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The "How To" prevent the Sludging problem.
You may be thinking of purchasing a Toyota or you may have heard the = stories of engine problems with the Camry, Avalon, Sienna or Lexus = engines. In any case I would like to share some ways you can prevent = that from happening to you.
First: Use the dealer for your oil change maintenance.
Second: Use the dealer for your oil change maintenance.
Third: Use the dealer for your oil change maintenance.
Fourth: Go ahead and guess this one.
Having spent almost 30 years involved with service departments at auto = dealerships I have seen many of the problems possible with vehicles. = Many were a combination of design oversights or lack of maintenance by = the owner. The engine sludge problem that has developed is still a = mystery regarding the true cause. Toyota is maintaining that the owner = is the fault since they choose not to use the dealer for oil changes. = Having left the family and gone out on their own mistakes will be made = and it's not their fault something bad happens. That's contrary to the = warranty information they print and give you when you purchase the = shinny new Toyota,but when you do what they recommend somewhere else, = they basically say you asked for this and now it's yours to deal with.
On the other hand I will say that until recently the dealers were not = seeing this problem with vehicles they maintained. Meaning, if the owner = used the Toyota or Lexus dealer for oil changes and had the regular = maintenance performed there, the engines did not suffer the sludge = problem. I go into some detail as to the possible reasons why these = vehicles are not as prone to sludge in other parts of this section, so I = won't belabor the point now.
The point I want to make is that if you use the dealer for just oil = changes, following the recommended time/mileage periods that Toyota = suggests in the owners manual, how can they say no if your engine has = the problem. You stayed faithful to them and if it still happens they = won't even bring the subject up, they will stammer for a cause, but = offer to take care of it on the spot.
You may be asking, "Can I start using them now?" . The answer is of = course yes by all means.
I encourage you to use the dealer for all you maintenance, they have the = trained people and know the vehicle. Not all 6 or 4 cylinder engines = will sludge, but some will so why play the odds using a non-dealer to = provide this needed service. The only caution I offer is the "regular = maintenance" sales pitch they may recommend. Be careful here since they = may suggest things not needed at that mileage and were manufactured to = produce income not provide a true service value for your vehicle. You = can prevent this from happening by reading the owner's manual = maintenance section and follow the least demanding maintenance schedule. = Almost no one drives under "severe conditions " no matter what the = dealer will try to tell you, that is a hook they use to over repair the = vehicle and thus generate additional department profits. The good = dealers will offer you a choice, explaining the different levels needed, = you may choose the basic or the more advanced (this is not bad by the = way, just not needed for every visit) but regular dealer visits is the = key to engine and vehicle longevity.
One final thought, use the dealer, use the dealer, use the dealer for = your maintenance
I am new to this newsgroup and am wondering about all the problems = about oil slude.
Is there a problem here and does Toyota have a sludge/gel warranty = program?
What year camrys does it cover if it exist?