I am a student who had a 2002 lexus es 300. It ran good until about a week ago. Then the engine went. So now it is basically scrap. I learned about the sludge thing the hard way. I admit I had gone almost 10,000 miles without an oil change. So now I am totally fucked with no vehicle.
I need a car quick. I have been looking at many and recently found a 99 Avalon XLS with 89,000 miles on it for $4700. This is well below book value and I want to jump at it. Then I thought of my sludge problem. I did some research and found the Avalon is known for the same issue. I think they both have the same V6. How worried should I be? Should I stay away from this car? I heard something about opening the valve cover to see if sludge is building. Just how big of a problem is it with these vehicles? What would you guys do? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
It's all about maintenance. If it's had regular oil changes, it should be OK. So if you don't know its history, the best thing to do would be to remove the front valve cover and take a peek. If it's a sludgy mess, pass. The front cover is pretty easy to take off; 15 minutes maybe.
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1992 Camry LE, V6 (3VZ-FE), ABS brakes, 330k miles, dark emerald pearl, owned since new.
1996 Avalon XLS, ABS brakes, moonroof, white, acquired w/ 139k miles, now at 261k.
2001 Yamaha FZ1, Ivan's jet kit, resprung all around, Ohlins in the rear, Race Tech cartridge emulators in the forks, 45k miles.
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It's all about maintenance. If it's had regular oil changes, it should be OK. So if you don't know its history, the best thing to do would be to remove the front valve cover and take a peek. If it's a sludgy mess, pass. The front cover is pretty easy to take off; 15 minutes maybe.
Thank you. I was just looking at a video on how to take a valve cover off. I'm still not sure if I trust myself to do it though. Could I seriously mess anything up? Is it difficult? I am not very mechanically inclined. Maybe I should just pay a mechanic to do it if all it takes is 15 minutes. I should probably have a mechanic look over it anyway, huh? I see you own a similar car. What do you think of it?
And are you basically saying the sludge thing is mainly a maintenance issue? I've heard people who keep up with maintenance and still had their engines go.
Last edited by pet sounds; 12-17-2011 at 05:27 PM.
..my understanding of the sludge issue is that it is mostly a neglect of maintenance, though Toyota did have problems with some of the engines even if the oil was changed regularly. Ironically, some of the sludge issues have come about due to more stringent fuel economy and emissions, which has led to higher engine temps, thinner oil, etc. As for the car you're looking at, it is suggested that a qualified mechanic give it a once over anyway. That may be a good car for the price being asked.
Thank you. I was just looking at a video on how to take a valve cover off. I'm still not sure if I trust myself to do it though. Could I seriously mess anything up? Is it difficult? I am not very mechanically inclined. Maybe I should just pay a mechanic to do it if all it takes is 15 minutes. I should probably have a mechanic look over it anyway, huh? I see you own a similar car. What do you think of it?
Paying a mechanic to do it would be good. If I was the seller, that would be my preference as well. A mechanic would be able to check out other stuff too, possibly giving you some bargaining chits to use to negotiate a better price.
I like my Avalon a lot. It's a good, solid, smooth riding car that's given me very little trouble beyond the expected things like belts, struts, starter, stuff like that.
Quote:
And are you basically saying the sludge thing is mainly a maintenance issue? I've heard people who keep up with maintenance and still had their engines go
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One of the factors is that Toyota, and many other manufacturers have been competing with each other, recommending longer & longer maintenance intervals to try to reduce the "cost of ownership". Pushing oil change intervals out to as much as 12k miles. That's a mistake, IMHO.
__________________
1992 Camry LE, V6 (3VZ-FE), ABS brakes, 330k miles, dark emerald pearl, owned since new.
1996 Avalon XLS, ABS brakes, moonroof, white, acquired w/ 139k miles, now at 261k.
2001 Yamaha FZ1, Ivan's jet kit, resprung all around, Ohlins in the rear, Race Tech cartridge emulators in the forks, 45k miles.
Paying a mechanic to do it would be good. If I was the seller, that would be my preference as well. A mechanic would be able to check out other stuff too, possibly giving you some bargaining chits to use to negotiate a better price.
I like my Avalon a lot. It's a good, solid, smooth riding car that's given me very little trouble beyond the expected things like belts, struts, starter, stuff like that.
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One of the factors is that Toyota, and many other manufacturers have been competing with each other, recommending longer & longer maintenance intervals to try to reduce the "cost of ownership". Pushing oil change intervals out to as much as 12k miles. That's a mistake, IMHO.
You might consider paying a mechanic to look this car over. Usually the inspection fee is minimal and he would also check things like brakes, struts, tie rods, etc. That would probably pay for itself with a better position to negotiate over the price of the car.
Alright guys, I have an appointment with a mechanic this week and am going to test drive this car and have him look it over. I think I will have him pull of the valve cover to look for sludge, along with everything else he feels necessary to get a feel of the car. Is there anything else in particular I should have him look at specific to this model? Also, is it an expensive car to maintain/repair?
It has only 89,000 miles on it and appears to be in good shape. 99 Avalon XLS. The guy/dealer wants 4700 for it. Blue book is around 8,000.
I think that is a good deal but I am worried a lot of this value is tied up in luxury options I don't care about. Like power moon roof, leather seats, heated seats, etc.. Do you guys think this car is worth it? Only 89k miles, I am thinking with good maintenance, outside of some fluke, I should be able to get at least another 100,00 miles out of this car. What do you guys think?
My question would immediately be: Why does he only want 4700 for a car worth 8000? Is it a salvage vehicle?
I ran the VIN through the Government database thing that says if it has been salvaged, and it says there is no history of it having salvaged status or whatever.
At 89k miles, it's about due for a timing belt change. Also, have the mech take a look at the CV boots/axles. Although, if he's worth his fee, he shouldn't need to be told that.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
__________________
1992 Camry LE, V6 (3VZ-FE), ABS brakes, 330k miles, dark emerald pearl, owned since new.
1996 Avalon XLS, ABS brakes, moonroof, white, acquired w/ 139k miles, now at 261k.
2001 Yamaha FZ1, Ivan's jet kit, resprung all around, Ohlins in the rear, Race Tech cartridge emulators in the forks, 45k miles.
Other problems with this generation of Avalons include, struts, power steering pump & rack & pinion leaking, drain holes in doors getting plugged, and the usual wear items (suspension, brakes, etc).
if the engine and tranny are goid, you should get TWO hundred thousand additional miles. but use the correct transmission fluid, not just what some yokel at the local shop says is "equivalent." on the lexus ls400 forum, the guys who really know their stuff insist that they use toyota red type IV fluid ONLY. i don't know if its the same fdor a '99 avvy, but check it out with a dealer, and the owner's manual.
i'd also use full synthetic oil. it last til the cows come home, and it makes for MUCH less strain on the system when starting in cold weather. i forgot to see where you live, so that may not apply to you.
struts, control arms, bushings, ball joints, etc are things that go bad on any car over time. you're not going to find a $4,500 car that's perfect.
use a mechanic you trust, then go with your gut.
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if the engine and tranny are goid, you should get TWO hundred thousand additional miles. but use the correct transmission fluid, not just what some yokel at the local shop says is "equivalent." on the lexus ls400 forum, the guys who really know their stuff insist that they use toyota red type IV fluid ONLY. i don't know if its the same fdor a '99 avvy, but check it out with a dealer, and the owner's manual.
i'd also use full synthetic oil. it last til the cows come home, and it makes for MUCH less strain on the system when starting in cold weather. i forgot to see where you live, so that may not apply to you.
struts, control arms, bushings, ball joints, etc are things that go bad on any car over time. you're not going to find a $4,500 car that's perfect.
use a mechanic you trust, then go with your gut.
Thanks a lot.
And yes, cold is a huge issue. I live in upstate NY near the Canadian border. It doesn't get much colder in the continental US. I will use synthetic oil from now on.
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