sludge

[berge]

looking to buy a 1999-2002 Quest or 1988-2003 Sienna.
The Sienna has the 3L V6 with the engine oil sludge issues. I've searched and asked mechanic friends and received these replies.
-check dipstick for buildup
-check filler cap area for buildup
-start engine cold and look for exhause smoke.
-compression, leak down test.
-if you're really serious, pull valve cover or oil pan off. what is this buildup, exactly? what does it look, feel like?

Assuming there is no maintanance history on the vehicle, what other steps can I take to check for a possible sludge problem?

I'd prefer a Sienna but this possible sludge issue is really pushing me towards the Quest.

thanks.

 

[TC]

On my 3.0L Mitsubishi engine, you get a great representative view of the valvetrain and upper head surface simply by removing the filler cap. My sister's Saab, on the other hand, requires removing the valve cover to do same.

I would think that if you can view the head/valvetrain area by doing this, and find few traces of sludge or varnish, it's not likely they're present in mass elsewhere in the engine. The D&D package in the oil would carry some amount of sludge throughout the engine regardless of its origin area, leaving at least traces along the valvetrain. A thin film of sludge is often seen along the bottom of the sump, but the real "sludger" engines appear to have goo in both the top and bottom ends. If this simple filler cap observation shows little or no sludge/varnish, that would be a good enough for me as a "sludge test."

 

[ekpolk]

The 3.0L V-6 in the 98-03 Sienna has a baffle inside the oil filler area that blocks the view to the top of the head and the valve train hardware. The baffle has a thin black rubbery looking coating (sound absorber) that I've heard confused for a coating of sludge. It's not; you need to look deeper for that (although a friend of mine bought a horribly abused ES-300 in which the sludge had actually accumulated above this baffle

...). If properly cared for, this engine does fine, although examples made before Toyota made anti-sludge changes are vulnerable to sludging, if abused. If you find a Sienna you like, but are uncomfortable, pull (or have pulled for you) the front bank cover and inspect. If it's clean, you're fine, and regular OC will most likely keep you that way, especially if you use synthetic oil. A bad case of sludge looks like a bulk accumulation of greasy dark chocolate cake frosting packed around all the moving parts. Obviously, if you see this, don't buy the car. . .

 

[berge]

thanks for the replies.
the siennas in my price range were not in good condition. there seems to be a mythical status around toyotas that's convinced the majority of the public that they will never need to be repaired for anything no matter what. hence, astronomical asking prices, which the dealers are getting BTW.
I picked up a 1999 nissan quest with 105 thousand miles (170000kilometres) for a very fair price. It's a GLE with lots of toys, drives very well for a van and seems to be in good shape. I liked the fact that it was a 99 with high miles which means
a-the odometer has not been rolled back
b-the miles are highway, which I regard as a huge positive in a used vehicle
c-I looked through the oil fill hole and saw the same condition valvetrain as my 94 accord which has had proper maintanance and autorx.

 

[berge]

BTW, I looked at alot of siennas and quite a few of them smoked at cold start up. the finger around the fill hole test always brough up black crud, just different amounts.
none of the other brands I looked at had that crud.

these siennas must REALLY be hard on the oil.

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by berge:

I picked up a 1999 nissan quest with 105 thousand miles (170000kilometres) for a very fair price. It's a GLE with lots of toys, drives very well for a van and seems to be in good shape. I liked the fact that it was a 99 with high miles which means
a-the odometer has not been rolled back
b-the miles are highway, which I regard as a huge positive in a used vehicle

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People think I'm crazy but I share your views here! I'm currently looking for a 97 or 98 Corvette that has over 150,000km on it, because the high mileage ones go for under $27,000 while the low mileage ones go for over $30,000. And I would much rather own a car that's seen tons of highway mileage compared to one that has been mostly in the city.

 

[berge]

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
People think I'm crazy but I share your views here!

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yup. all my buddies think I'm nuts as well.