2006 Highlander 3.3L 3MZ-FE Heavy Sludge

[Sequoiasoon]

I've found BG to be at least a reputable company with many good products. Maybe some of the products are a solution looking for an issue and not necessary with newer oils etc.

VW dealer mechanic I know said they use the BG EPR to help clean up the oil burners that come in. I think he said it was a TSB.

I've used BG44k for many years and noticed a difference (in my written book for MPG) and also power after MANY uses of Techron that I didn't notice anything. Friend that was BMW mechanic recommended BG SynchroShift II for my Corolla tranny after numerous fluid changes and shops said needed a rebuild to fix grinding (5MT). 20 miles after the BG change grind was gone.

Dads friend that owned a shop and also trained mechanics for ASE tests etc used BG to decarbonize my old Explorer with before and after borescope videos. That was back in late '90s early 2000.

The fuel cleaners section has one member doing tests and I think the BG is the highest rated of his tests for PEA.

On the first couple posts that BG Dynamic video on the Dart was one of the first things I thought of. I hope it stays working well for you.

 

[Shel_B]

Yes and as someone who has driven a 1MZ-FE for nearly 500k now that engine was severely abused. I doubt the oil was changed more than 2-3 times in its sorry prior life.

No additive will clean that up, BG brand or otherwise. And it’s not the oil filter that’s causing the pressure light to come on.

What do you think it might be, then?

 

[KEVINK0000]

OP , good for you staying the course on this one. For myself, glad to say I was wrong about this working well. I did not expect such a thorough result. Please keep up to date as miles roll.

 

[svtrit]

This was a fun thread to read.

The fact you are in SoCal tells me the body on the car has to be in good enough shape to make this worthwhile. A new engine would be worthwhile in a CA car, especially with the gas engine sales ban getting closer and closer to being reality (2030?).

It’s amazing the abuse certain cars can take.

 

[xmanjeff]

id like to see some pics of the oil filter cut open

 

[GSCJR]

What is "the sending unit"?

The oil pressure sender; it's what turns on the oil light on.

 

[Glenda W.]

BG dynamic cleaner with before and after pics. Fail

 

[Bailes1992]

BG dynamic cleaner with before and after pics. Fail

Call me suspicious...

I've seen numerous videos where the BG cleaner is shown to work total miracles and there's also this thread!

I started to get weary of the Royalty Auto Services videos after he posted his video saying how he's lost thousands of dollars after using an oil that was perfectly suitable for a 540i xDrive and the diff get noisy a few miles afterwards.

Also, if you google his shop and look at reviews it's quite eye opening!

I suspect a video has been made just for views. They didn't show the oil being installed and they didn't show any of the 45 minute and 20 minute clean and rinse cycles.

 

[Glenda W.]

Call me suspicious...

I've seen numerous videos where the BG cleaner is shown to work total miracles and there's also this thread!

I started to get weary of the Royalty Auto Services videos after he posted his video saying how he's lost thousands of dollars after using an oil that was perfectly suitable for a 540i xDrive and the diff get noisy a few miles afterwards.

Also, if you google his shop and look at reviews it's quite eye opening!

I suspect a video has been made just for views. They didn't show the oil being installed and they didn't show any of the 45 minute and 20 minute clean and rinse cycles.

Totally possible. Never seen the guy before. Popped up as recommended for me. He also didn’t scrape the heavy sludge like the op.

 

[CapitalTruck]

Yes, that rear cover was a killer. That wire harness was the impediment.
What is "the sending unit"?

Sending unit for gauge/light might be wonkie/clogged.

 

[zyxelenator]

I had to deal with similar, decade ago, back in 2011 to be specific. 1999 Camry with v6 1mz-fe. I think that was my first thread here on bob. If you are curious, I started from AutoRX, tried many oils/filters and chemicals like Kreen(that thing rocks, I have a feeling it will melt you skin off if left long enough, It was reacting to plastic, if I recall correctly). In the end I took off covers and cleaned as much sludge I could mechanically. And if I recall correctly in the end car was using 1qt after 5k miles (started from using 1q every 300 miles). https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/auto-rx-in-3-0l-camry.147252/

 

[RayManPE]

Call me suspicious...

I've seen numerous videos where the BG cleaner is shown to work total miracles and there's also this thread!

I started to get weary of the Royalty Auto Services videos after he posted his video saying how he's lost thousands of dollars after using an oil that was perfectly suitable for a 540i xDrive and the diff get noisy a few miles afterwards.

Also, if you google his shop and look at reviews it's quite eye opening!

I suspect a video has been made just for views. They didn't show the oil being installed and they didn't show any of the 45 minute and 20 minute clean and rinse cycles.

Call me suspicious...

I've seen numerous videos where the BG cleaner is shown to work total miracles and there's also this thread!

I started to get weary of the Royalty Auto Services videos after he posted his video saying how he's lost thousands of dollars after using an oil that was perfectly suitable for a 540i xDrive and the diff get noisy a few miles afterwards.

Also, if you google his shop and look at reviews it's quite eye opening!

I suspect a video has been made just for views. They didn't show the oil being installed and they didn't show any of the 45 minute and 20 minute clean and rinse cycles.

I actually subscribe to Royalty Auto Service on yt ... I was surprised by the BG outcome ... we used transmission fluid then seafoam then scraped & shop vacuumed both banks and dropped the oil pan several times, changed the PVC valve * oil pressure sensor before using the BG ... not sure if that made a difference. If they ran it at 3000 rpm for 45mins then rinsed at 3000 rpm for 20 mins, it should have looked better than that ... Of course, he's in the business so who knows the intent.

 

[Merek]

I would run a few quick changes with M1 0w40 or even a diesel 5w40 with cheap filters. You could use R&P or HPL but I don't know if I'd want to use either of those right now, I feel like they would really knock the crud off too fast but either of those would be great for keeping the engine maintained. I think you're at the point now where you can keep cutting the old filters open and monitor the progress.

I'd say it's a combination of not having the oil serviced on time along with extended changes, and poor quality oil that was used but I'm just using the swag method and is one man's opinion. I'd recommend 500-1k changes then bump to 3k, once all the cleaning is done and use a good quality oil and filter then 5k.

 

[BlakeB]

I've found BG to be at least a reputable company with many good products. Maybe some of the products are a solution looking for an issue and not necessary with newer oils etc.

VW dealer mechanic I know said they use the BG EPR to help clean up the oil burners that come in. I think he said it was a TSB.

I've used BG44k for many years and noticed a difference (in my written book for MPG) and also power after MANY uses of Techron that I didn't notice anything. Friend that was BMW mechanic recommended BG SynchroShift II for my Corolla tranny after numerous fluid changes and shops said needed a rebuild to fix grinding (5MT). 20 miles after the BG change grind was gone.

Dads friend that owned a shop and also trained mechanics for ASE tests etc used BG to decarbonize my old Explorer with before and after borescope videos. That was back in late '90s early 2000.

The fuel cleaners section has one member doing tests and I think the BG is the highest rated of his tests for PEA.

On the first couple posts that BG Dynamic video on the Dart was one of the first things I thought of. I hope it stays working well for you.

https://www.bgaustralia.com.au/news/technical-advice/how-to-clean-engine-oil-sludge

https://www.bgprod.com/catalog/engine/bg-dynamic-engine-cleaner/

 

[RayManPE]

5000 miles & 4 months later ... no problems ... changed the oil a month ago - clean ...

 

[frankbee3]

My buddy drove the Highlander from So. Cal to Las Vegas came back today. ~ 700 miles 70-85 mph ... no oil light.
Seems we're good to go for a while.

Ray man! That is really impressive in my mind! You may have saved that car from the crusher. Lots of effort on your part and shared the results with us on BITOG. I hope that car serves your friend for a long time.

I would like to see how much better it looks in a year or so after driving with maintenance. You may have to continue changing oil filters every 500 miles for a while, but very well done.

 

[RayManPE]

Devastating news about this Highlander. The young lady driving the vehicle indicated that the oil light was on & it made funny noises.
We figured the oil pick pump screen may have been clogged. We drained the oil & removed the oil pan & found oil drenched paper towels suck in the screen. I was sick. Apparently, I left paper towels somewhere in the crevasses/ports going into the engine.
I swear I had it all cleaned out. The SUV ran since October 2024, over 10,000 miles with paper towels in the oil pan suction screen.
Unless it just recently came loose out the ports.
There were bits of metal & sparkling metallic dust in the drained oil. We refilled put the oil pan back on & refilled.
Now there's a significant oil leak coming off the passenger side of the engine, near the timing belt cover.
Didn't take pictures ... devastated.

 

[BlakeB]

Is this the end of the road for it? Or is it worth putting an engine in?

 

[RayManPE]

he wants to sell it to pick-a-part ...