aushako

IrockLex:

So you didn't tell why the oil light is coming on after 1000 miles: because the oil was low or the engine was just sludged?

The sludge itself shouldn't be the reason for replacing the engine. Sludge IMHO can be cleaned out, not big deal.

Perhaps it's just that the oil receptacle at the buttom of the oil pan is clogged with sludge.

Also, the sludge itself IMHO may not cause valve seals go bad and therefore cold start smoking on the cold start. According to Efran, his engine was as clean inside as it gets upon opening and yet it smoked and needed new seals.

Bad valve seals seem to plague our cars.

I suggest going thru more inspection on your engine before trashing it. Mechanics sometimes make mistakes too. I just find it hard to believe that an 1MZ-FE is doomed with only 68K miles on it.

VZV21

Yeah, I should of said as the ES300/250 has the same engines as their Camry counterparts

SecPole14

Oh, OK, I was getting scared there for a minute...

1VZ-FE = 250
1MZ-FE = 300

VZV21

2VZ-FE is the 88.5-91 Camry V6, 90-91 ES250

the 1VZ-FE is a 2.0L v6

The Ikon

Lexus has a TSB on the sludge problem in the ES... Put the pressure on them and they may honor a 'good faith' warranty... It is supposingly common in the ES according to my Lexus mechanics...

You do not have an extended warranty or anything?

SecPole14

Oops. First I caught your mistake, then you caught mine. Thanks.

Brando

Erfan,

How much did it run you to have the valve cover gaskets done? Mine are leaking and I was thinking of doing them myself. But if Lexus does it for a reasonable price I might consider having them do it.

Erfan

brando,

The valve covers i did along with when the valve stem seals were done. It cost around $500.00 for the valve cover gaskets, because the intake and plenum has to all come out, lots of labor and work:eek:

SemiConTech

I just did both my valve cover gaskets and did it myelf. I would not pay $500 clams for that. I payed $ 40.00 for both gaskets and a few more dollars for the valve cover spark plug seals( on the inside of the valve cover the circular seals for the spark plugs) from the dealer. It will take about 3 1/2 hours if you are a beginner and take it really easy and label everything. its just really simple to do. I dont think you should let omething like a intake phelum intimidate you. it is only bolted down with 4 screws and 2 Hexs bolts. I think the hardest part was the wiring harness. This needs time and easy. If you were to replace the Valve cover gaskets this would be a good time to do a complete tune up. Now you have more room for the back plugs and the gas filter. You would have already pulled the PCV valve, air filter , and the spark plug coils already out so I would just finish the job

Erfan

I am not risking breaking something just because i want to save a few dollars. I have the money to pay someone to do it, so it doesnt bother me and i dont have to monkey with the engine and intake and buy tools and stuff.

Brando

I just did the front seal this last weekend. It was the only one that was leaking on my car. It took about twenty minutes and cost about 15 bucks.

Erfan

How did you do the seal, what was involved?

Kyle Harty

iTrader: (17)

So low compression and sluggish acceleration would be symptoms of this sludging? My car accelerates well and I'm pretty sure my dad checked the compression before I bought it. It's nice to have a mechanic available for things like that.

BTW, I'm pretty sure the guy I bought mine from was gay, and the car seemed very well maintained, interior was clean and nice, everything well cared for.

flipside909

What Tan (VZV21) was trying to explain was that the ES250's 2VZ-FE had red writing on the Toyota Camry and black writing on the ES250. The 3VZ-FE was only used during 92-93 and for 94-96 Toyota used the 1MZ-FE aluminum block V6. The 3VZ-FE and 1MZ-FE are totally different engines. The 1MZ-FE is currently used in the 2002 ES300 with revised components.

The 2VZ-FE (2.5L V6) and 3VZ-FE (3.0L V6) are related engines in which they fall into the VZ series of Toyota engines. The engine block is related to the 5VZ-FE (3.4L V6) found in the Tacoma and Tundra V6 models.