5/

Originally Posted by AlmightyCamry777

Have i got a story for you, ...SLUDGE!!!

My friend has a 2001 Toyota Sienna (i know this is Camry forum but i have a Camry and it is the same engine, close enough - ?)with the 1FMZE with 150,000 miles, and she has not maintained it at all. I changed the oil for her and while she drove it home, the engine started smoking like crazy! She freaked, had the car towed, and she had the mechanic talk to me.

He told me the engine oil pressure fluctuated from 60 lb at start up to zero at 3,000 rpm! (He knew about the sludge issue and i think he could tell i knew what he was talking about.)

He said they had to pull the oil pan, clean the sludge, clean the oil pump strainer, and get out all the sludge they could and hopefully the engine would come back to life for a while. He then handed her the phone and i told her she should have them do it because it made sense - the engine was so sludged i could actually see it through the oil filler hole when i changed her oil! the mechanic didnt say but i think the oil change i did knocked the crud loose (i used no additives or engine cleaners, just oil!)

So they took a day to fix it and cost her like $400, which she was very unhappy about, but it was fair. and even though the mechanic told her my changing the oil just brought on the inevitable, she still naturally blames me since it worked "fine" before so i am giving her half of what she spent. she didn't dump me which a lot of women would do, but now she won't let me work on her car anymore (boo hoo ).

I have a 2002 1FMZE V6 - and i change that oil every 2500.

[rusty9]

bet it looks something like this on the inside:

[tacosteelersman]

WOW, these new cars and this synthetic extended OCI BS is for the birds IMO a waste of money.. Change your oil at or near 3000 miles and almost any oil will work.. Go beyond to 5000 or 7000 and almost any oil will burn in your engine and begin to form sludge.. JUST CHANGE YOUR OIL ON TIME(around 3000 miles) NO MATTER WHAT OIL YOU USE and maintain your engine and it'll never sludge on you.. Just my opinion.. Sorry to hear about the Sienna, luckally women are more pleantifull than nice vans LOL..

[JohnGD]

For 1997+ Toyotas 2500-3000 mile with dino oil should be fine. Use a good filter like Purolator PureOne (eg PL14477).

[BamZipPow]

Auto-RX that puppy!!