thomas1

my neighbor has a 2003 hylander and was experiencing pinging with a p0222 code. He pulled the valve cover and discovered major sludge. He tried some cleaners and then took it in to get it professionally cleaned. However it still smokes on start up for a few minutes and does seem to have some throttle lag. The car was manufactured in 2003 and only has 50k miles and I feel toyota still has a problem. He had all maintenance done for the 36k miles by toyota on time and from that point on by an independent. Does he have any recourse, is there a warranty or sludge problem on the 2003 engine? Anybody have any suggestions. he wants to replace the engine with a 40k miles used engine on his dime. I told him to contact Toyota of America with a letter and picture of the sludge and see what they will do. Any comments are welcome. Could he just have a bad catalytic converter that is contaminated?

thomas1

update it used 1.0 qts in 500 miles since the cleaning. not good from what I have read.

lexus114

Whoa,1 quart in 500 miles?

thomas1

Yes, and that is after a quote professional cleaning for the tune of $300.....The sage goes on. Any other ideas....

bob2200

I'd recommend telephoning Toyota USA Hq and getting a feel for their position. Also, you could inquire on Toyota User internet forums for their take on the situation.

If no luck with Toyota, depending on the economics, maybe put in the 40,000 mile engine and try to find a local vocational school that would like to rebuild the sludged engine for you as an educational project?

jimmouse

Is not that covered under the 8+ year sludge warranty?

thomas1

no it is not covered, the lawsuit only covered till 2002.

thomas1

by the way he bought a used engine and I took pictures of every angle for easy future diagrams. Unfortunately he didnt notice the front cam shaft sprocket was pushed in from an accident. So he is returning the engine for one with 50k miles tomorrow. I think Lexus and Toyota are hiding the fact that the 2003 should have also been included in the warranty. Sad, I must say.

thomas1

Well the saga goes on, we were able to remove the engine from the top, was very easy and this went smooth, now the bad news, we put the new engine in and that went well as well, then my neighbor was hooking motor mounts up and guess what, the mount in front of the crankshaft pulley on the bottom had no holes on the new engine....My neighbor is furious, he gave the specs on his car make and model and apparently this IMEZ came from a Camry that does not have that bottom mount, either that or the Highlander has one. There are no holes in the front of the engine for the mount,so out comes the engine again. I have taken pictures and will give them to LEXMEX for reference when I get some time....

thomas1

By the way the highlander has that mount, but my RX300 does not....Very interesting.

lexus114

A Camry engine is slightly different.Even the intake is not the same.

gsrthomas

iTrader: (1)

What was his oil change interval?

I have 130k miles on my 2002 highlander. No sludge issues at all. But I never went passed 3.5k miles for a oil change using synthetic blend.

I think premature oil changes is good for this engine which I had done since new. Car runs like it did back in 2001 when I first bought it.

thomas1

He had the oil changed by Toyota at 4 to 5k intervals per their recommended service guidlines.

gsrthomas

iTrader: (1)

Think I read somewhere that the interval change was 7500 miles?

I do not know because I been changing mine at 3-3.5k miles.

AlexusAnja

By the books, most manufacturer manuals say 7500 miles. At any dealership/shop they will always WANT TO change out at 3K or 3 months whichever comes first. For me, I change out every 3000-4000 miles and thus far never had any issues with any of my cars.