I’m about to conclude the deal for buying a LS430 2004.
The car is squeaky clean with 48K miles on it.
I got the 55 points or so Lexus inspection at the dealer and it came out A1.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the car was never serviced at Lexus.
The 77 year old owner was servicing the car at his son’s garage.

With no maintenance records I’m wondering about possible oil sludging.

How do you diagnose oil sludging before it’s too late?

 

Ok - I found a lot of good information in the thread below
All I need to know from a RX perspective

Narrowing the scope of my question:
How much work is it to remove the engine cover on a 430?

 

Goodness gracious! If EVERYTHING else has checked out A-OK, and you're THIS worried about sludging, just buy it, then immediately dump a can of motor flush into it and then change the oil. Drive it like a couple days, then change the oil AGAIN with ANOTHER can of oil flush!!!

There are much more important items to worry about other than sludging when buying a used car, imo, and it sounds like you covered them all!

 

The LS430 is bulletproof as bulletproof comes. Sludging has never been an issue with the LS. I'm not even sure it's ever even been brought up in discussion on this forum.

Don't worry about it... if it's as good as you say, get the thing.

 

hee hee... I mean LS forums, not the WHOLE ClubLexus forum. I too have a '99RX so have been on that forum for plenty of sludge problems. I've used synthetic on mine since it had 40K and now with 128K I've been shown by my mechanic that it's like "new" inside, so the oil is working and I can be confident that my trans. is going to die before the engine.

 

If you're concerned about oil residue like varnish, run two oil changes of Mobil 1 Delvac 5w40 through it at 5K mi intervals. The commercial-grade M1 delvac 5w40 (not sold at autozone/pepboys/walmart) contains more detergents since its designed for commercial big-rig trucks but can be used in gasoline engines. Guys on the Toyota truck forum who had oil varnish have used it and say it removed all the varnish off the oil dipstick. I have used it both on my toyota truck and LX470 (2UZ engine, same design as the 3UZ in the LS) w/o issues. In fact, I get better fuel economy running the delvac 1 5w40 vs. standard (mineral-based) oils or even Mobil 1 10w30. The only oil I found comparable in mpgs is Mobil 1 0w40 (meets euro-specs, not sold at walmart but sold at autozone). Mobil 1 delvac 5w40 isn't cheap...$112 for a case of 4 gal on discount or about $33/gal at truck stops.

 

So... what is going on here that leads you to NOT TRUST the guy at his word?

So you think the son isn't going to properly service his father's Lexus???? He's not going to spend $20 to change oil? You know, my experience has been that with people that can afford to buy a Lexus, they generally take care of them.

You say the car is wuper clean...simonized 3 times per year...who is going to go through that trouble and not change the oil?

If my Dad was bringing his Lexus to me to service.... I'd do the job right or tell my Dad to take it to the dealer..... What son wouldn't?

What is causing you to question this so much, or are you this paranoid in all areas of your life?

 

One more thing..... Maybe you should give me the guys number so I can go check out the car..... I may be interested.....

 

You are absolutely right.

“What is causing you to question this so much, or are you this paranoid in all areas of your life?”

Not all

My best friend is a die hard Merc fan. He can reassemble his C43 eyes closed.
When I told him I was looking for a Lexus LS430, he was offended. (Of course)
And said … Yeah, the only problem with those is sludging.

I didn’t even know what it means at first.

But thanks, I deserve the friendly beating

 

Too late, just spoke with the owner. I'll have the car tomorrow.

And to add more to my shame for doubting. He just told me, "hey during the inspection they noticed the battery was still good but not that strong. So I popped a new one in there for you."

 

Just to give you more peace of mind.... nice... don't you feel ASHAMED now !!!!

 

I do.

I guess there is a huge difference between buying from a salesman who says “trust me” and an old gentleman.

I got stock with the prejudice from a “too good to be true’ point of view.

I wouldn’t be the first one on this planet who needs to put my fingers thru the holes and say: Oh my God… It’s really you Jesus. Sorry for doubting.

 

Yeah, but with cars it pays to be a doubter. When you pick up your car, be sure to post pics in a new thread to avoid further group and self flagellation.

 

"flagellation"... not familiar with this word, is it related to flatulation?

 

I think it has something to do with covering your head with a flag.

Joke aside; it was a punishment back in the Roman days. It`s a common expression in French.