MaxLife blend, in and of itself, will not "CAUSE" sludge. I doubt any SL/SM oil in and of itself will cause sludge.
Sludge is the breakdown product of oil that has been over-stressed.
Oil can be over-stressed by contaminants and oxidation, or by being run longer than it was designed(OCI). It will break down into a gel that sticks to your engine parts. As the sludge sticks, there is less good oil to circulate and do its protective job. This coating of gel also stores heat instead of releasing it which stresses the radiator and cooling system, which over-stresses the oil, which causes sludge. Just all around bad.
Maxlife blend is, after all, still basically a conventional oil, a GP II/GP III blend. If the OCI is to long, if the engine runs hot, it will oxidize and will leave deposits behind. If the OCI is to long, it will not hold blow-by contamination in suspension and the result is sludge.
A GP IV oil can be run to long OCI and be stressed.