paulsum

Hi Guys, new here was hoping to get your guys help. my car is a Lexus ES300 2004 with roughly 90,000KM
due to the lockdown, I haven't been driving my car since Feb this year, and as I was going back to check on my car to drive again. battery died so the car couldn't start. But I also noticed some black mushy material inside the engine oil. Not sure what this is and is it something I should be concerned about? not very technical with cars, but I check the dip stick for engine oil and still noticed some liquid oil but in a darker color. Thanks in advance!

LeX2K

That is not any indication of sludge inside the engine. Oil and moisture pool in that area and form a hard crust it is nothing to be concerned about.

paulsum

ohhh ok thanks, so should I just start my car and let it warm up for awhile? and maybe do an oil change?

LeX2K

It is best to drive a car for at last 30 minutes from time to time, the longer the better it burns off any moisture. Otherwise condensation causes it to build up in the oil this is what causes sludge. But it doesn't matter how the car is driven the oil filler will look like that.

jhscott

I have similar symptoms (black sludge) in my 2003 ES300 (120,000 miles). However, it is more than just appearances. The oil pressure light has come on twice (three months apart). After each time, I had the engine flushed with detergent, which resulted in a great deal of sludge. The oil pressure read Now, the oil pressure light flickers at low RPM, and, after the last flush, the oil pressure measured at ~30 psi (low).

I bought the care a year ago with 110,000 miles and this sludge was not evident then. However, it seems strange that a Camry engine would develop this problem at only 100,000 miles. I don't know how well the previous owner treated the car, though. Since I have had the car, I have used "high mileage" 5W-30 oil, in line with the owner's manual. I am told, however, that one should be using "full synthetic" oil, and, at the last oil change put such oil in.

Should using "full synthetic" oil or not make any difference in this model of Lexus?

I really can't replace the car, and I understand that adding a higher viscosity oil (10W-30?) would raise the oil pressure but might accelerate engine failure. Might using additives like Schaeffer Moly EP help prolong the car's life somewhat?

LeX2K

30psi at what rpm? Can try using diesel motor oil it has more detergents but risky to clean too much sludge at once can clog the pick up screen. Additives are not going to help don't waste your money.