Toyota 4-runner - V6 - 2000 model year - SLUDGE!

[kenny1773]

Can anyone attempt to help out a friend of mine that sludged his 2000 Toyota 4-Runner engine?

He was under some strange impression that Mobil I synthetic was still rated for 25,000 mile OCI's

and/or

He trusted a local shop to change his oil with Mobil I that he provided (I think they kept the mobil I for themselves and put bulk dino oil in his 4-Runner - no he didn't watch them)


Either way, he has 100k miles on it now and their appears to be sludge in the oil fill hole area (enough to see with a flashlight).

He really only changed the oil once every 20k-25k miles, we are just not sure if the shop put in his mobil I or swapped with some dino oil.

The engine still starts and runs perfectly fine.

I was thinking maybe he should AutoRX or something, any got some advice or willing to post up a step by step what he should do at this point?

 

[wavinwayne]

IMHO, a triple AutoRX treatment is his best bet at this point.

Where did he get the idea that Mobil 1 was still good for 25k miles?

[ April 14, 2006, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: wavinwayne ]

 

[kenny1773]

quote:

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Originally posted by wavinwayne:

Where did he get the idea that Mobil 1 was still good for 25k miles?

---

he is not mechnical at all - even changing oil is above his skil level.

He WATNED to belive that mobil I was good for 25k miles and made himself think that it was ok, and after about 90k miles on the car, he thought he was right. Now at 100k miles - he is thinking that he made a mistake an needs to know if it is worth fixing or to just buy another car.

 

[wavinwayne]

It's worth fixing. If the guy is a good friend, give him a repair manual for his 4-Runner as a gift, & teach him how to change oil.

 

[jsharp]

Is it really sludge? There's a baffle visible in the oil fill opening that's covered with a dark and textured coating. Is he sure that's not what he's seeing?

I'd certainly try a couple of Auto-Rx treatments if it really is sludged. Unless the truck is a *total* beater it's worth fixing.

 

[mburnickas]

jsharp -

I agree with you. Toyo's have the baffle and everyone thinks it or the engine has sludge when 99% of the time, it is only in the fill area.

I know that is what I thought and it was only there. Used some LC20 and the area is like brand new!

I have a lexus with the sludge prone engine and everyone jumped on the double AutoRX usuage. Come to find out (removed valve cover) I did not need it. Even oil tests proved I did not but I wanted to double check for myself.

So what I would do is this to VERIFY you have sludge (not in any specifc order):

1) pull valve cover and view internals
2) do an oil test and look at proper areas
3) pull the oil pan and see what you have.
4) is the engine smoking?

All the above can be done by most people for about $20 or less.

 

[kenny1773]

For a 2000, it is otherwise in very nice shape. I think it may be worth the autorx treatment to see what happens.

his father has him afraid to do an autorx saying that treatments like that will cause a large piece of sludge to come loose and plug an oil passage inside the engine somewhere and make the problem worse (his theory is to let sleeping sludge sleep)

I have not looked at it yet myself (not that I am any expert, but I know more than him) so I am not really sure what to think.

He swears to me that in the 100k miles, his oil has been changed at most 5 times. That is what worried me (not as much worry if he really had mobil I in it)

 

[jsharp]

Auto-Rx is one of the few things that won't cause large pieces of sludge to dislodge in the engine.

I'll pull a cam cover first though as mburnickas mentioned and see what's there. I noticed the baffle in mine when I first got it and did a *** until I realized the rough surface was a coating on the metal, not sludge.

 

[Amkeer]

Those baffles look like sludge, but its really a coating. Its a coating I believe they put on the baffle to muffle sound.

Either way I would really be surprised if the motor is sludged with the M1 at 25000.

 

[Pontius Pilate]

dude thats nothing my father in law has changed his oil twice since he bought his durango brand new.... he has almost 61k on it, imagine what burnt coffee looking sludge comes out of that thing if it doesn't seize up first...

 

[sjlee]

#1. Mobil themselves say not to deviate from the manufacturer's recommended OCI.

#2. Do your friend a favor and show him how to change his own oil. Or be really good friend and do it for him.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

"He was under some strange impression that Mobil I synthetic was still rated for 25,000 mile OCI's"
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He confused it with Amsoil.