Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-83
My 2000 Sienna has the white smoke and apparently sludge has formed at 26,000 miles. I only use synthetic oil and filters and change both regularly.
I noticed the white smoke on Monday, and found I was two quarts low. It had been almost three weeks since the last oil change. Maybe Toyota's need oil changes every 100 miles?
Does anyone know how to get the sludge out without an engine overhaul? I used an engine flush before changing oil again this afternoon, but it's still smoking.
I've read that Toyota has begun using a pressure flush machine to clean sludge out of its engines. Anyone try it yet?
I have a 99 Camry with engine sludge too. Your toyota dealership is very familiar with sludge since so many are coming back that way and the 1-800 national people are not surprised either - the newer engines are worse than the older ones due to design changes toyota made to them - mine is ruined at 45k miles with oil changes per manual. See this website for more info. http://www.yotarepair.com.
My 98 Avalon made it to 57,600 miles with absolutely no problems. A great car then! Then the oil usage and smoke appeared. Corner garage that changed the oil every 3000 to 3500 miles said it was sludged and the engine had an expected life of maybe 3,000 miles left. The garage knew it was not their fault. (Castrol oil and Wix filter every time). Toyota dealer kissed me off as fast as they could. Garage is going through a series of engine flushes to see if it helps. Screw Toyota.
I have just purchased a 1996 Toyota Avalon with 75,000 miles on it and soon found it to be blowing white smoke at start-up. Did some research and found out about the sludge problem, needless to say I am very upset. The car seems to run well and the oil level has been steady, I really am not sure what I should do. I am curious if anyone has just lived with the smoke and not had engine failure? I went with a Toyota because I have witnessed and heard nothing but good things about them now it appears that my choice was not well made.
Toyota Avalon XLS 1999 with 100 000 miles.
Run like a new one can't figure out why so many people are talking badly about such a great car! The problem mention are not identify in any reference book that I did verify before buying the car at 75 000 miles.
THIS IS THE BEST CAR I EVER HAD.
Buy one if you can!
I bought a 1997 Avalon with 106 thousand miles, and it is smoking at cold startup. I thought it was valve seals, but reading this web site I now think it is sludge. I like the car, does anyone know what to do to fix this problem?
I presently am on the 2nd leased Avalon LS which was delivered on 01/23/02. Due to my work schedule I failed to have the oil changed until 15,553 miles. When the oil and filter where changed at the Dealership I have been going to for several years, no note or comment where made questioning whether the car had an oil change prior to that date. Approximately 21 days later and 1,500 miles I noted white smoke upon startup and once in a while the oil light would flicker. I took the car back to the same dealer and same Service Manager and was told it was my fault and the auto had sludge related problems. This was done after two qualified mechanics I know indicated there was "no oil" in the car. Bottom line I have paid over $2,100 today to have this situation corrected. At this moment and about 10 miles of driving the car is back in the shop due to a hose note being correctly connected. I have had other vehicles where oil wasn't changed for years. But according to Toyota that isn't their problem it is mine! No allowance or assistance will be given per the local Toyota Dealership. I have started with the "toll free" numbers and will go from there with the documentation requested. I am so disappointed that the Toyota individuals knew there where sludge issues and never bothered to send a letter or even from a Customer Service standpoint mention to me at the 15,000 mile check up that maybe there might be an issue lets address it before it becomes a problem. Prior to the local dealership changing the oil and filter there was no indication of a problem.. Only 21 days later did it appear which was after the "oil change". If anyone has any ideas would love to hear from you.
I have just purchased a 1996 Toyota Avalon XL, with 81'000 miles on it. It runs well and did not have any emission problem at the beginning. I changed the oil three days ago and soon found out that it emits a large amount of white smoke at start up and in fact keeps emitting. I guess the previous owner had added some sort of additive to cover it up and sell this lemon to me. Anyway, I'm upset and don't know what to do! should I drive that as it is or what? It seems that it needs a couple of thousand dollars to fix that and I can't afford it.
Well after reading all this it kind of scares me, but I know that all of this CANNOT be true. Since the sludging problems mainly affect the 3.0 1MZ-FE engine I can tell you that I know about 30 people (my friends) that have that engine in one of their cars. Only one has the problem and it IS due to improper MAINTENANCE. Oil wasn't changed for 14,000 miles. Anyways I own a 02 Solara and I've received a letter from Toyota stating that if sludge occurs within eight (8) years of the date of purchase they will cover any engine repair related to it. Of course you must have all maintenance records available if such incident occurs.
I own a 1998 Avalon with 65K miles. No problems so far except for strut bearings. Just received a letter from Toyota stating they will repair any sludge problem should it occur.
Don't want to bore you with the same old story, but my brother's 2000 Toyota Avalon is dead. It has 45,000 miles on it and it exhibited the same blue smoke emission as all the rest of your entries. Needless to say he is very upset because his dealer said that it was his fault and they would not repair the engine. They told him the engine had oil sludge without even examining it. He is driving a rental car at the moment. Very expensive. The dealer wants to charge him $6,000.00 for a new engine. Yes, he kept up his maintenance on the car, but not with the dealer. He has been a loyal Toyota driver for years. He is so disgusted with the whole ordeal that I am investigating it for him. Thanks for all your comments. I will show them to his dealer... Anne of Baltimore.
Own a 1996 Avalon from new. Now has 178000 miles and doing fine. I change the oil every 5000 miles with Mobil 1 and a Pure 1 filter. I use no oil between oil changes. Plan to keep it until it blows up, which will be by 300000 miles according to two dealership service reps.
In August, 2002, AutoNews ran an article about the Toyota sludge letter. AutoNews author felt that Toyota had not mailed its letter. But Toyota claimed all had been mailed. Now I read here that some owners just received their letter in October and November. I think it is bad that Toyota has a defect and is letting people run around with this problem unbeknownst to the owners. I can see how Toyota cannot feasibly recall over 3million vehicles, especially if not all are going to sludge. But they should at a minimum send out all letters asap. They have been saying all have been mailed since February of this year!
If you like myself own one of these cold smoking sludge toyota machines here is what worked for me. I have a 2001 lexus rx 300 with 44k miles on it and it smoked like a tar kill when started in the morning. I took the oil pan off and cleaned it through along with the pick up screen, if you really want to see what this sludge looks like take the oil pan off it will blow your mind. I then got a new pcv valve and new filter and added 1 quart of 5 30 synthetic oil and 3 quarts of k&w engine flush it made the engine tick a little, but I didn't race the engine just let it run and tic for about 5 min. I then removed the oil plug to find that the engine flush looked like it turned the sludge back into some real black oil. I then with new filter and synthetic 5 30 oil and started it, it ticked and smoked a little the stopped both I drove it 100 miles or so then changed the oil again and no more cold smoke... p.s. good luck it worked for me... e-mail me with your comments and or results at shywhiteguy@aol.com.
This is the only comment here that begins to make sense about how to cure the problem. It is not the oil change frequency. If Toyota says that it is they are blowing smoke (pardon) and they know it. Check the pcv valve. Drop the pan as suggested and clean. Flush out the engine. New oil and filter. I want to emphasize that you must check the emission system, of which the pcv valve is the most likely culprit.