Oil - This bad or really bad?

[Aussie_Camry]

Hey,

Car : Toyota Camry Vienta (3VZ-FE) -> 100,000miles

Im alittle worried that I might have a sludge problem. After 2000kms (so roughly 1300miles) my oil, after sitting overnight, already looks very dirty, like I can barely see the grooves on the dipstick. Once I drive the car around and then have another look the oil colour looks normal, only because all the stuff has been dispersed I assume. Is this normal for a car with 100,000+ miles on it(I think it was wound back by previous owner, so might be more tbh) or is it a sign of a major sludge problem? I think their must be some sludge or something, the car hasnt been maintained the best, but I always thought that if I had a major problem at least that it should get dirty straight away as it comes into contact with all the sludge in the engine straight away

Im also not sure about what to do, if its relatively minor then should I get a flush... Ive heard these can cause more harm then good in some cases.

Any help appreciated!

[Doctor J]

In order to tell if the engine has a sludge build up, there is necessary to remove the valve covers.
Older oil tends to thickening with lower temperaturestherefore it looks darker (because its film on the dipstick is thicker).

[Aussie_Camry]

^

Hmmm

Well I know about the valve covers, but I dont have much money atm (or is it possible to do this at home for a complete noob?) so just hoping for a educated guess... although I do wanna get them off eventually to make sure. As for the thickening hopefully it is that, but what about my idea that its just dispersing the stuff in the oil? Is this credible or even after the engine running it should still look abit dirty considering its extremely dirty after a long night if it was a sludge problem... because it is normal after I run the engine

[ghettosled]

when you change the oil, there will still be some old oil in the motor that will mix with the new oil. below is a thread about sludge i experienced and the results from pouring some seafoam in the motor.


http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t160021.html

[Aussie_Camry]

^

Hmm yeah I had read that thread previously, some prity bad sludge their m8, although lucky you acted now rather than later

With your sludge... did your oil get dirty straight away after a change as it mixed with the sludge? Or was it similar to mine that it would take around 1500miles or so? Just wanna try and use this as a gauge of how bad my problem is until I can get the valve cover off

[Toysrme]

Well... Oil is a detergent & a solvent. It's suppose to get dirty. The color doesn't indicate much more than how good it's cleaning & how dirty / blow-by is in there. Pop the front & rear valve covers off if you want to see. Note that the front is never in the same league as the rear. The rear is the real test.
Since you're auzzy. Pour a quart (just under a liter) of diesel fuel in the oil supply. Let it do nothing but IDLE for 10 minutes. Drain the oil. Replace the filter, pour another liter of diesel through the oil cap to wash anything in the pan away. When it's done with that, finish changing the oil.
If you do that a couple of times in a reasonable amount of time. That'll get rid of any build-up.


I still wanna see ghettosled's valve covers if he'll seafoam it again.

[ghettosled]

even before tackling my sludge problem, after an oil change it took about 1500 miles for the oil to appear darker or 'dirty'. but after taking things apart, my sludge wasnt like the typical thought of sludge like thick gear oil - it was gritty/chunky.

if youre worried, take a peek and check it out. its easy to do, and if there is a problem, do what toysrme suggested. thats basically what i did, just with seafoam.

i plan on seafoaming it again, but it will probably be in the spring. ill pull the valve cover then to see if there is a change.