Mrschmancy

New to me car, and this forum, just changed the dirty plugs and valve cover to spark plug hole bushings, and took some pics for ya'll to see. I dont know much bout these DOHC stuff, but have built several SBC, SBF motors so I know my way around.

98 ES300 188k miles dealer serviced thru its life, supposedly. C:

Mrschmancy

also the throttle body looked not quite this bat put pretty gruddy. I did clean it out with a rag and carb cleaner but at this point is there a "whole system clean" I can do? does seafoam really work?

thanks

ASG14

iTrader: (1)

If that was dealer serviced, it wasn't for normal oil change intervals.....

It;s not good, but I've seen much much worse. Just do normal oil change intetvals and you'll be fine.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

Mine looked very similar at 173k, when I bought it. I've been doing 5k mile oil changes, and it seems to be working well.

PFB

+1. Agreed, just change the oil regularly, preferably with Synthetic, and it will help clean it up over time.

Dont use anything else, as you can make things worse for no good reason. It's really not that bad to start off with.

Its also imperative that you change your PCV valve if not already done so.



Phil

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

I only had my phone to take the pictures, so the exposure isn't the best. This is what my engine looked like, when I opened it up.









This hole was full of oil that looked like molasses - not sure if it's an oil passage, since it didn't seem to go anywhere.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I wonder what mine looks like at this high mileage. Hopefully with consistent oil changes and a quart of marvel mystery oil every 2 oil changes means itll still be fairly clean

hypervish

I'm going to be pulling my front valve cover soon, as it is weeping slightly. Will take pictures, hopefully it's clean!

EEngineer

not good man.....i'd run some seafoam or any sludge treatment regularly for a while


this is mine at over 200k miles

Mrschmancy

thanks for the info, ill look into the sludge additive and go from there. I really dont like the looks of whats in there now.

PFB

You don't have any visible sludge, what you do have is normal varnish. Trying to de-sludge the engine could do your engine more harm than good.

Just run synthetic oil, change your oil and filter regularly at around 3k miles, and if not already done so recently, than change your PCV valve. You'll be fine.

Phil

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

I agree with PFB, I think dislodging that cruddy looking oil will do more harm than good. You might risk clogging a vital oil passage or even the oil pickup.

Bdub215

iTrader: (1)

106K mile 1MZ that i have.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

Bdub, that's a very clean engine - I wish I had my car for most of its life. I thought I'd put both pictures into one post for a non-VVTi vs. VVT-i comparison.

GS4_Fiend

iTrader: (22)

Lack of maintenance. Change them earlier.