satiger

iTrader: (1)

Hello all,
I am a long time visitor to this forum but posting first time here. I have 2000 ES300 with 70000 miles. Till 50K miles, I did all services at Lexus dealership. Then I switched to independent mechanic and using Mobile1 5000 clean non-syn oil since then.

My question is how do I find out whether my car has sludge problem?. Is there any testing available?. I did a search before posting but couldn't find any replies which points to identifying sludge problem before hand.

Any input is welcome..........

MCV20

- if your car is burning oil

remember to change your PVC valve.

Pheonix

You can't find out. You have to tear the entire entire engine down.
I don't believe in the sludge problem.



Flush the oil out with whatever you like. Seafoam, Marvel Mystery Oil, kerosene.

dp5

The sludge problem is like gravity. It exists whether you believe in it or not. My 2000 ES had a sludge problem at 75K miles. I was fortunate and had all of my oil change documented with receipts. Lexus was very accomodating and gave me a loaner car for 3 weeks while they rebuilt the engine. No problems since. I don't know of any way to evaluate your current car to determine if you are in the early stages of this problem, though.

koolaidman

have u gotten ur oil change religiously. i mean no more than 5k or 5 months

if u have more than likly not

but to double check. pull ur valve cover off.
ull need
set of allen keys
10mm socket
screw driver
vc gasket
fpig

satiger

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for all replies.

dp5, you mentioned that your car had sludge problem at 75K miles. How did you come to know that the car was having this problem?. Was it giving less gas mileage, more smoke etc?

Have a good day.........

DallasLex

iTrader: (1)

This thread might provide you with some insight:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=194378

dp5

It started consuming oil and issuing blue smoke out of the tailpipe when I first started the car. The first dealership that I took it to was only moderately responsive and didn't really take it serously. I waited a week and the problem seemed to be progressing. I took the car to another dealership. They were very cordial and asked for copies of all of my maintenence records. When I produced them, they went ahead and fixed the car with no questions asked.

I did some research into the problem before taking it to the second dealership. From everything I learned, this doesn't seem to be a very widespread problem. I think that the actual number of vehicles affected is very small but, for those of us who have it, it is a big deal. Kudos to Lexus for stepping up and fixing things the way that they should. Far from spoiling me on the car, I have already put money down to get on the waiting list for an '07 ES 350 and intend to buy one when it comes out. With the exception of the sludge problem, this has been a wonderful car for me.

lexusls430

My solara puts out a little blue smoke when i first start it, could it be sludge? Oil is never missing its always full, i pulled my valve cover off and it was really clean.

satiger

iTrader: (1)

pd5, thanks for your response. It is valuable piece of information.......

Lexusfreak

I was going to say the same thing about consuming oil & blue smoke. Probably a noticable increase in fuel consumption too.

dp5

The blue smoke is indicative of your car burning oil but there are a lot of things that can cause this that are not nearly as problematic as a sludge engine. I'd say that it was worth having a mechanic look into it. Some of the causes are really simple and can be fixed very inexpensively.

I didn't notice if my car was getting worse gas mileage but, in retrospect, it probably was. I did notice that the engine became very sluggish and slow towards the end.

I've seen people in these forums post that they don't believe that this problem can occur if you change your oil regularly. I change my oil every 5K miles using a pure synthetic oil and still had the problem. I don't think that it affects many cars but my car is proof that you can occasionally have the problem even if you are diligent about maintaining your vehicle.

Pheonix

Blue smoke only at start-up, but no other time is the tail-tell sign of valve stems leaking, but no other problem.