Here is more information on sludge.Including Saab.
Oil Sludge: The Silent Killer
Interesting video.
http://cbs11tv.com/investigators/oil.sludge.engine.2.497439.html
Oil Sludge: The Silent Killer
by Bennett Cunningham
(CBS 11 News) It's a silent killer and left unchecked, it will destroy your engine.
Oil sludge is as nasty as it sounds. What causes it and who's at fault is up for debate. North Texan Michelle Nickleberry remembers how she found out. "The engine was making a horrible noise, it sounded like clank - clank - clank - it was very loud." Then she brought it to the shop and that's when they told her, "there was sludge in the engine."
Sludge occurs when engine passages become clogged with oil resulting in a catastrophic engine failure. At that point, engine replacement is the only option.
Audi replaced Michelle's engine for free but she says she was still curious about the "sludge". "When I found out they were replacing the engine, I went on the internet and did some researching on my own and that is when I found out there are hundreds of people across the U.S. who are having this same issue."
Michelle's intuition was correct. Since 2004, the Center for Auto Safety, a consumer advocacy group, logged more than 1000 oil sludge complaints from consumers.
In the last few years, Volkswagen, which owns Audi, extended its engine warranty to eight years on certain model year Audi A4 and VW Passats. Toyota, Lexus (owned by Toyota), and Saab also extended their engine warranties to eight years on some of their vehicles. Daimler-Chrysler is treating problems on a case by case basis.
Some auto companies point out that the number of engines affected by sludge is incredibly small compared to the number of engines on the market.
Dallas mechanic Todd Davis says he's had a few cars in his shop with sludge problems. "Once you take that valve cover off, open the engine its nasty - looks like a sewer." Davis says he sees it more and more on high performance engines.
Car manufacturers deny sludge is an engine design problem. Some say it's the motorists fault by failing to regularly change their engine oil. But motorists are fighting back, several class action lawsuits were filed against Volkswagen. Toyota settled a lawsuit on certain model year cars, including the Toyota Camry.
There are no absolute indicators of oil sludge. You have to open up the engine to see it. Here's how to prevent it:
* Change oil at regular intervals [follow car owners manual]
* Take serious any Engine stall or oil lamp indicator-have car inspected
* Keep all receipts for oil changes
Some car manufacturers will replace your engine for free, but you must have all of your receipts proving that you changed your engine oil at regular intervals.
Toyota/Lexus
http://www.oilgelsettlement.com
* Toyota Camry 4 cyl. 1997-2001
* Toyota Camry 6 cyl. 1997-2002
* Toyota Solara 4 cyl. 1999-2001
* Toyota Solara 6 cyl. 1999-2002
* Toyota Sienna 6 cyl. 1998-2002
* Toyota Avalon 6 cyl. 1997-2002
* Toyota Celica 4 cyl. 1997-1999
* Toyota Highlander 6 cyl. 2001-2002
* Lexus ES300 1997-2002
* Lexus RX300 1999-2002
Policy: Toyota/Lexus will cover Engine repairs and incidental damages due to engine oil gel for eight [8] years from the date of first sale or lease of the vehicle with no mileage limitation, so long as the customer has made reasonable efforts to maintain the vehicle. If the customer has a problem, Toyota will either repair or reimburse the cost of the repair of the vehicle and pay or reimburse reasonable incidental expenses.
Saab
* Saab 9-3 2000-2003
* Saab 9-5 1998-2003
Policy: 8 Year Extended Warranty on Engine and No mileage restriction.
Daimler-Chrysler
* Chrysler Concorde 1998-2002
* Chrysler Sebring 1998-2002
* Dodge Stratus 1998-2002
* Dodge Intrepid 1998-2002
Policy: Any vehicle's engine can be the victim of 'oil sludge' if the appropriate oil change schedules are not followed. We at Chrysler Group have not witnessed wide-spread issues with the condition but will review claims on a case-by-case basis for our customers. Chrysler Group customers who think they have such issues should contact the company directly at 1-800-992-1997 to ensure the claim is researched appropriately.
Volkswagen
* Passat 1.8L Turbo 1998-2004
* Passat 1.8L Turbo/Wagon 1998-2004
Policy: 8 Year Extended Warranty on Engine and No mileage restriction.
Audi
* Audi A4 1.8L Turbo 1998-2004
Policy: 8 Year Extended Warranty on Engine and No mileage restriction.
Richone
Veteran Member
Posts: 59
Date: Thu Jan 31 15:27:02 2008
