How to determine if I have sludge in Camry
- Thread starter pmwalter
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Well you could do two things (one better then the other).
1) twist the oil fill cap off and look inside. Does it look like sludge all over?
2) Do an oil test and look at some areas (OXID, Nitration Levels, Viscosity). Based on all the info I have collected in 2 years the odd of you haveing a sludge engine are very very slim. There are like 3 million engines and only 3,500 cars needed replacments.
Also I would also replace the PCV about every 40K miles on these engines. I have been doing 12K+ drains on my 98 Lexus ES and no sludge to date; based on oil tests. Should have another test this fall with abou 11 to 13K miles.
1) twist the oil fill cap off and look inside. Does it look like sludge all over?
2) Do an oil test and look at some areas (OXID, Nitration Levels, Viscosity). Based on all the info I have collected in 2 years the odd of you haveing a sludge engine are very very slim. There are like 3 million engines and only 3,500 cars needed replacments.
Also I would also replace the PCV about every 40K miles on these engines. I have been doing 12K+ drains on my 98 Lexus ES and no sludge to date; based on oil tests. Should have another test this fall with abou 11 to 13K miles.
I tend to think with your schedule if you used a good oil your engine probably isn't massively sludged.....so you can relax !!
The only real way to see the cholesterol build up would be to open the patient up. I agree that UOA's can give a real indication, but maybe you could have a false positive.
I would get a couple bottles of AutoRx and run the double clean. Then you could sleep really well.
The only real way to see the cholesterol build up would be to open the patient up. I agree that UOA's can give a real indication, but maybe you could have a false positive.
I would get a couple bottles of AutoRx and run the double clean. Then you could sleep really well.
Remove the valve cover and look.
Exactly what I was thinking!
With that kind of oil change scheduale, I'd say you have shiny bright metal under your valve cover. I wouldn't even remove it or worry about it!
"Consumer Reports" last month has an article about sludge-prone engines. They recommend using synthetic oil. Alternately, they recommend conventional oil on the "severe service" schedule and save all your receipts in case of a sludge damage claim.
I'd do the Auto-Rx cleaning, then run synthetic oil on 1-year oil change intervals for your driving situation.
Ken
I'd do the Auto-Rx cleaning, then run synthetic oil on 1-year oil change intervals for your driving situation.
Ken
Just don't LOOK under the oil fill cap, there is a splash baffle with a rough textured finish that has caused many, many, many false sludge reports.
Dino on 5k intervals is what Toyota now recommends (vs 7500 OCI) and it has worked for me. Hit 175k on the way to work this morning (97 v6 camry).
The i4 is much less prone to sludging than the v6 anyway.
Drive on!
Dino on 5k intervals is what Toyota now recommends (vs 7500 OCI) and it has worked for me. Hit 175k on the way to work this morning (97 v6 camry).
The i4 is much less prone to sludging than the v6 anyway.
Drive on!
The cap looked good to me. I was mainly concerned about a burnt brown color an inch down the oil fill hole. It's been there for years and has never caused me worry until I read about the Toyota sludge engines. I have also owned a Camry with the blue smoke issue which was blamed on sludge by Toyota. My sister and cousin both had Camry's which did the same thing. Toyota sent us all a letter blamaing our OCI's. They (in a very accusatory manner) said that our neglegence was at fault for this issue.
The cap, dipstick, and oil look good. As you can tell by my OCI's, I tend to change oil like a hobby rather than a necessity. Oh well, at least I know there are others like me.
The cap, dipstick, and oil look good. As you can tell by my OCI's, I tend to change oil like a hobby rather than a necessity. Oh well, at least I know there are others like me.
What you saw under the oil fill cap was the splash baffle i mentioned. It has a rough texture for some odd reason. I've even heard of supposedly experienced mechanics (altho not toyota) mistaking this for sludge.
The blue smoke (at startup) is valve stem seal leakage, much more common than sludge and fairly common on overhead cam engines made by anyone. As long as it doesn't get so bad as to cause plug fouling and you keep your oil filled within the proper range, you'll be fine.
btw, On Toyotas the range between "Full" and "Add" is 1 qt.
Moving to 10w40 slowed mine down a lot in my 93 i4 camry, you could also try some of the "high mileage" oils with seal conditioners, many have had good results with them.
The blue smoke (at startup) is valve stem seal leakage, much more common than sludge and fairly common on overhead cam engines made by anyone. As long as it doesn't get so bad as to cause plug fouling and you keep your oil filled within the proper range, you'll be fine.
btw, On Toyotas the range between "Full" and "Add" is 1 qt.
Moving to 10w40 slowed mine down a lot in my 93 i4 camry, you could also try some of the "high mileage" oils with seal conditioners, many have had good results with them.
Actually, Camry of model years 97, 98, 99, 00 has this really weird problem of getting sludged up very soon. Toyota actually made a recall on it. The way they described it was if you see excessive blue/white smoke from your tail, engine is quite sludged up. take a look at this. http://yotarepair.com/Sludge_Zone.html this is the wab site hooked me up on synthetics as I baby my Camry alhough it not the best car around.
I have also owned a Camry with the blue smoke issue which was blamed on sludge by Toyota. My sister and cousin both had Camry's which did the same thing. Toyota sent us all a letter blamaing our OCI's. They (in a very accusatory manner) said that our neglegence was at fault for this issue. They must have it in for your family
Not really but had you read this site back then you may have avoided the blame game.Toyota needs to be accountable for their mistaks too.
I was not comparing camry to camry. BTW your's don't stand a chance when it comes to my camry. '99, 170K, rides like a brand new.quote:
Originally posted by kenw:
my Camry IS the best car around, sorry about yours...
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