I read something about V6 Toyota Engines having problems. Oil turns to sludge that builds up and kills the engine. Toyota will then charge something like $6000 to replace it. ?
I read this in a few places, is there any truth to this? This is horrible news because I was so set on this vehicle, but i don't want to deal with $6000 engine replacements.
Highlanders use the same V6 engine in Lexus RX300s. I have done oil sludge repairs on those,and all of them were due to a lack of maintenance. Do your oil changes and regular intervals and you'll be fine.
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Id have to agree, no oil sludge problems in any toyotas me and my friends own.
Besides, if im not mistaken, "Oil turns to sludge" only happens if you don't change your oil.
"The cheese is only free inside the mousetrap"
Green V6 2wd highlander
(alarm,wheel locks,vin number on windows options)
Manik Full Front Guard
Manik Rear Guard
Manik Side steps
Velvet seat covers
Chrome Exhaust Tip
Hyper White xenon bulbs
Tint 20% rear, 30% front
these are going to be used and probably have up to 100k miles if not more.
so there is my concern. I can't be completely sure if the previous owner has changed the oil all the time or not. After having driven 100k miles, it's possible that they haven't.
I found a Highlander I have my eye on, its everything i want but it has over 100k miles. I'm afraid that after purchasing this thing I may line myself up for a replacement engine.
Is there any way to detect this problem?
Perhaps I could just do a couple of engine oil flushes to get everything out when I get the car? Just in case?
buying one with less miles won't help me much either because some people had these issues with cars with as little as 30-40k miles.
these are going to be used and probably have up to 100k miles if not more.
so there is my concern. I can't be completely sure if the previous owner has changed the oil all the time or not. After having driven 100k miles, it's possible that they haven't.
I found a Highlander I have my eye on, its everything i want but it has over 100k miles. I'm afraid that after purchasing this thing I may line myself up for a replacement engine.
Is there any way to detect this problem?
Perhaps I could just do a couple of engine oil flushes to get everything out when I get the car? Just in case?
buying one with less miles won't help me much either because some people had these issues with cars with as little as 30-40k miles.
The only sure way would be to buy one that someone had taken to a Toyota dealer for all of their maintenance and had kept the records.
If the seller says it was maintained by a dealer but lost the reciepts,a dealership can look up the service history using the VIN.
Pull the dipstick out,see if the oil on it is very black and gritty...but the seller could've wiped it clean. It's a little hard to tell by smell unless the sludge is really bad,and by then the vehicle usually smokes,runs horribly and check engine light is on.
The only real definite way to inspect is removing a valve cover. Maybe you can split the cost with the seller and have a mechanic inspect it for you.
If the seller says it was maintained by a dealer but lost the reciepts,a dealership can look up the service history using the VIN.
Pull the dipstick out,see if the oil on it is very black and gritty...but the seller could've wiped it clean. It's a little hard to tell by smell unless the sludge is really bad,and by then the vehicle usually smokes,runs horribly and check engine light is on.
The only real definite way to inspect is removing a valve cover. Maybe you can split the cost with the seller and have a mechanic inspect it for you.
so if the valve cover is removed, you can tell??
how involved in this process of removing the valve cover on those engines?
I've done it with a friend on a Nissan maxima years ago, but i wouldn't be comfortable doing it myself on a car i dont know. How long would it take a mechanic to do it? (trying to get an idea of what the cost might be like)
how involved in this process of removing the valve cover on those engines?
I've done it with a friend on a Nissan maxima years ago, but i wouldn't be comfortable doing it myself on a car i dont know. How long would it take a mechanic to do it? (trying to get an idea of what the cost might be like)
Takes less than 30 minutes on a RX300,should be the same exact thing on a Highlander (just the front cover,no need to remove the rear cylinder head's valve cover). It's not too involved,the valve cover bolts require a 10mm socket,inverted torx socket to remove 2 studs holding a wiring harness to the valve cover,and a small hex socket to remove a plastic engine cover (if HLs have them)...sorry I don't remember the inverted torx or hex socket sizes.
Highlanders use the same V6 engine in Lexus RX300s. I have done oil sludge repairs on those,and all of them were due to a lack of maintenance. Do your oil changes and regular intervals and you'll be fine.
Its not a lack of maintenance, but a poorly designed engine that got redesigned because of lawsuits. I think Toy claimed that anything over 3000 miles between changes was owners fault for lack of maintenance. You bet if this was Chevy or Ford the people on this site wouldn't just accept it blindly.
Its not a lack of maintenance, but a poorly designed engine that got redesigned because of lawsuits. I think Toy claimed that anything over 3000 miles between changes was owners fault for lack of maintenance. You bet if this was Chevy or Ford the people on this site wouldn't just accept it blindly.
Lexus intervals are usually 5000 miles. Even at these intervals I've yet to see sludge problems. It's the people who change their oil say every 20,000 miles are the ones bound to have sludge buildup.
These engines had no major redesigns except for the valve covers and PCV valve,otherwise the V6 you find in a '04 Highlander is the same exact engine you find in a 2000 Camry V6. Even then these engines will still sludge. We have had several new Lexus ES cars with the first oil change @ 25,000 miles. The customer doesn't car anyway,it's under warranty
V6 Engine problems are common????
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