Interesting Article on Engine Oil Sludge

[ZiTS]

I just came across this on my local news station website. Me thinks it has a lot more to do with driving habits/styles, but I just thought you guys would find it interesting to pick apart.

http://www.wdtn.com/images/auto/frameset/Dont-Waste.htm


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[ZiTS]

Sorry - I forgot to mention you need to scroll down and click on the article "Engine Oil Sludge". It's under RECENT TOP SEARCHES.


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[steveh]

common problem with toyota,vw,and the chrysler 2.7 engine. try looking on the web site www.dontbyone.com

 

[steveh]

try www.dontbuyone.org

 

[Jay]

The WTDN article was a poor one--as you might expect from a layman reporter. It makes the assumption that all newer engines have sludging problems, and then recommends 3000 to 5000 mile changes for all of them.

 

[brianl703]

Ford changed their intervals from 7500 to 5000 in the early 90s.

Being proactive, perhaps?

 

[ZiTS]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jay:
The WTDN article was a poor one--as you might expect from a layman reporter. It makes the assumption that all newer engines have sludging problems, and then recommends 3000 to 5000 mile changes for all of them.

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However, he isn't a "layman reporter" just for WDTN - he is a veteran 2-time Emmy Award winning reporter whose column appears in at least seven major cities across the country.

The impression I got from reading the article is that there are a large number of mechanics who do not believe in extended drain intervals. You (collectively) and I may know about the problem with VW & Toyota sludging problems, but any one of the remaining 95% of the population that reads this article will simply have the "3,000 mile OCI" legacy solidified that much more.

Though I don't think the article was poorly written, I do think it should have gone a little more in depth into the causes of the sludging problems (i.e., Toyota's engines). It doesn't account for driving habits, type of oil/filter used, etc. It simply scratched the surface of a bunch of underlying problems.

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[1sttruck]

As I recall Toyota changed their interval from 7500 to 5000 miles, as a result of their sludging issues.

 

[TR3-2001SE]

If it is true about the milky choclate shake looking stuff under the oil filler, this is a worth while article. Anyone know if this mechanic is right on or not.