1998 Toyota Avalon XLS from North America - Comments

I purchased a 2001 Toyota Avalon XLS in December of 2000. It now has 126,000 miles and not one mechanical problem. No sludge problems. No blue smoke. Original brakes and struts. I change the oil at the recommended mileage and time intervals. I use a high quality synthetic motor oil. I have owned Toyota cars and trucks in the past and have experienced the same excellent reliability. I also currently own a 2001 Toyota Tundra with the same results as above.

I just love it when someone that has had GOOD luck with a product diminishes someone who complains about a problem they are experiencing. I am sure that not ALL Toyotas have or will have this problem, but I can tell you the situation is REAL based on personal experience (97 Avalon 58k miles) and chatting with people at Toyota. I experienced the white smoke at start up and thought valve guides leaking and took it in to Toyota. After taking the valve covers off the dealership called me and said it poorly maintained and was "sludged up" and that Toyota would not fix it under warranty (we had 60k warranty). I went to view it and could not BELIEVE the amount of sludge build up around the valves and springs. The used car dealer I bought it from had the engine flushed and I believe the heads re-built and we ran the car without problems to around 125k when it was traded in. The car ran great and never experienced any further problems.

I just wanted to point out this is a REAL issue and it may or may not affect everyone.

BTW, Jiffy lube type places use the same quality oil as you buy in the auto store, but they do seem to use cheap oil filters. This will not cause sludge, but I would opt for premium oil filters for any car and I also use 100% synthetic Amsoil in everything I own.

You are all correct herein. I also have a 1997 Avalon with 123K. I've always loved this car, however, recently the CHECK ENGINE light has came on. It turned off twice before with oil changes, but noticed that when I accelerated too fast, the Check Engine light would come on. After taking it to TOYOTA I was told by a rude Miami technician that something called the, "Charcoal Cannister", needed replacement and this would cost around 900 dollars due to the location of this thing and the labor intensity. Well, I've never done this charcoal cannister thing change, I believe it may be something other than an charcoal cannister, like say, a complete engine tune up. Anyone have knowledge of this cannister's existence? Any suggestions anyone???

Anthony M.

Miami, Fl.

Many Toyota models from 1996 - 1998 had faulty evaporative emissions system, which Toyota lied about their architectures to the US government so their vehicles could be sold in the US. The problem was uncovered when the vehicles started having problems, and Toyota had a judgement issued against them in Federal court, where Toyota had to pay a fine, and extend the evaporative emissions warranty on 2.2 million vehicles (possibly including yours), to 14 years or 150,000 miles.

Here is a link to an announcement of the judgement in the Federal Register:

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:X37SGg2xJPcJ:a257.g.akamaitech.net

/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-7292.pdf

+toyota+evaporative+emissions+judgement+effected+vehicles&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd

=1&gl=us

I used to have a copy of the actual full judgement, listing all of the specific vehicles affected, because I had several friends who were having problems with their Toyota's, and I uncovered the document while doing research trying to help them. The dealership should know about the judgement, and whether your vehicle is affected. If it is, they have to help you or they are in violation of Federal law. The charcoal canister is a part of the evaporative emissions system.

I am sorry that I no longer have an actual copy of the judgement, or I could have told you whether your vehicle was affected or not for sure. But, that was lost the last time I changed operating systems (got tired of the problems with MS Windows and installed Linux) on my computer.

Good luck, and never trust Toyota; they arrogant and they lie. Their products do not live up to the hype surrounding them either, as you seem to be finding out. I have so many friends who had nightmares with those pieces of garbage that they thought would be the answer to all of their automotive problems for life, I have lost count of them all.

I have a 99 Avalon that sludged up, replaced the engine with a junk yard engine with 65k on it. The new engine showed no signs of sludge that the old one did. Maybe it is the type of oil, I now and desludger at every oil change.

Personally, I would avoid using a "desludger" (I think that's what you meant to say), and just change the oil very often, at 2500-3000 miles. Oil additives can alter the additive package already included in your oil and cause unpredictable problems. I am not familiar with "desludgers" (never had a sludge problem), but it sounds like something like that may alter the viscosity of the oil, and effect its lubricating abilities. You may want to try a "quality" synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 or AMSOIL, as they are much more resistant to sludge than regular oil.

I have a 1996 Avalon with 200,000 miles on it and it runs great.

I have a 1996 Avalon with 270,000 miles. Other than replacing the alternator and ignition, that is all it has needed in all those miles.

I have 98 Toyota Avalon XLS with a little under 150K. For the most part it has been an excellent car however I do have a weird rattling noise (especially on uneven grounds) and the brakes grind a bit.

I have a 96 Avalon with 115K and it has been great. I am however concerned at all the sludge problems I read about. I do change my oil every 3K.

Tomorrow at noon I will buy a 2000 Avalon XLS with 99400 miles on it. The car was assume to test drive today. I read every comment and am confident that this car is the best engineered/built car in the world (for the money). Not one complaint on this broad about the transmission falling apart or bad brakes, bad handling or 1000 other things complained about cars from you know who. Ford GM Chrysler.

This is my first Toyota (slow learner) it can't be as bad

as the ones I owned from you know who.

Sludge? Don't know yet. Will give some updates.

Guess what, you know who, Toyota has a real reputation for engine sludging with this year and model. Apparently you didn't look at the reviews for this car very closely, hmm. Frankly I'll take my real luxury Buick with true comfort any day over Toyota's poor attempt at it. By the way, it has had none of the problems that all GM cars apparently have according to you at 140,000 miles.

I bought Avalon 1997 at 135K miles in November 2007.

This website is helping me a lot. This car runs great

but smoke 1 or 2 minutes every time I start. I just

found out that it burns so much of oil (add a quart

of oil every 500 to 600 miles. I use Valvoline Max life

for 75,000 miles and up. Check engine light came on, the

code is 0420, replaced O2 sensor, no luck, maybe cat converter?

Since I bought in 2 months, I have changed the oil

for 3 times, nothing better, does someone know the problem?

My Camry V4 1991 still runs good, I might stay away from

Toy V6 car.

I own a 1998 Toyota Avalon it has been in my extend family since it was new. There has never been an oil problem. So far the only thing that has going bad is the coil on the # 4 cylinder. Thing break that is fine it has 130k miles on it. My problem is in the brakes. My father is a mechanic and we do all of our own work. I have my breaks replaced when I was on a road trip because the rotors warped. It is now 8 months later and the rotors are warped again. Did the place just put crap parts on my car or is there a trick that anyone knows about to keep this from happening. I have never had this problem on any other cars I have owned.

With all due respect to those who think otherwise, the sludge problem is real; it is recognized by Toyota, and they fix the problem for every Avalon that is brought to them with this problem. I bought a new 2001 Avalon in April, 2001. In Jan., 2004, at around 23,000 miles, I began to notice blue smoke coming out of the exhaust at start-up (no at other times). Despite this, the car continued to run great, but I took it to the dealer, they checked it out, told me that it was their responsibility, loaned me a brand new car at no charge for the week they had it in the shop, and fixed the problem. They freely admit, even advertise, the sludge problem, do not try to dodge the issue, and any Avalon that has either of the two affected engines will be taken care of by Toyota, free of charge. And that's the name of that tune.