Wikipedia: Sludge prone engine list:

[outrun]

"Numerous late-model piston engines from many manufacturers have suffered from failures due to oil sludge contamination. These problems happen when fine engine oil passages become clogged with sludge, and often result in catastrophic failure of the engine. 3.3 million Toyota engines were affected, as were 430,000 from Saab, 426,000 from Volkswagen, and an unknown number from Chrysler. Fixes include changing to synthetic oil, inspection, and even engine replacement.

Engines affected with oil sludge problems:

* 1998-2002 Chrysler 2.7 L LH V6
o 1998-2002 Dodge Stratus/Chrysler Sebring
o 1998-2002 Dodge Intrepid/Chrysler Concorde
* 1998-2003 Saab H engine B204/B234 I4
o 1998-2003 Saab 9-5 B234 2.3 L
o 1999 Saab Viggen B234 2.3 L
o 2000-2002 Saab 9-3 B204 2.0 L
o 2000-2003 Saab 9-3 convertible B204 2.0 L
* 1996-2001 Toyota 3.0 L 1MZ V6
o August 1996-July 2001 Toyota Camry
o June 1998-May 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
o July 1997-May 2001 Toyota Sienna
o July 1996-May 2001 Toyota Avalon
o November 2000-July 2001 Toyota Highlander
o August 1998-July 2001 Lexus ES300
o January 1998-July 2001 Lexus RX300
* 1996-2001 Toyota 5SFE I4
o August 1996-July 2001 Toyota Camry
o June 1998-May 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
o August 1996-April 1999 Toyota Celica
* 1997-2004 Volkswagen VW 1.8t I4
o 1997-2004 Audi A4 1.8t
o 1998-2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.8t"

 

[BrianWC]

The Saab engine types are a little off.

 

[PandaBear]

Interesting, I thought 96-99 Celica uses the same engine as the Corolla 1.8L (7AFE) that is not prone to sludge

Seems like all Toyota Engine above 1.6/1.8L class are prone to sludge (anything bigger than a corolla).

 

[needsducktape]

Hmm interesting find...

I've always wanted BITOG to post a sticky thread of all the sludger engines.
I wonder if there are any new engines to add?

 

[CBR.worm]

I like how some of the Toyotas were listed more than once. And they included not only the 3.0 V6 in general, but also listed each car that engine was in. It's like triple jeopardy.

From looking at that list, you wonder what happened in the late 90's to make everything sludge-prone.

 

[CBR.worm]

Of couse I guess the same could be said of VW/Audi 1.8T They could just say longitudinally mounted VAG 1.8T from year x to x.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

I just checked. The RX300 here was made 7/2001. I only see synthetic oil in the future...

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: MONKEYMAN
I just checked. The RX300 here was made 7/2001. I only see synthetic oil in the future...

I have seen people get good life from any 1MZ engine by just changing the regular stuff at 3,000 miles or 3 months every time.

 

[dparm]

Guys, if you see errors, correct it! That's what Wikipedia is all about!

 

[Schmoe]

Surprised to see Lexus on here, but they are Toyota's.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: MONKEYMAN
I just checked. The RX300 here was made 7/2001. I only see synthetic oil in the future...


I dont totally trust the 3.3L 3MZ-FE either.

 

[occupant]

I see 2.7L Chryslers, but not the 4.7L from the Durango. Edit time?

 

[dparm]

Add to the discussion page and explain why you made a change, or you risk having it reverted.

 

[rslifkin]

The 4.7 isn't really a sludger, unless you let the PCV fail or clog and do nothing about it. If the oil is changed at reasonable intervals and the PCV, etc, is maintained, outside of maybe a few in super-short-trip use, they stay pretty clean.

 

[Vikas]

I did not know Camry 1996-2001 4-cyl were sludgers :-( I thought only 6-cyl qualified for this dubious honor.

- Vikas

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: MONKEYMAN
I just checked. The RX300 here was made 7/2001. I only see synthetic oil in the future...

I have seen people get good life from any 1MZ engine by just changing the regular stuff at 3,000 miles or 3 months every time.


When I started using the Pennzoil Platinum in the RX300 the owner went 5,000 miles and over a year on Pennzoil 5w30 (yellow bottle). Now it gets yearly oil changes with PP. Mileage is around 3,000 miles yearly. No way am I going to do the 3 month oil change.

 

[morris]

one time i found that on my, not so stock, dodge 360, had moisture on the oil full cap. then when doing a tune up i changed the pcv valve. latter when changing oil again the moisture was gone. makes me think that there are more than one thing that causes sludge. what think?

 

[38sho]

how about 6 cylinder BMW's, I've seen a few stories about those on here, and almost all of them have cruddy oil fill caps when I do oil changes on them......


the 3.4L toyota engine is another, sorry I don't remeber the designation right now, but it was used in lighty duty trucks and the older 4 runners before the 4.0 was phased in, I've even seen a 1st gen Tundra with a 3.4

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 38sho
how about 6 cylinder BMW's, I've seen a few stories about those on here, and almost all of them have cruddy oil fill caps when I do oil changes on them......


the 3.4L toyota engine is another, sorry I don't remeber the designation right now, but it was used in lighty duty trucks and the older 4 runners before the 4.0 was phased in, I've even seen a 1st gen Tundra with a 3.4


That's called using the wrong oil. I have a whole thread on it in the euro section.

 

[VNTS]

Yes, many on the JU board with 200K +, no sludge issues. Only ones you hear about are idiots who never change the oil.

Originally Posted By: rslifkin
The 4.7 isn't really a sludger, unless you let the PCV fail or clog and do nothing about it. If the oil is changed at reasonable intervals and the PCV, etc, is maintained, outside of maybe a few in super-short-trip use, they stay pretty clean.