The only thing that has went wrong with the car has been this engine sludge thing. I want to say first before anyone starts saying you never changed your oil that that is incorrect I have had this oil changed ever 2500-3000 miles since I bought this car and about two months ago the oil light started flashing and I was told that the engine had massive oil sludge build up. This disgusts me. I never had one ounce of trouble from the 1997 Geo Prizm I had before this and when I did finally trade it in it had over 200,000 miles on it. I did some research and its looks as if some of the Corollas have also had a sludge build up issue. I have had the engine flushed twice now and it seems to fix the oil light problem for awhile before it starts to flicker again not to mention that after each flush the engine sounds louder and louder. I know I need to go and just trade it in, but I really don't want another car payment right now. However besides the oil sludge thing the car has been wonderful.
Good economy car.
I am assuming that you are adding oil often. I have a terrible oil consumption problem requiring a quart of oil about every other fuel fill-up. This is a common problem I have recently learned. If you google this you will find many, many owners with very serious oil consumption issues. Before buying my used 2000 Prism, I researched this car on-line including this website and I did not find the oil consumption problem listed. Now I am disgusted because the problem is highlighted by many owners elsewhere on the internet. I feel cheated now and am not sure what to do with this car. The biggest problem is that some owners are burning up their engines on trips because the oil is being consumed so fast.
If I had a car with high mileage and oil consumption I would try two things: Lucas Oil Stabilizer and Lucas Oil Fuel treatment.
The stabilizer is a high viscosity type oil that will quiet the engine and reduce blow by. The fuel treatment is an esther and detergent mix that can loosen up stuck piston rings and therefore restore compression and oil seal.
These things don't cost much and at this time you don't have much to lose.
I use the fuel treatment in vehicles that don't have a problem.
Good luck.
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