Here are some pictures of my '01 ES300 with 121k. I popped off the valve cover because I had an engine rattle and my oil pressure light came on. Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

Yeah,looks like you have some their.Might have an oil pump problem,or clogged up oil filter Re: the oil light/noise.Sounds like your not getting enough oil pressure.This doesn`t look like a severe case though,from what I can see.

 

This was mine some time ago when I opened the same area up. I know you have a thread up in the ES forum, but I'll let some of the RX members chime on since it's something that can potentially affect all 1MZFE powered vehicles. Would be curious to know what kind of oil was used.

 

My God Man!! It looks brand new........

 

BigBaller- It sure looks like sludge to me. It would be interesting to hear about the oil-change history.

I've never looked, but I would hope mine would look just like LexMex's. My old Mercedes-Benz looked about as clean as LexMex's after 220,000 miles.

 

LEXMEX your engine is beautiful. I dont know what kind of oil was used, but it has a long service history at the dealership up until 95K.

 

They were probably going to long on the intervals.(even @ the dealer ship) I`m sure they were going 5k.Which in these motors,is too long.

 

didnt you post this on the ES forum? >.>

 

Yes, I just wanted to get some more opinions.

 

That's sludging for sure, but not terrible. In Lexmex's case, he's probably used synthetic for a while now. My '92 Integra with 220K, looks brand new inside and it's had synth. since 1K miles.

Hey, say what you will... but synthetic does make a difference. I've used Mobil 1 on my RX since 42K, and I hope it looks like Lexmex's engine.

 

I had to go back and look at the properties of that photo of mine and it was dated April 2007. I believe at that point I had been running German Castrol 0W30 for the first time at that point for several months and was about to switch over to Liqui Moly (Lubro Moly in the U.S., which is available at Napa Auto Parts), 5W40 as a test.

 

Lexmex- Do I remember you ever talking about using (I believe it's called Auto-RX) in your RX or was that someone else? I know there are so many discussions about oil and sludging problems it's hard to keep them all straight but I thought it was either you or Lenore that commented on the reduction of deposits on the very 1st. change after starting German Castrol. The 1st. posters pictures to me don't look like what I would actually call sludge, but cinderized oil deposits from high crankcase heat. (I know it's more complicated than that) My DIL's 99RX had the same type of thing but where it's deposited it is like you used the ovens self cleaning mode. Not as much but like that. No guminess- just cooked, which I believe is different than "sludgeing. My guess, with the small opening on the oil pump pickup is that he'll find that nearly completely clogged. If you could update us on your complete knowledge on the German Castrol as well as any knowledge on the Auto-RX it would not only help me but maybe some of the newest members here. Thanks in advance.

 

Auto-RX will be a good candidate to remove the sludge build-up here. It works slowly by disolving sludge into the oil then the oil filter will trap the sandy particles.
Use just conventional oil because the oil change interval will be shortened during treatment, also esters from synthetic oil will not compete against those in Auto-RX.
I also recommend using an oversized filter such as FRAM 3600' equivalent, just make more room to deposit the junk.
After the treatment, use German Castrol 0w-30, it is the better pure synthetic oil on the market today.

 

TunedRX300 knows more than me about AutoRX. My uncle used to use the stuff south of the border in lieu of opening everything up and using kerosene to clean out engine blocks (then we had a problem with customs getting more in).

I should also mention that on virtually every other oil change in Mexico I'd use Liqui Moly Engine Flush (called Lubro Moly and the stuff is sold at Napa Auto Parts in the U.S.), but AutoRX is indeed a godsend when it comes to sludge. Also highly agree on an oversized filter, I use the K&N HP-2009, but the FRAM 3600 is every bit as good. I have heard of at least one other RX300 owner living not too far from me who has used this filter.

With GC, you can also happily check out www.bobistheoilguy.com in their Euro oil forum for all the information you'd want, http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...oard=48&page=1

 

I just wanted to add that the german castrol has removed the baked on crust on the baffle under the oil fill cap on my RX. Really weird. Have been useing the oil for around 40k miles and have 156k on vehicle and that hard crust is gone.