I bought a used sc400 1993 with 60000 miles on it. Carfax is clean and the 60000 mile service was done at a dealership at 58,000 miles one year ago(almost exactly) with no problems detected...got the car yesterday and went to get it smogged at a friends auto repair shop...did not pass!!! HC levels 10 times normal and his head technician said a new engine is NEEDED!!! I was floored(shocked) I called the dealer near my home asap and told them the situation and they said that they have NEVER had a lexus V8 go bad at 60,000 miles Oil was regularly changed and I have detailed service records from the previous owner....In fact the last service was the major 60000 mile service and it was done one year ago!!! only 2300 miles driven since then!!! So the dealer has the car now and will check it out to see what is wrong...here is the main problem...

1) When you turn on the engine and it idles, there is a faint noise that comes from inside the engine compartment when the belts turn...like a constant "shook, shook, shook" but not extremely loud can notice it only when idling and when driving slow speeds...at higher speeds engine runs smooth...

2) when the smog was being done and the engine was revved high, oil seems to spurt out from BOTH exhaust pipes!!!

3) Smoke comes out when the car runs, expecially when you step on the gas when accelerating...

4) ANY EXPERT OPINIONS OUT THERE or anyone have the same problem???

PLEASE HELP PLEASE HELP!!! I am worried about this situation...The service manager at the dealership said that he's seen a similar problem once before when some power steering fluid leaked into the system somehow and it came out the pipes and was mistaken for engine oil!!!

I've checked a few forums and others have mentioned "faulty valve seals" I have no idea what these are and how much they might cost to fix...also..if oil has infiltrated the exhaust can I assume the catalytic converter is totally shot??? and what does it cost to fix that?


PLEASE HELP I have NO REPLIES IN MY OTHER 2 POSTINGS AND I AM DESPERATE FOR EXPERT ADVICE!!!

THANK YOU

 

no way that motor is dead at 60k. you can run them WITHOUT oil from 30k to 50k and not kill them (almost literally).

 

That is what the dealer technician said. SO I AM LOST AT THIS POINT...I WILL WAIT UNTIL MONDAY FOR THE OFFICIAL WORD BY THE DEALER> THE DEALERSHIP IS OFESSIONAL AND HONEST AND I TRUST THEIR OPINION 100%!!!
I WILL KEEP YOU ALL POSTED THANKS FOR THE INPUT

 

What color is the smoke? Black, blue or white?
Blue is oil.
White is coolant.
Black is fuel. Extremely rich exhaust will come out looking like black oil spattering out the back which you would see on your driveway.

Is your check engine light on?

What does your car idle at (RPM) when you hear the "Shuck"?

To me it sounds like the car is just way,way out of tune.

 

It seems like your SC is running extremely rich for some reason? I've had plack some pour outta the back of my Soarer, only when I boot it though, and I get some type of condensation (black) but that's it... 60,000mls = approx 96,800kms... there's no way the engine can be screwed already, especially the 1UZ's! My Soarer (1JZ twin turbo) is running perfectly, and I've clocked up 160,000kms in it (nearly 100,000mls).

Has the engine been properly tuned?


Jose

 

Well, the one lucky thing is that if you really do need a new motor they are super cheap because there is no market for them because they never break.

You can pick up a good condition long block in a salvage yard for like $500.

-Ethan

 

no kidding, look around

i got a 2jz block for 100

 

Please do not give that kind of definitive opinions w/o even seeing the engine then lets not make an impressions that any engine can run w/o oil or regulat oil change. Because no one can, especialy for 50k.
This engine will sludge like any other aluminum engine rather quickly and then blow up if oil is not changed on regular basis.


I will not give any advice w/o seeing the motor. I do think smog tech opinion was premature and he really should keep his mouth. Lets wait for Lexus tech "on the ground" and then we may comment on his findings...

 

I wouldn't go THAT far. . I was told by my local Lexus service manager that the only 1UZ-FE he'd seen fail had been ran with almost no oil in it for a very long period of time. He said he took the oil pan off and it was filled with sludge and the oil pick up was stuck. . . Best of luck!

 

STEVEN(the service manager) at the dealership said that he was shocked....but one of the "RODS" are shot and it will need a new engine(OMG I COULDNT BELIEVE IT)...there are detailed service records for the car and I am still a little baffled.....59,600 miles now last year july 3rd, 2003 there is a detailed receipt for a 60,000 mile service and the car had all fluids changed and the mileage was 57,000 miles!!!
ANY LEXUS REPRESENTATIVES PLEASE HEAR ME OUT I NEED HELP!!!!
I WOULD LOVE FOR LEXUS TO INSPECT IT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE SUCH AS ABUSE OR DRIVING WITHOUT OIL>>>BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER WENT ON....ONLY THE OIL LEVEL LIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS BURNING UP THE OIL...SINCE THERE ARE DETAILED RECORDS...THERE IS NO REASON FOR ME TO BELIEVE THERE WAS NEGLIGENCE OR ABUSE!!!
I've owned an RX 300, now a GX 470, my friend drives the LS430, I am a hige lexus supporter!!! but what will i say if this is a faulty engine at 59,600 miles !!! This may be the first defective engine ever???
If lexus decides to extend a warranty based on the miles and not the year...I will be truly impressed and appreciative....CUSTOMER SERVICE #1...but if not....what else am i to think about these cars or their engines...most importantly about lexus' committment to their loyal customers???

ANYONE PLEASE HELP>>>GIVE ME SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL instead of the blue smoke and black oilspewing out of the exhaust!!!

 

Not that this helps, but if you don't want to deal with it I will buy it from you. Sounds like it would be a good excuse for me to build a motor from the get go rather than blowing up my first one then building another.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do with it.

-Ethan

 

WOW, I am really amazed this is the first ever story of something like this happening. I would still get another opinion just in case but if they are right I am really sorry you experienced this and I hope somehow Lexus can help you out, I mean 60k miles even hyundais last that long. Sorry bro keep us posted.

 

I've seen an LS400 roll into my dealership -- 34k on the clock and the chalk mark on the factory oil filter -- opened her up, and the internals were spotless...

what's smog tech? Smaug Tech?

My father's 03 Q45 (with 20k miles) is blowing blue smoke... wanna convince me it's not oil? Watching your exhaust is a great way to figure out what your engine is doing -- how is letting someone know what kinds of smoke mean what a bad thing?

Watching your exaust is like keeping a finger of the pulse of your engine -- you've got a great idea of how healthy it is.


kentchoi, you're lucky -- you've got a ton of options and engines to choose from -- the 1UZ outlives the body of the car in which it resides... I know that for a fact


JT

 

Did you buy this from a private party or a dealer? Sounds like a private party but if there's all these dealer receipts and such why can't you take it back there and have them handle it? I mean since you hold the dealer in such high regard anyway, and have had so many Lexus vehicles, that's the least they can do right?

And if for some strange reason this single engine was faulty why would that change your overall opinion of Lexus if all your other Lexus vehicles were fine and perfect? Seems like you're getting a little ahead of yourself, I know this can be nerve-racking but changing your overall perception of a vehicle brand based on a lemon you bought from a private party isn't the answer. What's the person who sold you the car have to say?

 

the previous owner says that he will give me a full refund(hopefully all shipping costs as well....here is what must have happened(best guess by the lexus service manager and ex-technician-very bright guy)

Car was hardly driven for a 25 month period...2001-2003 only about 6,000 miles put on it total...sat around probably garaged for at least 6 months or so...oil sitting that long is not the same and the lubrication around vital engine parts GONE...started it up with a jumpstart or the battery was extremely tough over the long break...person started driving the car without it lubed propery...started wearing and tearing the valves/rods eventually dropped oil levels and drove it with oil light on eventually ruining the valves/rods until it was too late...get a "knocking" sound which are bad valves/rods= point of no return!!!

Lexus will not fix it because one service record shows that on 3/30/04 the owner at the time did not listen to the dealers' advice to fix/inspect valves due to low oil levels...just put in 3 additional quarts and drove off!!!(what an idiot) just ruined such a beautiful car)....

ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS PLEASE FEEL FREE I CHECK THIS EVERY HOUR OR SO!!!

THANK YOU and CHANGE YOUR OIL!!!