Residue on dipstick

I am lookin at buying an '01 Corolla CE+ with the VVTi but when I looked at
the dipstick it had some oil residue (?) on the dipstick that I had to use
my fingernails to scrape off. It smelled and looked pretty clean but at the
very end of the dipstick it was really stuck on there. Is this something to
be concerned about? We already own 3 Corolla's ('93, '95, '97) but none have
this. Is it due to the different engine? Is it from the car sitting for
awhile? Is the engine going or were some oil changes really late?

Also, all of the Corolla's we own had to have the timing belts replaced
around 100k but I've heard that these VVT-i's have a timing chain and that
it isn't likely it has to be replaced. Is this true? Will it ever have to be
replaced, when, and how much $? Also, how much more HP does this engine have
over our other plain 1.6's?

Thanks for any help!

griffin
'93 Corolla DX
'95 Corolla DX
'97 Corolla SD
'85 Jeep CJ7

"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:tp0Zd.665272$8l.309124@pd7tw1no...[color=blue]
>I am lookin at buying an '01 Corolla CE+ with the VVTi but when I looked at
> the dipstick it had some oil residue (?) on the dipstick that I had to use
> my fingernails to scrape off. It smelled and looked pretty clean but at
> the
> very end of the dipstick it was really stuck on there. Is this something
> to
> be concerned about? We already own 3 Corolla's ('93, '95, '97) but none
> have
> this. Is it due to the different engine? Is it from the car sitting for
> awhile? Is the engine going or were some oil changes really late?
>
> Also, all of the Corolla's we own had to have the timing belts replaced
> around 100k but I've heard that these VVT-i's have a timing chain and that
> it isn't likely it has to be replaced. Is this true? Will it ever have to
> be
> replaced, when, and how much $? Also, how much more HP does this engine
> have
> over our other plain 1.6's?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> griffin
> '93 Corolla DX
> '95 Corolla DX
> '97 Corolla SD
> '85 Jeep CJ7
>[/color]
Sludge cause by oil/water/acid and solid contaminants. Car needs an oil
change and perhaps more frequent changes or a switch to a better oil.

Richard.

brown baked on stuff is pretty normal ---sludge is jello, greasy like.

"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:tp0Zd.665272$8l.309124@pd7tw1no...[color=blue]
>I am lookin at buying an '01 Corolla CE+ with the VVTi but when I looked at
> the dipstick it had some oil residue (?) on the dipstick that I had to use
> my fingernails to scrape off. It smelled and looked pretty clean but at
> the
> very end of the dipstick it was really stuck on there. Is this something
> to
> be concerned about? We already own 3 Corolla's ('93, '95, '97) but none
> have
> this. Is it due to the different engine? Is it from the car sitting for
> awhile? Is the engine going or were some oil changes really late?
>
> Also, all of the Corolla's we own had to have the timing belts replaced
> around 100k but I've heard that these VVT-i's have a timing chain and that
> it isn't likely it has to be replaced. Is this true? Will it ever have to
> be
> replaced, when, and how much $? Also, how much more HP does this engine
> have
> over our other plain 1.6's?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> griffin
> '93 Corolla DX
> '95 Corolla DX
> '97 Corolla SD
> '85 Jeep CJ7
>
>[/color]

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 19:22:01 +0000, griffin wrote:
[color=blue]
> I am lookin at buying an '01 Corolla CE+ with the VVTi but when I looked at
> the dipstick it had some oil residue (?) on the dipstick that I had to use
> my fingernails to scrape off. It smelled and looked pretty clean but at the
> very end of the dipstick it was really stuck on there. Is this something to
> be concerned about? We already own 3 Corolla's ('93, '95, '97) but none have
> this. Is it due to the different engine? Is it from the car sitting for
> awhile? Is the engine going or were some oil changes really late?
>
> Also, all of the Corolla's we own had to have the timing belts replaced
> around 100k but I've heard that these VVT-i's have a timing chain and that
> it isn't likely it has to be replaced. Is this true? Will it ever have to be
> replaced, when, and how much $? Also, how much more HP does this engine have
> over our other plain 1.6's?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> griffin
> '93 Corolla DX
> '95 Corolla DX
> '97 Corolla SD
> '85 Jeep CJ7[/color]

Commonly known as 'varnish' which is a residue from carbon-based oils,
fuels, etc. Common, nothing of concern.

"hachiroku" <levin@ae86.gts> wrote in message
news:209Zd.1549$ed6.1264@trndny06...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 19:22:01 +0000, griffin wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I am lookin at buying an '01 Corolla CE+ with the VVTi but when I looked
>> at
>> the dipstick it had some oil residue (?) on the dipstick that I had to
>> use
>> my fingernails to scrape off. It smelled and looked pretty clean but at
>> the
>> very end of the dipstick it was really stuck on there. Is this something
>> to
>> be concerned about? We already own 3 Corolla's ('93, '95, '97) but none
>> have
>> this. Is it due to the different engine? Is it from the car sitting for
>> awhile? Is the engine going or were some oil changes really late?
>>
>> Also, all of the Corolla's we own had to have the timing belts replaced
>> around 100k but I've heard that these VVT-i's have a timing chain and
>> that
>> it isn't likely it has to be replaced. Is this true? Will it ever have to
>> be
>> replaced, when, and how much $? Also, how much more HP does this engine
>> have
>> over our other plain 1.6's?
>>
>> Thanks for any help!
>>
>> griffin
>> '93 Corolla DX
>> '95 Corolla DX
>> '97 Corolla SD
>> '85 Jeep CJ7[/color]
>
> Commonly known as 'varnish' which is a residue from carbon-based oils,
> fuels, etc. Common, nothing of concern.[/color]

Oils and additives with high levels of viscosity index improver have been
implicated in varnish formation. Sometimes causing sticking and cracked
rings! Avoid STP and wide viscosity conventional oils like 10W-40, etc. But
one cannot tell if it is sludge turning into a solid compound or varnish or
a combination of both. Use quality oil of the recommended viscosity and
change it at least once every year or every 15,000 miles and you should be
ok. Better still, use Mobil 1 and change it twice a year. (Just joking about
once a year for conventional oil).

Richard.