21st Jul 2011, 19:44
It's a engine design issue, not the oil. Look at consumeraffairs.com under Toyota engine sludging. Not every car in the world has small engine passages.
22nd Jul 2011, 01:49
All the clogged engines I've ever have come across, regardless of make and model, have some common traits. They have at least one or all of these factors:
1. Being run in a hot climate. Add to that a lot of hills, and you have a real engine oil killer.
2. Using non synthetic, usually low grade oils.
3. Used for towing or other heavy duty work.
4. Not following oil intervals or stretching them.
5. Doing many shorter trips and still not shortening the oil change interval.
6. Doing prescribed oil changes, but not doing general maintenance on the car like inspection/cleaning of oil ventilation.
7. Changing the oil but not the filters.
8. Never flushing or inspecting the engine.
22nd Jul 2011, 13:03
The material on consumeraffairs.com is like the material on this site. Everybody can simply submit a claim. There's nothing official about that site, and it's not quality assured. The material I get from searching about 'sludging' problems are mostly general engine problems of all sorts, most not related to sludging. I know there was a class action law suit covering a couple of thousands engines, 4 and 6 cylinder engines made in the nineties and up to 2002. So that's becoming old news, since this class action lawsuit was in 2002, as you can see on consumeraffairs.com too. Talk about beating a dead horse. And a couple of thousand claims for engine types made by the millions, that's hardly frequent thing. But that's how these review sites have become; people exaggerating, repeating old news, and even inventing claims.
22nd Jul 2011, 14:34
Engine design read. http://yotarepair.com/Sludge_Zone.html
23rd Jul 2011, 13:57
The head in the sand attitude can remain until it happens to you directly. Paying 3 or 4 grand may be peanuts to some people for a new engine or trans. I learned the most asking in the service dept other owners what happened. Try sitting in a waiting room and ask. I found out I wasn't the only one with 2 trans replaced on a late model.
24th Jul 2011, 18:53
22 million (and counting) recalls is not a small number. It's more cars than some manufacturers have built in their entire lifetime. And Toyota's sludging issues are specific to Toyota because of a defective engine design. Why people continue to defend a car maker that has repeatedly shown a total lack of concern for its customers is beyond me. The last time I changed oil in my GM car it had 13,300 miles between changes. There has never been a sludging problem with it or any other domestic we've owned. Making excuses for Toyota's poor quality doesn't make it a good car.
25th Jul 2011, 09:45
The issue here is not recalls. The issue remains who builds a better product, and say what you will, Toyota still builds a better product. Plain and simple. End of story.
26th Jul 2011, 19:42
Most sources currently regard Ford as the maker of the world's best cars. GM is close behind (and gaining). Toyota might once have built decent cars, but not in the past decade, and certainly not after 2007. I've read three comparisons of small compact cars this month. The Corolla ranks at the bottom. Ford and Hyundai swap places for number one. Toyota has lost any quality edge it might (and I emphasize "might") have had. Ford and GM outsell Toyota 2 to 1 in the U.S., so most people are obviously no longer under the misconception that Toyota builds good cars. Ad hype only works for so long.
26th Jul 2011, 20:11
I personally find the "domestic vs. import" argument a little silly. I've owned both domestics and imports, and all of them have performed quite well for me. I have had both bad domestics and bad imports as well. A car is a machine, and machines break. I currently own 3 cars. A 1996 Toyota Corolla, a 1997 Saturn SL2 and a 1999 Chrysler Cirrus. My Saturn and Chrysler both have around 90,000 miles, and neither one has ever given me any serious problems. My Toyota has 194,000 miles, and the biggest repair it's ever needed was a heater core about a year ago.
As for today's vehicles, I just recently helped my mother in choosing her next car. She test drove many different cars, including the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata. She chose the Camry because she found it to be the most comfortable for her. I hardly see a difference in build quality between the Fusion and the Camry. I'd even say the Camry's is a little better. The Sonata's was probably the best out of the 3.
27th Jul 2011, 11:22
I wish there was a recall on mine vs an out of pocket repairs. I always thought Car Survey was a collective survey based on actual owners repair issues vs a singular broad-based comment for all owners. When I buy my next vehicle, I like to be forewarned on specific maintenance concerns. It's great you like yours, but I would rather have more owners real life data before I buy again.
27th Jul 2011, 19:17
Funny, because every article and survey I've read shows Toyota ahead of the Big 3.
Secondly, sales are down for the Japanese automaker due to the effects of the tsunami. Not because they make worse cars.
27th Jul 2011, 22:07
I am going with a friend to drop off his 2009 Toyota at the shop for major repairs Friday. The car is out of the mileage part of the warranty, and is literally falling apart, leaving him stuck with repair bills left and right. He can't afford the costly repairs, and is planning to buy either a Ford or a Hyundai.
29th Jul 2011, 16:12
Bad mouthing Toyota is not going to change anything. I've owned cars made by Ford and GM and they are bad, and much much worse than anything Toyota ever has manufactured.
29th Jul 2011, 19:32
The tsunami excuse will be used by import fans well into the mid-21st century. Never mind that Toyota had lots overflowing with cars they couldn't sell before the tsunami. When Ford and GM outsell you 2 to 1 month after month, it appears there might be a few problems besides the tsunami. The 22 million recalled Toyotas might be a hint.
30th Jul 2011, 10:31
During the Gulf Oil Spill, domestic sales were down, but after the clean up, sales picked up. Seriously, there are always new cars available; not all cars are special order. If you want a new car, go on the Internet and do a 200 mile Internet search. Same color, same options; someone will love to take your business. They hate a lot full of new cars unsold on the last day of the month. I might have to wait for a Prius, but I can find a new Camry today as well as others.
21st Jul 2011, 16:48
Well if that's the case, then every engine in the world would have a sludge problem. Of course oil breaks down over time, that is why it is recommended to be changed every 3,000 miles. Like I said, every Toyota sludged engine that I have replaced for somebody was always maintained properly, but yet still had the problem; some as low as 40,000 miles. This is more of a defect in the PCV system, just like Chrysler had. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy the whole abuse and faulty maintenance gig.