Uh-Oh. Toyota 2.2 L Sludge engine (Ray/qslim/MDT...)

My Solara has the 2.2l engine. Toyota has offered to cover the engine 8
years from date of original purchase.

Now, i didn't notice any problems, and the oil looked nice and clean
(changed, obviously). If I had known there was a possibility for sludge I
would have checked more thouroughly.

It only has 38K on it, but I have heard of engines sludging before that.
It *looks* like it was taken caree of.

Couple questions: What's a quick way of looking for sludge (I didn't even
pull the oil filler cap...)

Does Toyota warranty this for the second owner? (the car was purchased
from Toyota Motor Credit, so it's a Repo or a lease)

What oil will help keep from sludging? I have used a mix of 3/4 Castrol
GTX with 1/4 Marvel Mystery oil and have gotten high mileage using this
combination. Would synthetic help to keep the engine from skudging?

If sludging has started, is there a quick, easy way to loosen and remove
it before it gets bad?

Thanks!

--
A young girl I know told me I drive like an old man

I told her, actually, I drive like Mario Andretti.
It's just that too many other people on the road
drive like Paul Tracy...

I wouldn't worry about it too much, for every sludged 5SFE we see about 20
1MZs. There really isn't a quick way to look in the valve train besides
lifting the valve cover. Should be a 32mm nut around each sparkplug tube
securing the valvecover to the head.

On Tue, 07 Feb 2006 08:08:11 -0500, "qslim" <Suckers@suckersdotcom>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>I wouldn't worry about it too much, for every sludged 5SFE we see about 20
>1MZs. There really isn't a quick way to look in the valve train besides
>lifting the valve cover. Should be a 32mm nut around each sparkplug tube
>securing the valvecover to the head.[/color]


Have 'any' of the sludged 1MZ's had the recommended oil changes?

--

Scott in Florida

"Scott in Florida" <JustAsk@Florida.com> wrote in message
news:b57hu1hatvrdpn5aqtda5ot8d072fts0ke@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Tue, 07 Feb 2006 08:08:11 -0500, "qslim" <Suckers@suckersdotcom>
> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>I wouldn't worry about it too much, for every sludged 5SFE we see about 20
>>1MZs. There really isn't a quick way to look in the valve train besides
>>lifting the valve cover. Should be a 32mm nut around each sparkplug tube
>>securing the valvecover to the head.[/color]
>
>
> Have 'any' of the sludged 1MZ's had the recommended oil changes?
>
> --
>
> Scott in Florida[/color]

Good question.

I'm not overly fanatical about changing my oil every three. I generally do;
but 3.5 or 4 is also common for me. Once in a while 5K slips through, but
not very often at all.

As far as the Castrol/Marvel, I have been doing this for a LONG time, and
have not had ANY oil-related problems with any of my cars. They have all
been high-mileage using this combination. The bodies wear out before the
engine shows wear!

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
[color=blue]
>[/color]
SNIP[color=blue]
>
>If you have the 4 cylinder engine, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over
>sludge and just take care of your new ride![/color]

Good advice I'd say...and I'd also say that a poster like this is
one that we hardly ever see...IMO any advice from Ray we can
pretty well take to the bank.

You're a real asset to these groups Ray...
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
news:1vfhu1p08retu7nje6uc4fbbnqrtbdmv4b@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>[/color]
> SNIP[color=green]
>>
>>If you have the 4 cylinder engine, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over
>>sludge and just take care of your new ride![/color]
>
> Good advice I'd say...and I'd also say that a poster like this is
> one that we hardly ever see...IMO any advice from Ray we can
> pretty well take to the bank.
>
> You're a real asset to these groups Ray...
> --
>
> -Gord.
> (use gordon in email)[/color]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'm not always right, like I missed the
leaking T-chain tensioners on Corollas, but I do try to give good advice.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
news:1vfhu1p08retu7nje6uc4fbbnqrtbdmv4b@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>[/color]
> SNIP[color=green]
>>
>>If you have the 4 cylinder engine, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over
>>sludge and just take care of your new ride![/color]
>
> Good advice I'd say...and I'd also say that a poster like this is
> one that we hardly ever see...IMO any advice from Ray we can
> pretty well take to the bank.
>
> You're a real asset to these groups Ray...[/color]

Yeah! Me also!

The thing was started when I went looking for info on my 'new' car; of
course, I didn't look at the hood sticker (I did look to make sure it wasn't
a crasher...how bad can a Toy with 38K be?!?!)

I ran across a site that said Toyota has extended the warranty on the 3.0L
V-6 and the 5FSE 2.2L 4 to cover sludge in the engine for 8 years from date
of purchase. Now, i had never heard of a sludge problem with a four
cylinder!
[color=blue]
> --
>
> -Gord.
> (use gordon in email)[/color]

Well, one point that bring up (and often get jumped on for by these nut
dicks out there) is that I nor the dealer I work for (a major dealership
in the D.C. area) have seen a documented case of any vehicle with a
service history of consistent 7500 mile service intervals or less that has
oil gel accumulation.

qslim wrote:[color=blue]
> I wouldn't worry about it too much, for every sludged 5SFE we see about 20
> 1MZs. There really isn't a quick way to look in the valve train besides
> lifting the valve cover. Should be a 32mm nut around each sparkplug tube
> securing the valvecover to the head.[/color]

30mm, qslim.

BTW, long time, no contribute! (on my part)

Toyota MDT in MO

The Maintenance Guide that came with my 2006 J-Vin
silver Camry says to change the oil and filter every
5,000 miles or 6 months.

Is 5,000 miles really a good idea?

"Built_Well" <bw@bbbb.com> wrote in message
news:x_CdnSZ_6crasXTeRVn-rA@sysmatrix.net...[color=blue]
> The Maintenance Guide that came with my 2006 J-Vin
> silver Camry says to change the oil and filter every
> 5,000 miles or 6 months.
>
> Is 5,000 miles really a good idea?[/color]

The maintenance guide for a particular model is not VIN-specific. In other
words, it will be the same whether the vehicle's final assembly plant is in
Japan or in North America.

Note that there are different oil change intervals for "normal" and "severe"
operating conditions. It is a good idea to follow the correct schedule for
the type of driving conditions you encounter.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Tue, 07 Feb 2006 14:28:40 -0800, Comboverfish wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> qslim wrote:[color=green]
>> I wouldn't worry about it too much, for every sludged 5SFE we see about 20
>> 1MZs. There really isn't a quick way to look in the valve train besides
>> lifting the valve cover. Should be a 32mm nut around each sparkplug tube
>> securing the valvecover to the head.[/color]
>
> 30mm, qslim.
>
> BTW, long time, no contribute! (on my part)
>
> Toyota MDT in MO[/color]

Yeah, we know!

Nice to see you again!

--
A young girl I know told me I drive like an old man

I told her, actually, I drive like Mario Andretti.
It's just that too many other people on the road
drive like Paul Tracy...

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
>news:1vfhu1p08retu7nje6uc4fbbnqrtbdmv4b@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>[/color]
>> SNIP[color=darkred]
>>>
>>>If you have the 4 cylinder engine, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over
>>>sludge and just take care of your new ride![/color]
>>
>> Good advice I'd say...and I'd also say that a poster like this is
>> one that we hardly ever see...IMO any advice from Ray we can
>> pretty well take to the bank.
>>
>> You're a real asset to these groups Ray...
>> --
>>
>> -Gord.
>> (use gordon in email)[/color]
>
>Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'm not always right, like I missed the
>leaking T-chain tensioners on Corollas, but I do try to give good advice.[/color]

And what's even better you temper your answers with 'I think' and
'IMO' when you're not certain...this attribute alone gives you
great credibility, something we all should strive for, (IMO) :)
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

Gord Beaman wrote:[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
> SNIP[color=green]
>>
>> If you have the 4 cylinder engine, I wouldn't lose too much sleep
>> over sludge and just take care of your new ride![/color]
>
> Good advice I'd say...and I'd also say that a poster like this is
> one that we hardly ever see...IMO any advice from Ray we can
> pretty well take to the bank.
>
> You're a real asset to these groups Ray...[/color]

I'd like to agree with Gord, thanks Ray, from an Avalon Grande owner in
Australia.
Regards,
Jacko:)

"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
news:kseiu1192o2e59ns5pkdrobgdn2oqfibug@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
>>news:1vfhu1p08retu7nje6uc4fbbnqrtbdmv4b@4ax.com...[color=darkred]
>>> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>> SNIP
>>>>
>>>>If you have the 4 cylinder engine, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over
>>>>sludge and just take care of your new ride!
>>>
>>> Good advice I'd say...and I'd also say that a poster like this is
>>> one that we hardly ever see...IMO any advice from Ray we can
>>> pretty well take to the bank.
>>>
>>> You're a real asset to these groups Ray...
>>> --
>>>
>>> -Gord.
>>> (use gordon in email)[/color]
>>
>>Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'm not always right, like I missed
>>the
>>leaking T-chain tensioners on Corollas, but I do try to give good advice.[/color]
>
> And what's even better you temper your answers with 'I think' anYou d
> 'IMO' when you're not certain...this attribute alone gives you
> great credibility, something we all should strive for, (IMO) :)
> --
>
> -Gord.
> (use gordon in email)[/color]

You guys are gonna make my head swell! I'll try not to let you down!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)