RX300, Smoking and burning oil at 75k ???
04-10-08, 03:46 PM
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RX300, Smoking and burning oil at 75k ???
Hello,
I have a 99 RX300. With 83k on it. At about 75,000 miles it sort of abruptly started giving a blue plume of smoke in the morning (and any other time it may feel like it). It now uses about a quart of oil every 700miles or so.
Is there anything short of valve guides (or worse) that plagues these cars?
It's incomprehensible to me that a car of this type would effectively die at 75k
Regards PK
P,S, I have a porsche with a thing called an AOS (Air oil Separator), when it goes it scares the _ell out of you, burns blue like crazy...$150 part
I have a 99 RX300. With 83k on it. At about 75,000 miles it sort of abruptly started giving a blue plume of smoke in the morning (and any other time it may feel like it). It now uses about a quart of oil every 700miles or so.
Is there anything short of valve guides (or worse) that plagues these cars?
It's incomprehensible to me that a car of this type would effectively die at 75k
Regards PK
P,S, I have a porsche with a thing called an AOS (Air oil Separator), when it goes it scares the _ell out of you, burns blue like crazy...$150 part
04-10-08, 04:11 PM
#2
Most likely you have sludge. Blue smoke and excessive, sudden oil consumption are classic symptoms.
Yes, the engine design is bad, that is why Toyota has 8 year warranty on sludge.
But your 99 RX is more than 8 years old. You can go to Toyota dealer, 1) check for sludge 2)beg them to cover your engine under goodwill if there is sludge. 3) all else fail, bend over and give couple of grands then write Toyota a nasty letter to tell them if doesn't payup you will follow up with a law suit.
Yes, the engine design is bad, that is why Toyota has 8 year warranty on sludge.
But your 99 RX is more than 8 years old. You can go to Toyota dealer, 1) check for sludge 2)beg them to cover your engine under goodwill if there is sludge. 3) all else fail, bend over and give couple of grands then write Toyota a nasty letter to tell them if doesn't payup you will follow up with a law suit.
04-10-08, 05:46 PM
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Most likely you have sludge. Blue smoke and excessive, sudden oil consumption are classic symptoms.
Yes, the engine design is bad, that is why Toyota has 8 year warranty on sludge. ...You can go to Toyota dealer, 1) check for sludge 2)beg them to cover your engine under goodwill if there is sludge. 3) all else fail, bend over and give couple of grands then write Toyota a nasty letter to tell them if doesn't payup you will follow up with a law suit.
Yes, the engine design is bad, that is why Toyota has 8 year warranty on sludge. ...You can go to Toyota dealer, 1) check for sludge 2)beg them to cover your engine under goodwill if there is sludge. 3) all else fail, bend over and give couple of grands then write Toyota a nasty letter to tell them if doesn't payup you will follow up with a law suit.
What is their remedy, a flush or soak with some sort of degreaser? Or a complete tear down?
Do you think Lexus would likely be persuaded to cough up for the repair bill? This is the first Japanese car I've ever bought, and a flagship to boot...75k and smoking like a locomotive... (On top of that I was one of the designers of their origional cookie cutter showrooms)
Who would I write to If it is sludge with a major expense?
Regards, PK
Last edited by PK2; 04-10-08 at 05:57 PM.
04-10-08, 05:51 PM
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Ditto
Regards, PK
P.S. "Matt", service tech at my local dealer had no clue as to what I was talking about, recomended a timing belt...brilliant.
Last edited by PK2; 04-10-08 at 05:56 PM.
04-10-08, 10:08 PM
#6
No kidding, the motor looks nice anyway. Does the sludge accumulate down below, because the under the oil fill cap and on the dip stick, the oil looks clean.
What is their remedy, a flush or soak with some sort of degreaser? Or a complete tear down?
Do you think Lexus would likely be persuaded to cough up for the repair bill? This is the first Japanese car I've ever bought, and a flagship to boot...75k and smoking like a locomotive... (On top of that I was one of the designers of their origional cookie cutter showrooms)
Who would I write to If it is sludge with a major expense?
Regards, PK
What is their remedy, a flush or soak with some sort of degreaser? Or a complete tear down?
Do you think Lexus would likely be persuaded to cough up for the repair bill? This is the first Japanese car I've ever bought, and a flagship to boot...75k and smoking like a locomotive... (On top of that I was one of the designers of their origional cookie cutter showrooms)
Who would I write to If it is sludge with a major expense?
Regards, PK
http://www.oilgelsettlement.com/
I opted out of settlement and if you bought your RX300 second hand, most likely the previous owner did not opt out.
The only way when the entire engine is covered with sludge is to do surgical work.
Tell the dealer that you are aware of sludge and are worried what previous owner did. Most likely Lexus will cover at least partially the cost. But at least ask the dealer to check for sludge by pulling the valve cover for free.
If the dealer is not nice, go to another one...
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04-11-08, 01:55 AM
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Check the oil gel settlement by this law firm.
http://www.oilgelsettlement.com/
...The only way when the entire engine is covered with sludge is to do surgical work...Tell the dealer that you are aware of sludge and are worried what previous owner did. Most likely Lexus will cover at least partially the cost. But at least ask the dealer to check for sludge by pulling the valve cover for free.
If the dealer is not nice, go to another one...
http://www.oilgelsettlement.com/
...The only way when the entire engine is covered with sludge is to do surgical work...Tell the dealer that you are aware of sludge and are worried what previous owner did. Most likely Lexus will cover at least partially the cost. But at least ask the dealer to check for sludge by pulling the valve cover for free.
If the dealer is not nice, go to another one...
That sounds like theres a little room for optimism. My dealer just seems sloppy and cluless, but I'll see what I can fanaggle there after I read up on the settlement.
Regards, PK
04-11-08, 05:56 AM
#9
Pole Position
by the way the warranty ended up being 8 years 3 months from the point of first sale.
04-11-08, 06:39 AM
#10
Lexus Champion
yup, you're a sludger. the previous owner probably didn't change the oil regularly. that seems to be a major cause of it because i've seen rx's go 200k with no problems that have had proper maintenance.
04-11-08, 09:56 AM
#11
04-12-08, 03:33 PM
#13
