1997 Toyota Avalon - Blue Smoke

[yummy88]

Recently bought a 1997 Toyota Avalon (has the infamous V6 Sludge engine)with 99K miles from an auction. Did an oil change at 99K and another at 104K using quick lube place and conventional 10w30 oil. I also put in a bottle of Progard/Techron every tankful (went through a few cases from Costco).

At about 104K, I notice intermittent puff of blue smoke when I start the car first thing in the morning (happened every other day). A quick check on the net had me worried that my car has sludge and engine is on the way out.

At 108K, I decided to "clean" my engine and used Mobil Clean 7500 (18% greater cleaning power so it says). Car ran fine but I noticed a slight acrid oil burning smell (My mechanic has previously mentioned that I had a slight valve cover leak on the inner valve cover). I assume it must be the Mobil Clean working its way through that valve cover.

After 1K, I changed oil and filter with fresh Mobil Clean 7500/used Toyota Filter. Guess what, the puff of blue smoke went away!! Car now runs very smooth and quiet. But no more blue smoke on start up.

It is either that Mobil Clean somehow cleared away somthing or perhaps the Progard/Techron additive was causing the puff of blue smoke (I am no longer using the Progard/Techron).

Any idea what is happening??

 

[vad]

Check it out.


And

 

[JohnBrowning]

You need to pick up two bottles of Auto-Rx.

 

[Pablo]

Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

SLUDGE. I truly hope it isn't too late.

AutoRx three times. The smoke and current lack is just a teaser.

 

[pmwalter]

Years ago, even before this great website started, I was trying to figure out what the blue smoke was. Everyone in my family who owned a Camry, which was four total, had the blue smoke. It ended up being valve seals. Sludge is a problem with these cars. I would highly suggest AutoRx for them. My cousin and I are both running it now in our 97' & 98" Camry's.

Good Luck!

 

[Bullet]

wouldn't a HDEO be good for cleaing these engines inside?

 

[vad]

RedLine would do wonders, but it's too pricey at $7 qt.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bullet:
wouldn't a HDEO be good for cleaning these engines inside?

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I doubt it. Further, I have yet to see "before and after" pictures of a HDEO cleaning up a sludged engine.

 

[Pablo]

Redline (or any other synthetic), HDEO or even Mobil drive clean will not "clean" a sludged engine.

Use a safe cleaner like AutoRx. I suppose if AutoRx didn't exist you could do a few solvent machine flushes with a couple 2000 mile OCI's with Redline and a couple of HDEO 1000 mile OCI's (and I doubt the engine would be that clean while risking pump screen cloggage) Think about that vs. $25x3 for AutoRx.