Oil Sludge - Should I NOT buy a Camry

[nbender]

Forgive the X-post but this is also relevant to this generation as well

Hey all,

I have a 92 Camry - it's been awesome 240 000 km on it now. Was going to definitely buy a 1997-2002 used Camry until I read about the oil sludge issue. We have publication here in Canada called 'Lemonaid Car Guide'. It absolutely bashes the Camry from '97 on and really drags out the 'oil sludge' issue. I do NOT see these sentiments in any other car/toyota review site.

I am leaning towards a Honda Accord simply because of this potential issue with a used Camry.

Any thoughts/insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[JSM1284]

Buy a Camry, You will regret buying an Accord.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by nbender

Forgive the X-post but this is also relevant to this generation as well

Hey all,

I have a 92 Camry - it's been awesome 240 000 km on it now. Was going to definitely buy a 1997-2002 used Camry until I read about the oil sludge issue. We have publication here in Canada called 'Lemonaid Car Guide'. It absolutely bashes the Camry from '97 on and really drags out the 'oil sludge' issue. I do NOT see these sentiments in any other car/toyota review site.

I am leaning towards a Honda Accord simply because of this potential issue with a used Camry.

Any thoughts/insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks

If you don't change your oil when you're supposed to with the approved oil, you will get sludge.

Lack of maintenance will cause problems in any car.

You can go away now...

[Venom_5]

this is also posted in the Gen 3 & 4 section .....

[streetxdreamer]

my parents have an 01

havent seen a problem with it yet, the car has 80k on it now

[TRD VVTi]

:ihatespam:spamo:

[marc780]

I have a 92 Camry - it's been awesome 240 000 km on it now. Was going to definitely buy a 1997-2002 used Camry until I read about the oil sludge issue.

What trud said, it depends whether the person took care of the car or not. The Camry engines have some unique design considerations involving the PCV system and also, at the time these cars were sold - Toyota recommended an oil change interval that was way too long, like over 7000 miles or something ridiculous.

I had bought TWO Toyotas, a 01 solara and my 02 Camry, both with V6 and did not know anything about this sludging problem at the time. But i have had no problems with either of them so i assume the previous owners just changed the oil. Both these cars are fantastic and wouldnt trade either of em for anything except maybe a Lexus, but like you, if i had known about the sludging issue, it might have made me think twice.

The upshot is, i wouldnt let this issue prevent me from buying a camry again. although i think if i did buy another one, from a dealer, i might make him pull a valve cover so i could look or allow him to let me do it so i could make sure this engine is not sludged up. But i am just anal sometimes.

If you know the cars history, or even if you dont and it runs well - chances are if you buy a camry of this gen you will be fine. At WORST you might just have to buy something like Auto-rx and let it desludge but lust like TuRD said i believe this engine is just like any other engine, if the oil aint changed, it is going to mess it up.

Go ahead and buy a camry. Your chances of a sludging problem are very slight.

[MargesLimo]

In my 08 Camry it says to change it every 5k or 6 months.

Certain Toyota engines did have a problem a while back with sludge, but it has been corrected. I usually change mine a little closer to 3500 anyway. You also shouldn't have this problem if you use synthetic oil.

[JAKSTER]

My moron brother had a Tundra 01 and did not change the oil for get this 100.000 miles thats right 100K may dad and I found sludge but flushed the motor with AMSOIL Motor Flush and Put in AMSOIL Syntyh and after 66.000 more miles the engine is fine and I found no sludge. Oh we did change the oil about every 7500 miles after the flush.

[maxspeed]

the 99-03 accords / TLs are big time transmission issues....

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by JAKSTER

My moron brother had a Tundra 01 and did not change the oil for get this 100.000 miles thats right 100K may dad and I found sludge but flushed the motor with AMSOIL Motor Flush and Put in AMSOIL Syntyh and after 66.000 more miles the engine is fine and I found no sludge. Oh we did change the oil about every 7500 miles after the flush.

100,000 miles without an oil change? Maybe. If it was towed behind a motorhome...

At least you got another plug in for Amsoil.

[JAKSTER]

Just a guess but I think the problem is onlyi n cold climates. The oil vapor may condense in the cold weather and along with some moisture it causes the sludge. The Tundra I talked about had a cake of goo on the oil fill cap. No way to see the inside but the motor flush must have removed allot of it. The truck runs like a new truck so it was no big issue or it would have killked this V6 which spent most of its life off the highway and up the side of a hill in Colorado.

[toyomoho]

This sludge issue was completely over blown, Toyota made millions of engines and only a small percentage had sludge. Unfortunately Toyota failed to address and acknowledge owners concerns of sludge in a timely manor. Sludge issues are not limited to the Toyota brand.

If you are worried about buying a sludge engine car check the maintenance records to see if the oil was changed regularly. If still concerned do pull off one valve cover and inspect for sludge.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

This sludge issue was completely over blown, Toyota made millions of engines and only a small percentage had sludge. Unfortunately Toyota failed to address and acknowledge owners concerns of sludge in a timely manor. Sludge issues are not limited to the Toyota brand.

If you are worried about buying a sludge engine car check the maintenance records to see if the oil was changed regularly. If still concerned do pull off one valve cover and inspect for sludge.

Very true and sound advice.

Many other manufacturers have sludge problems with their vehicles also.

I have yet to EVER see a sludged/gelled engine that the proper maintenance was performed on.

EDIT: It's really not a manufacturer defect problem. It's defective people that don't maintain their vehicles problem.