Have a question or want to start a discussion? Post it! No Registration Necessary. 
Now with pictures!
Threaded View
Subject
posted on January 21, 2007, 9:49 pm
Reply
Save
Print
The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
Toyota engine oil sludge affects more than the few models and model
years covered in Toyota's "Customer Support Program for Engine Oil
Gelation." Toyota indicates that 1997-2002 Sienna, Camry, Avalon,
Celica, Lexus RX300, and Lexus ES300 are the ones that are
sludge-prone. At the same time, it says that these vehicle owners are
to blame for the sludge condition. Toyota doesn't include the earlier
models or the later models, though. It also doesn't include the
Corolla, RAV4, and 4Runner despite the fact that some of these owners
are reporting sludge buildup and engine demise.
The class action lawsuit covers all the models and model years included
in the CSP, contrary to the poster's information above. I suppose that
Toyota will use any loopholes it can to limit the relief for its valued
customers.
Many Toyota owners are reporting that Toyota has required far more
engine oil change receipts than what it publicly has stated it would.
According to owner accounts, owners continue to be treated poorly in
Toyota's alleged effort to limit the number of vehicle owners who
qualify under the CSP. In many cases engines are being cleaned when
they need to be replaced.
Unfortunately, the class action lawsuit doesn't help those with models
not covered under the CSP. It doesn't help those who long ago traded
their vehicles when sludge clogged their engines. It doesn't help those
Toyota owners whose engines mysteriously threw rods through the engine
block. It doesn't do anything for the Toyota owners whose engines
spontaneously erupted in fire on the road for no apparent reason. No,
there are many Toyota owners left out.
Is Toyota really "listening" to online discussions/reports by its
vehicle owners? If so, why isn't the petition being addressed? Why
aren't these owners getting a fair resolution in their sludge or engine
failure cases? We know that Toyota is tracking the owner postings.
Interestingly enough, someone has been trying desperately to sabotage
the Toyota owner petition. Who would care to go to this length to
prevent Toyota owner organization? Who would want to end this petition?
Hmmmm....
Charlene Blake
cblake@erols.com
Toyota Owners Unite for Resolution
http://www.petitiononline.com/TMC2003/petition.html
Re: The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
Toyota is settling a class action grew from the Jeff Meckstroth case
next month. That should answer the question where in some valid cases
Toyota was refusing to honor the warranty offered or just making trying
to make it hard for owners to recover losses.
========================================
Toyota settles oil sludge cases
Owners complain that a buildup damaged engines
January 18, 2007
Detroit Free Press
[snip]
"The class action settlement should make it easier for customers to
receive resolve their problems, said Gary Gambel, a New Orleans lawyer
heading the case for plaintiffs.
Under the settlement, customers can bring issues directly to Toyota. If
they're not satisfied with Toyota's response, the customer can turn to
a court-appointed third-party evaluator, who will decide what damages
should be paid.
Customers do not need a lawyer or technical expert to take up their
case, Gambel said. Even if the time has expired for a lawsuit to be
filed, they can seek relief as long as the damages occurred within
eight years of the original purchase date."
========================================
cblake@erols.com wrote:
Re: The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
I take strong exception to the post by Charlene Blake.
In a google search of her e-mail address, it is obvious she has recently
spammed the same or a similar message on a very large number--literally
hundreds!!--of automotive related websites.
If there is one standout characteristic in all of these many postings, it is
"SPIN". Nothing but PURE UNADULTERATED SPIN!!
Ms. Blake has waged a war of misrepresentation, innuendo, inference, and
unverified rhetoric against a number of targets over many years, the latest
being Toyota.
One look at her much touted "petition" clearly shows how manipulative her
tactics are. Most prominent in that petiton are "line voided" empty spaces
where a name has been removed for some reason.Clear evidence of some creative
editing? Censorship perhaps? Only allowing what Ms. Blake deems worthy??
(Yet she constantly complains about "free speech" being violated by her
targets?) Many of the remaining posts in that petition are clearly copied
from other sites, and in more than a few instances, obvious fakes!
Toyota is being unjustly victimized by Charlene Blake. This company is no
different that any other automaker in many ways--not perfect, not above
reproach, same mix of good, bad, and somewhere in the middle dealers, uses
the same style of marketing, and produces cars which are for the most part
good but suffer from the occasional problem. They have similar flaws as most
people do--they aren't perfect.
That said, Toyota certainly doesn't deserve to be singled out and flayed by
incessant (and highly untruthful) spamming as is being done by Ms. Blake.
Her reputation isn't above reproach either, so as the old proverb states Ms.
Blake "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"!!
cblake@erols.com wrote:
Re: The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
Bullshit. Toyota's the one who has promoted their so-called bullet-proof
quality, and Toyota is the one who has mistreated customers whose Toyota
crapola products developed the oil sludge problem, to the point of even
accusing Toyota owners of abusing their cars, even when the Toyota dealer's
own service records showed otherwise.
What's the matter? Can't stand the idea that your precious favorite car
brand is now showing cracks in their so-called quality armor?
Re: The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
Opinion only:
I think there are good reasons why people remain loyal to the Toyota car,...
apart from the sludge saga, their cars are the most reliable, durable and
easy to drive (comfortable, good handling etc) cars around.
The oil change thing was contentious because from all the information on
the subject, it seemed to me at least, that these engines had not had
sufficent oil-changes. Consider it only takes one failed oil-change, for the
oil to fill the engine with jelled-oil. The other factor is oil quality.
I've seen one cheap, generic brand oil, break down leaving a layer of
dark-grey gelatine type consistancy crap all thru a Ford 6 engine which had
had no previous problems.
Oil which is past its useful life, is easily identified as so when the
dip-stick is used,..it's that obvious. If the oil not honey or syrup
coloured (color depends on fuel used in some cases) on the dip-stick, then
its time to change it. Its *that* simple.
I change the oil in my Camry at 3000ks, but recently I let it go to 5000ks.
The oil still looked like Mayple syrup and this is in an engine with
185,000ks. So go figure how long oil stays in these engines before it
breaksdown. My guess is well beyond 10,000 ks, a guess only, but I'm not
about to use my engine as a guinea-pig to get the actual figure :-)
Sure Toyota have some responsibility, and they have now made some generous
offers, but ultimately, your car's maintenance is *your* responsibility.
Out of the entire Toyota engine family, only 2 engines (the 4 and 6 cylinder
engines used in amongst other cars, the '90s Camrys) were effected by
oil-change interval extension.
Jason
Re: The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
I own a sludge-prone 1998 Sienna. Running perfectly after over 190K
miles but I change my own oil. To the best of my knowledge there are
no cases of sludged or jelled oil in engines that were owner-oil
changed. That says to me that the issue is with service. I'm not
excluding poor service from Toyota dealerships but owners should be
responsible for raising the hood every so often to check on their $20K
+ purchase.
Re. that guy with the burned Camry; he even says the car was neglected
(no recent service). This is a Toyota issue for a 9 year old car?
Really?
And, for the record, I currently own only 1 Toyota vehicle. My other
cars are from other manufacturers. I'm no Toyota fanatic.
Re: The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
She's back! My psychotic little meddler is back! Oh Charlene, it's been too
long, you long in the tooth worthless dirtbag... Of all the causes on this
planet to throw this much time and energy into, you try to do a number on
some car company's engine oil issue. Jesus Christ, you really are a dud of
a person.
Re: The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:49:42 -0800, johngdole wrote:
She's been posting this same BS in alt.autos.toyota for a couple years.
My guess was (and it appears to have been backed up by action, since
Toyota settled out of court) was that the Class Action Lawsuit was coming
to a head and she was one of the named plaintiffs.
In a CA Lawsuit, the lawyers try to drum up as many plaintiffs as they
can. That's why you see ads on TV...if you have this, call this number. It
serves two purposes. It lines the Lawyers pockest better, since the more
plaintiffs there are, the larger the settlement, but it also garners more
for the Named Plaintiffs. My guess is that Cathy here was a Named
Plaintiff, and stood to make a LOT of money if Toyota was found liable.
But, Toyota submarined her and settled out of court, offering to replace
any engine that was damaged or showed signs of EXCESSIVE sludge. So, that
way, poor Cathy gets just what she deserves. A new engine.
And NOTHING more! ;)
Site Timeline
- » The Truth About Toyota Engine Oil Sludge
- — Next thread in » Toyota Camry
-
- » "Power" switch
- — Previous thread in » Toyota Camry
-
- » spark plugs
- — Newest thread in » Toyota Camry
-
- » 100W Headlight Bulbs?
- — The site's Newest Thread. Posted in » General Motors Forum
-
XML Sitemap